Page 60 of Under His Protection
I like us all together like this. I just wish it were under different circumstances. For a moment, I allow myself to picture us like this in the future, maybe on a Christmas morning. Philip and I are married, and we’re visiting—
“Haley?”
I realize my mom is talking to me. “Yes? Sorry.”
“I said, I’ll see you this afternoon at McIntyre Security.” She gets up and takes her plate and utensils to the sink. “Dave, honey, it’s time to go.”
Dave puts his tablet down and carries his place setting to the sink. He kisses my mom on the cheek. “Thank you for breakfast.”
Mom and Dave both leave for work. Philip waits for me while I run upstairs to brush my teeth and grab my backpack. When I come downstairs, he’s waiting by the front door. I lock up on our way out, and he walks me to his truck.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks as he opens my door for me. He gives me a boost up into the cab.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“We’ve got a full day ahead of us. After your classes, and meeting with Detective Bauer and later with Shane, we’re going to have to move you somewhere safe.”
“Where will that be? And you’ll be with me, right?”
“That’s the plan.”
* * *
After we arrive at campus, Philip parks in one of the visitor lots, and we walk to my chemistry lecture class. The classroom doors are already open, and dozens of students shuffle in and out of the large lecture hall.
We have a few minutes before class starts, so we hang back in the hallway a moment.
“Sit in an aisle seat where I can see you,” Philip says. “I’ll be in the back of the room trying to look inconspicuous. If you need me foranything, text me.”
I nod. “Will do.”
Andrea and Christian walk past us.
“Haley, hi,” Andrea says when she notices me. “How’s it going?”
I paste a smile on my face. “Fine. You?”
“I’m good.” She nods to her companion. “We’re both good.”
“Hey,” Christian says. “How’s it going, Haley?” He glances curiously at Philip.
Before I can reply, Andrea tugs Christian with her as they walk into the lecture hall. “Come on, let’s go find seats,” Andrea says to him. “See you in lab later!” she calls to me as they disappear into the throng of students filling the room.
“Class is about to start,” I tell Philip. “I’d better go if I want a good seat.”
He nods. “Text me if you notice anything sketchy. I’ll be right here.” He gestures to an empty aisle seat at the back of the room close to the exit.
I do my best to focus on the lecture. I take notes on my tablet, copy down the molecular structures the professor is describing, and annotate my drawings.
Other than Andrea and Christian, I don’t see anyone else I know by name. I don’t even see Mark anywhere.
When class ends, I put my stuff away and head to the back of the room, where Philip is waiting for me.
“Everything went okay?” he asks as he holds the door open for me.
I nod. “Yes. Nothing sketchy.”
“Next is history. Cool. I’ll get to hang out with Jason.”
