A Time To Search

By SQ Eads

Jade English loves to run, for exercise, in marathons, playing sports, but now she's running for her life. If she loses this race – she'll die; the loser's trophy – a headstone.

Aaron Bushnell, US Marshal, Search Angel, patient, friend. No matter which hat he wears he draws fire. He has become a bullet magnet.

Could the meeting of these two people be anything but dynamite? Only God can turn the explosive power into sparkling fireworks.
This is Book #2 of The Family Trilogy

• Language: English
• Publisher: SQ Eads
• Release date: Jun 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463452424

SQ Eads

SQ (Sunny) Eads, an award-winning author, was born and raised in southern Arizona. She received her higher education at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and flew several years with American Airlines. Her love of Arizona and the mountains surrounding the state are evident in many of her novels. Sunny has lived in Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Texas. Inspiration for her characters comes from the hero she married, her two lovely daughters and especially her six wonderful grandchildren. Sunny believes that fiction portrays many of life's situations and that good fiction should be entertaining as well as educational, causing laughter and even a few tears. She hopes her readers find peace and joy in the midst of life's journey and eventually come to know the true giver of all life.Sunny is the author of several inspirational novels and her children's storybook, The Adventures of Ricky the Rock Squirrel. All are available at your favorite ebook distributor and also in print.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Aaron Bushnell's long strides chewed up the runway-length hall. He squared his broad shoulders, smoothed his jacket over the holstered Glock and rapped his knuckles on the door marked 'Judge Victor Rawlins.' A growled order bid him enter.

He swung the glass-paneled door open and stepped confidently into the judge's office. Gray eyes twinkling with victory, Aaron smiled, his white teeth flashing and the tiny scar on his cheek twisting upward. Vic, you are one lucky man. I've found her.

Aaron watched as his friend's dark eyes filled with tears. A hard-line judge when it came to crime and upholding the laws of the land, the silver haired gentleman was all marshmallow inside, especially when it came to the people he loved.

Aaron, are you sure?

Would I miss my first day of vacation to run up here to give you bad news? Aaron tossed a folder on Vic's desk. This is all the information you'll need to make contact with your daughter.

Vic sniffed and wiped his eyes with a pristine handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. I thank God for the day you joined the Search Angels and I can never thank you enough, my friend. If you ever need...

A distant burst of gunfire stopped the judge in mid-sentence. Both men froze and listened.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Another barrage thundered throughout the building with each shot getting progressively closer.

Aaron was officially off duty since his vacation had begun at 0600 hours. However, one of his jobs as a US Marshal was to protect judicial personnel, and Vic was a friend as well as a federal judge.

Aaron immediately stepped over to close and secure the office door – not that the thing offered any real protection. Eyes darkening to slate he surveyed the room. Victor, where's your armor?

At home. I wasn't planning on working here at the office, nor am I scheduled to be in court; so I didn't bother to even throw it in the car. I just stopped by to grab some papers I wanted to go over later in the day while Martha is at her Bible study.

Before his friend could finish explaining, Aaron was already out of his jacket and shoulder-holster and hurriedly peeling off his white dress shirt. Popping buttons pinged off the desk and across the floor like miniature missiles. He shed his Kevlar vest and shoved it into his friend's arms. Get it on, get behind that chair and make yourself as small as you can. Don't come out until I give you the all clear.

Aaron felt the warm flush of adrenaline rushing throughout his system. Regulate breathing. He heard the roar of thundering footsteps rapidly approaching the judge's chamber; and, pulling his Glock, he moved around the far side of the big mahogany desk. He had time for only a quick look to make certain Vic was out of sight when the door suddenly shattered, spraying glass and wooden daggers in every direction. Three men in jungle camouflage and ski masks exploded into the room, combat weapons in hand.

Aaron flew back against the windowsill from the first bullet's impact. He fought to stay upright and focused, snapping off six quick shots before his vision narrowed, dimmed and then faded all together. Pain the size of a tank rolled over him, smashing him against the polished oak floor.

Chapter 2

Not again? Blasted cops!

Jade Lillian English's emerald green eyes flashed fire. She shook her head in disgust, her long, kinky red ponytail flipping back and forth over her shoulder. How was it possible? She should have sensed trouble. Why had she gotten lax and let down her guard?

Because she'd trusted others – again.

Stupidity! Weakness!

She'd given in to her own fleshly need for a long run. After all, fresh air, freedom and exercise were healthy things, not sins, not evil desires. What harm was there in taking a simple, relaxing drive through the nearby national forest or a jog up a trail, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of nature?

For most people – no harm at all, but for Jade...? Beyond dumb.

Her life was a far cry from normal.

She remembered someone once saying that normal was only a setting on a dishwasher. She would say a hardy 'amen' to that tidbit of truth.

