Sea Haven 02 - Spirit Bound

giving the man time to think about how it would feel all over again.
    “Yes. Yes. Last night. I sent them last night,” Shariton blurted out. “I was hired to take the photographs and send them to a man by the name of Badeaux, a guard at a prison in Paris. I send the pictures to him and he takes them to a prisoner.”
    “Which prisoner?”
    “Jean-Claude La Roux.”
    Stefan hadn’t wanted to hear it, but he’d known the moment he saw the camera. “Maybe you should go on home,” Stefan said to his brother. “I’ll take it from here.”
    Lev shook his head. “We have to turn him over to Jonas. I’ll have Rikki call him. They’ll get him on felony charges and . . .”
    “He’ll be out of jail before the night’s over,” Stefan said. Go home, Lev. I can’t let this man threaten Judith.
    If you’re serious about her, this is no way to start a new life. We’ll let Jonas handle it.
    Shariton remained absolutely still as if he knew his life hung in the balance and it probably did. He was a petty criminal, but he’d been around men who were lethal long enough to recognize them.
    “If we call the sheriff, you know he’s going to make bail.”
    Lev nodded. “Exactly. And off the property. We can go hunting then.”
    Stefan understood what Lev was doing immediately. Shariton was listening attentively. Fear had a smell and the man was perspiring profusely. Shariton knew nothing really. They couldn’t get much more out of him. He carried a gun, but he wasn’t very adept at using it. He was too scared to come back and retaliate against Judith.
    “His gun’s over there,” Stefan indicated with a small nod of his head. “Let’s just get comfortable and wait for the law.” He nudged Shariton. “You can make bail, can’t you?”
    Shariton stayed frozen, obviously too scared to move.
    “What he’s saying to you, Shariton, is,” Lev added, looking right into his eyes, “own up to what you did here, and who you’re doing it for. Take a plea and you’re safe. If it goes any other way, nothing will stop us from hunting you down. Do we understand each other?”
    Shariton nodded his head vigorously.
    Jonas is a good man, but a hard-ass. He’ll come in by the book, red lights, guns, and he’ll take us down and check us for weapons. Walk away and stash whatever you need to, but make it far from here, because he’ll do a thorough search. We won’t have much time, Lev advised.
    Stefan nodded. I was careful because I knew I’d be with Judith. Not much to find.
    He left his brother with Mike Shariton while he slipped away from the area to rid himself of the knife concealed in his boot. The garrote sewn into his jeans wouldn’t be detected. He was much more reluctant to part with his favorite gun, but he wasn’t about to get caught with it on him and try to find a plausible explanation. Being armed would simply complicate matters.
    Sirens in the distance told him it wouldn’t be long. He was a shadow, nothing more, a ghost that disappeared as if he’d never been. Staying was more difficult than he’d expected. Lifelong training ingrained in him the need to vanish as if he’d never been. Lev sat waiting, looking back toward his home, as if it was only his woman who kept him in place, a caged tiger waiting for dogs to snap at his heels.
    You sure this is the way?
    Lev shrugged. It’s my way now. This is my home. I abide by the laws as much as I can. This one is easy enough. Jonas is a fair man. You have to make your choice, Stefan. If you choose to make your stand here, I’ll help you, but if you’re going to walk, do it now before Judith gets hurt.
    Judith. He could easily kill for her. But enduring the indignity of allowing someone to trap him even briefly—that was a test he hadn’t expected.
    Two sheriff’s cars plowed over the grass, divided, one on either side of them, hemming them in. The vehicles skidded to a halt, the sirens blaring and lights flashing. Driver doors popped open and weapons appeared.
    “On the ground. I want to see your hands.”
    Lev immediately complied, kneeling, hands outstretched, palms facing the officer. “I’m armed, Jonas. Gun’s in the shoulder harness and my knife’s in my boot,” he called out.
    “Put your hands behind your head.”
    Lev did so, linking his fingers. Stefan hesitated. The officer behind them had remained silent and he didn’t have a good sight on him. He didn’t like being so exposed, or vulnerable.
    Get down, Stefan, Lev