Page 45 of Risk of a Lifetime
Marcy felt like she’d slept for days, when in truth, she’d nodded on and off for the past couple of hours on the sofa in the sheriff’s office. Every noise she heard outside the room put her on edge. JB and the sheriff must have been gone for a while, because the first time she heard their voices had been about twenty minutes ago.
She swung her legs over the side and sat up on the cushion. Time to face the world. Shuffling her fingers through her hair and accepting the lip gloss her mother offered were the extent of any attempts she made to improve her appearance.
Truman led the way out the door, then Sadie, then Marcy. She glanced around the room until she recognized JB’s shoulders. Her insides relaxed with the thought that he would be the one taking her home. She didn’t have to be afraid with JB around. Even if she had made somebody angry…very, very angry. She needed JB closer, so she stepped in his direction, but, intent on his conversation, he didn’t turn to face her.
“Wilson, if you call my cell phone, you’ll reach the Crayton Police Department, ‘cause I’ve got a new one.” Voices echoed through the speaker phone.
“Damn it.” His boss gritted out the words. “Give me the number.”
“No. Technically, I don’t work for you or anyone else right now. I only called to keep you in the loop.” JB swept his right hand to the Glock in his shoulder holster as the front door opened. “You want to get a message to me, talk to Sheriff Davis or Deputy Evans.”
The rookie walked in with a couple surveillance disks dangling from his hand.
“Or Patrolman Kennett. Don’t leave information with anyone else. Got that?”
“If you tell me your plans, I can cut my vacation short and give you a hand.” Wilson’s tone sounded attentive. “I assume you’ll be heading to some type of safe house there in the area.”
“Crayton doesn’t have a safe house, but I’ve got a place lined up.”
“Tell me where, and I’ll get some coordinates on the place. Who knows, you may need the Bureau’s help at keeping your ex-wife safe.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good with the few people in the area knowing where we’re headed.” JB stood, cricking his neck from side to side. “Besides, it could take a while getting this mess straightened.”
Wilson grunted. “I thought you were already divorced.”
“Yeah. But as far as I’m concerned, she’s still my responsibility. If I make it out alive, I’ll get in touch with you.”
She rubbed the pads of her fingers from the bridge of her nose across her eyelids and stopped. What was he talking about? Safe house? Hiding? Sounded like some kind of plan had been put into play while she slept. Shouldn’t she have been involved?
JB’s touch brought her back to the present.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, shoving the phone in his pocket.
“Nothing.” She shook his hand free. Fought the threatening tears. Make it out alive didn’t sound good. Didn’t sound like something she wanted him to take on out of responsibility for her.
Responsibility…responsibility…
A flood of memories rushed her emotions.
The last time her dad left on an assignment, she’d begged him to stay home for her kindergarten play. She had a leading role. He’d said he couldn’t. Said he had responsibilities. Her mother would record it, and they’d all watch the video when he got back. She’d cried, explaining it wouldn’t sound the same, wouldn’t look real. He’d hugged her and told her he was sorry, but he had to go. Some responsibilities couldn’t be pushed aside. She’d needed him…needed him there—then. Instead, he’d rejected her for his job. For a case that cost him his life.
Now here was JB, feeling responsible for her. Either he’d end up dead because of her. Or reject her once everything was settled. Reject her and leave for another case. She couldn’t face either of those. She wouldn’t be an obligation to hold him back, but she also wouldn’t let losing him break her heart. Somehow she’d push him away like she had before. She just needed time to figure out how to do it before he got himself killed.
“My eyes were watering from the dry air in here. You know how contacts make your eyes feel funny after sleeping in them.”
JB frowned. “You don’t wear contacts, Marcy.”
“So?” Babbling was the best she could do for the moment. A plan to get her defenses back in place would take a little time. For the past few days, she actually thought about telling him how much she wanted him to stay. To admit she’d pushed him away. To tell him the truth about…no, she’d been right to hold onto her secret. Ultimately, she was nothing but an inconvenient responsibility.
Sheriff Davis motioned JB over to his phone. “It’s the call you were expecting.”
JB palmed her cheek. “You’re just tired. You need to eat. Get some carbs in your body. Protein.” He closed his fingers around hers and pulled her along behind him, then sat her in the chair closest to him when he picked up the receiver from the desk phone. “Someone get her a soda and some peanut butter crackers from the vending machine.”
“Chocolate.” Marcy folded her arms on the desk. If she had to be part of this, then she needed caffeine, calories, and chocolate. “I want three chocolate candy bars.” She glanced at JB “And two Paydays.”
“Thanks.” A grin lightened his face as he shot her a wink, then he turned back to his phone call. “Cain, if you’re still willing to help, I’ve got a plan…thanks… This is what I’m thinking…”
Marcy zoned out from the conversation. What had happened to her life in the past couple weeks? For some reason, the thought of being dead before morning didn’t compare to the feeling that would come when JB left again. No, when she forced him to leave again. Otherwise, he’d never leave…too damn principled.