She'd driven right into danger without a backward glance. If only she had checked for a tail before leaving town. Just one quick look over her shoulder, but no. She'd headed out as if she had no worries, as if she was just like anyone else, no need to exercise extreme caution every minute of every day. Now those few minutes of inattention had put her at risk and sent her running for her life. Again.

If she'd noticed the tiny dot, topping the rise far behind her, she could have taken precautions and evaded an encounter. But, it wasn't until it suddenly morphed into a massive black Lincoln right on her bumper that her brain had kicked in and shouted danger.

The big V8 zoomed in to fill her rear-view mirror; and, like a stalking panther, it honed in on her as if smelling its next meal. Like a big cat tormenting its victim, the Lincoln tentatively bumped first one rear fender then the other, forcing Jade's car on a crazy, zigzagging path. Her shoulders began to ache from wrestling two tons of steel and keeping her car on the road. Suddenly, with power and speed the black beast slammed hard into her small Honda Civic, knocking it off the winding country road and down a steep embankment.

Automatically hammering the brakes, Jade fought to control her careening vehicle. As it bucked to a stop, a quick glance over her shoulder showed two men, guns in hand, exit the big car and slowly head down the hill in her direction.

Her screech of panic and fear echoed around the interior of the car, as Jade jerked her foot off the brake and hit the accelerator. The little car jumped and jerked like a frightened rabbit before plowing through the knee-high grass covering the hillside. Jade manhandled the Honda over jutting rocks and through eroded dips, up and down the side of the sharply sloping shoulder, until she spotted a small meadow. As if the patch of sunlight shining through the trees represented home and safety, she punched the gas and with an extra burst of speed shot between two tall, lodgepole pines. Tree bark dug groves in the paint and shaved the mirror off on the passenger side.

A little too close, girl.

She then pointed the nose of her gallant steed toward the last visible opening in an otherwise solid wall of trees. If by some miracle she came across a road, she'd be fine. Otherwise she would have to abandon the car soon and make her way on foot. In that event she wanted the best head-start she could manage.

A quick backward glance revealed the two gunmen breaking into a run.

Focused on reaching her goal, Jade tromped the gas pedal to the floor. She didn't see the drop-off until it was too late. The next minute she was airborne. By then there was nothing to do but hang on. And pray!

Chapter 3

Aaron's mind lay wrapped in a dense fog and fragmented thoughts fought to the surface like bubbles rising through mud. Nothing made sense.

Vacation. That was it. He was on vacation. No...he should have taken his vacation earlier. He hadn't planned on traveling anyway but on enjoying what one friend called a staycation. He had been looking forward to a few leisurely weeks at his home in Manassas, VA, just riding his horses, walking his dogs, and lounging on the patio reading a stack of books he'd been saving for the unlikely event he ever found some down-time.

Now he guessed he'd spend the future in heaven, though he was pretty certain he wasn't there yet – too much noise. Terrible noises – screaming sirens not harps and organs. Yelling voices – shouted commands and frightened questions not choirs singing. None of this fit his idea of heaven. He couldn't quite make out the loud words being thrown back and forth like an exchange of artillery shells.

And then there was the pain – oh yeah. Agony like he'd never experienced before. No pain in heaven. Boy, he'd take heaven over this anytime.

Going to his eternal home with Jesus wasn't a bad trade-off to an earthly vacation. He wouldn't have to pack a bag or sit in a cramped airplane seat for hours on end or to plan where or what to eat. No shaving twice a day to keep his jaw from looking like a burned out cornfield.

Wow. Going to heaven was sounding more and more perfect.

He hated admitting to weakness, but he was more than ready to exchange his pain-wracked body for an indestructible, eternal one. The agony was fast consuming him.

I'm ready, Jesus. Aaron didn't know if his lips were grinning, but he was definitely smiling with hope on the inside.

Chapter 4

Jade's screech died abruptly as she slammed to a stop, her front bumper planted squarely in a stream bed. With a shaky breath, she ran her tongue along the split in her top lip and shivered. This could have been so much worse. She could have easily shot through the windshield on impact, resulting in more than a simple split lip. A gory, Technicolor picture of her mutilated body flashed on the screen of her mind and with a groan she forcefully switched channels. Time to tune into sweet memories.

Her dad had said the mind was like a computer. When facing a scary, deadly scene or event he told her to separate her mind into parts. Open another window, another tab to something happy and pleasing. He said this would allow her to maintain focus without getting sucked into the dark evil in front of her. As a special ops soldier, he knew. He'd had plenty of practice.

Jade wondered what happy channel he pulled up as he lay dying on some steamy jungle floor, snow encrusted mountain or hotter-than-Hades desert. With a shiver, Jade shut down that picture. The past was just that – the past.

Time to focus on the present.

Next time she bought a used car, she'd be sure to have the broken seatbelt fixed BEFORE driving off the lot and also buy a car with working airbags. Buy cheap, get junk.-- her father's favorite warning bounced around and around in her head.

