“Where’d you hear Besand’s name?”

“The name’s flying around the media corral over there.” Liam jerked his head at the cameras.

Could it be true? Is Besand the prisoner on the plane?

No wonder Whittenhall was about to have a stroke. A serial killer in his custody let loose in the woods. Patrick caught his breath.

My team. When will I be able to update them?

Reid was in charge of maintaining contact with the team. All efforts at phone and radio contact had failed since an hour after the team had left, but that didn’t surprise Patrick one bit. That was to be expected in this forest.

Patrick tried to relax. Jim had his head on straight. They’d known there was a felon on board, possibly a murderer. The men were all law enforcement and appropriately armed. Jim would take every precaution out there. Patrick didn’t have a better team leader than Jim.

Patrick glared in Whittenhall’s direction, furious the press knew the prisoner’s identity before him. And he was in charge! Who’d leaked the name? Whittenhall had seemed determined not to let the prisoner’s name surface.

Patrick spotted Regan Simmons in the crowd of media, filming a piece for her news station, the bright light from the camera highlighting her hair, which swirled out artfully from under her hat. Even from this distance, Patrick swore he could see the greedy gleam in her eye. She was still hustling for that break into the big time. She’d ruined her chances after the Besand story broke about her withholding information and two married state senators had admitted to affairs with her. She’d lost her job due to an ethics clause but rebounded two weeks later with a less discerning television station. Is she the one putting out Besand’s name? She was the most likely suspect. She had the right contacts to know what was going on in Besand’s life.

“How many did he kill? Twenty-two? Twenty-three?”

Liam nodded. “Something like that. At least that’s how many the police suspect. So far, he’s only been prosecuted for one murder, but they gave him life in prison. I think he’s being tried in other states too.” “Shit.”

“Maybe this plane wreck is a good way to save the state some money. Save on room and board for the rest of the guy’s life.”

Patrick snorted. “But then why is Whittenhall so uptight?”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s got steaming high blood pressure because an ex-marshal of his is out there with my crew.” Patrick chewed his lip and studied the marshal across the clearing. A thought formed in his mind and he voiced it slowly. “The more I think about it, I don’t think it’s the prisoner who’s worrying him. It’s Kinton.”

Liam’s nose wrinkled. “You didn’t tell me anyone else went out with Brynn’s team. Who’s Kinton?”

“Alex Kinton used to be a marshal. I don’t know if they fired him or he quit or retired. But when I told Whittenhall that Kinton showed up this morning to go out with my team, Whittenhall nearly had a stroke at my feet.”

“There’s a guy out there impersonating a marshal? And you were told he was supposed to go?” Liam’s expression was getting darker by the second.

“I got a phone call this morning from someone I thought was Whittenhall. But Whittenhall swears no one from his office called, and I believe him. You can’t fake shock like that. I’m thinking Kinton made the calls himself before he got here, clearing his way to get on my team and out to that plane.”

Liam turned toward the older marshal, who was finally slipping his phone into his pocket. “Hey!” Liam marched toward Whittenhall as Patrick grabbed his arm. Liam shook him off. “What’s the deal with the marshal who went out with the team?”

Whittenhall wiped at his forehead as he studied the younger man who’d aggressively stepped up in his face and fisted his hands at his sides. Whittenhall’s gaze stabbed at Patrick over Liam’s shoulder. Patrick shrugged. Maybe Liam could succeed where he hadn’t. The pilot had a directness about him that was hard to ignore. Liam said what he thought, rarely believed he was wrong, and could boss people around without their knowing it. Frankly, Patrick didn’t know how Brynn put up with him. Patrick could handle Liam’s company for only a few minutes at a time before Liam said something to piss him off.

“Alex Kinton is no longer a marshal.”

“Then why the hell is he out there?”

“I didn’t send him.”

“Who did?”

Whittenhall rubbed his lips together. “I don’t know. I don’t know how he found out about the plane wreck with this prisoner on board.”

“Darrin Besand?” Liam asked.

Whittenhall blinked in surprise and nodded. Annoyance and anger flashed across his face.

Score one for Liam. Patrick wanted to whistle.

“Why would Kinton care about that plane?” Liam was direct.

Whittenhall said nothing, pulling out his cell phone and ignoring the pilot. Liam stepped closer, and Patrick held his breath. Liam was getting more information out of the asshole than Patrick had so he’d let him push a few more buttons.

Whittenhall looked up at Liam. “This doesn’t concern you.” He scowled. “Who are you anyway?” He glanced over Liam’s shoulder again at Patrick, who kept his mouth shut and his arms crossed on his chest.

Liam’s chin shot up. “Major Liam Gentry, pilot, 304th Air Force Rescue Squadron. I would be flying air support today if the weather wasn’t so crappy. My girlfriend is on the Madison County SAR team, and if she’s in danger because of Kinton, I want to know about it.”