Straightening her elbows and flexing her traumatized muscles, Jade pushed away from the steering wheel she had almost eaten and methodically peeled her frozen fingers from their death-defying grip. She gingerly touched her swollen mouth then ran a finger carefully along her teeth. A sigh of relief whooshed from deep in her chest at the realization that none of the crowns adorning her front teeth, top and bottom, had sustained any damage. Thankful not to have hours of dental work looming in the near future, she said a silent 'praise the Lord.'

However, the sight of her own blood sent her stomach into Olympic handstands. Now was not a good time to swoon. Swallowing against the nausea, Jade shouldered the jammed door until it opened just enough to allow her to half-crawl, half-fall from the car into the trickling creek.

Brrrr! Cold!

With a groan she slowly forced her five-feet-nine inch body upright. She did a quick survey, stretching and twisting the kinks from her back and legs, making sure all her limbs worked properly. Her green eyes scanned her surroundings. Reaching back into the car, she snagged her worn canvas backpack, tugged it through the tight opening and dragged it and herself to the edge of the shallow creek. Pretty certain the water was too cold to harbor dangerous amoebas, Jade squatted down and splashed handfuls of the icy water onto her fat lip. Hopefully her minimum first-aid would do a three-fold job – stop the bleeding, slow the swelling and clear away the taste and smell of blood – her blood – that wreaked havoc with her stomach.

Once she finished 'doctoring' herself, Jade grabbed her backpack, mustered every ounce of strength she had in reserve and set her wobbly legs to moving. Which way should she go? A map would be nice, but she didn't have one. It was time to engage her brain and common sense and form a plan.

Her car was a total write-off; but, if she could find a way through the forest and back to some type of road, she might be able to hitch a ride.

Realizing it would probably get colder once she entered the shadowed woods, Jade pulled on her new faux leather jacket, glad she'd gone with dark brown instead of the red one she really liked. She then dug a matching mud-colored toboggan from her pack and forced her mass of hair into submission within the confines of the knitted cap.

Male voices floated to her on the cold air, kicking her into gear and prompting her to get moving.

It's more difficult to track a person or an animal through water. She'd read that in a dusty old book she'd found while hiding out once in an abandoned cabin. With that thought in mind, Jade slipped her pack onto her back, turned and splashed through the cold water to the ridge of smooth, round stones submerged in the deepest part of the stream. Carefully she followed the rocky bottom, ignoring, as best she could, the chill creeping up her body as her denim jeans wicked up the frigid water. How ironic if she escaped her pursuers only to die of pneumonia or hypothermia.

She hadn't gone far when the creek narrowed and then all but disappeared under a pile of huge granite boulders. No more hiding her tracks in the icy water – both a good and bad situation. Her prints might be easier to spot, but her feet would thaw, and she would be able to walk faster and even run.

The main problem still remained – there was no place to go except deeper into the woods. Jade zipped her jacket and tugged her toboggan lower on her brow. She wished she'd thought to stick a pair of gloves in her backpack, too.

The men chasing her continued to talk to one another; and once in a while, one of them would yell out a threat. They were still some distance away but a constant reminder of her precarious situation. From what she could tell, the men had managed to follow her, either through great tracking abilities or possibly a simple case of luck – good luck on their part and bad on hers. At any rate, she needed to be far away when they rounded the boulders at the stream's end.

Turning in the direction she hoped would ultimately lead to a road, Jade began to run. After all she loved to run – for fun. Give her a marathon or race and she'd be thrilled. She lengthened her stride as far as her long legs could go and continued to run as quietly as she could. She ran until she could run no more. Her body screamed for relief. She had to stop, if only for a second. Bending at the waist, she grasped her thighs just above her knees and sought to fill her depleted lungs and relax the cramps tightening her muscles.

Breathe slowly. In...out, in...out. Be quiet. Don't make a sound.

She reminded herself she was not running for pleasure or cardiac exercise – as was her usual practice – though she wouldn't object if she managed to drop that final five pounds she wanted to lose. However, more than excess weight was at stake this time. She was running for her life – again. If she lived through this chase, she would trust only herself, no more depending on the feds for help.

Panting softly, Jade worked at silencing the rasp of air pushing past her lips. Like thunder, her heart continued to pound in her ears. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up her current pace. Perhaps if she headed into the thicker woods she could lose her pursuers. She could stay hidden amongst the trees until they gave up and left – if only they would cooperate.

Moments later Jade knew her plan was a bust. Instead of leaving, the two men plowed through the woods after her, driving her deeper and deeper into unknown territory. She had yet to cross any type of road or trail, a not so subtle reminder she was lost without a clue as to what to do or where to go next.

The only positive in her predicament was that the men weren't bothering to be furtive or secretive. Their method of pursuit and attack was what her soldier dad would have labeled a full frontal assault. They boldly pushed forward, somehow staying on her trail.

Mumbled curses, the snap of broken branches and the crackle of twigs sounded loud