Escaping the Past

“They’ll take Sarah. Along with everyone else you love. There’s not a damn thing I can do to stop them. Unless you help me.”

“How can I do that?”

“They know you have it. Especially now that Lover Boy here took it in to the jewelry store.”

Brody shook his head. “It was in my mother’s safe. I thought it was hers. I just took it to be appraised.” He sighed. “What now?” he addressed Wes.

“Now, we just need to make a date so you can transfer it back. We’ll wire you up and be sure you’re protected. You will need to get him talking. It’s not hard to do. He loves to boast. Get him to talk about the diamond and the people who died at the robbery. Then we’ll come in and arrest him once it’s in his possession. He’ll never see the light of day again. Simple as that.”

“Simple as that?” she asked sarcastically.

“Absolutely not!” Brody barked, coming to stand behind Lou.

“Well, what’s your plan, big guy?” Wes bit out. “If she doesn’t do this, he’s not going to go away.”

“What do I have to do?” Lou broke in.

“We have a lot of details to work out, but I can take care of that part. Are you in?” he asked, as though he was just asking for a tennis match.

“Will this make it all go away? So I can go back to the way things were?” she asked.

“I think so.”

“No.” Brody said just that one word.

Lou stood and faced him. “Do you want me to have to hide for the rest of my life? To constantly have to worry about the people I love? That he’s going to hurt one of them to get to me? You can’t keep me locked up forever.”

“You’re not under lock and key.” He placed his bent finger beneath her chin and forced her to look up. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She melted immediately, all thoughts of his earlier phone conversation gone with that simple statement. “You don’t?” she asked tentatively.

He shook his head, blond locks falling across his forehead. “I don’t.” He pulled a lock of her hair. “You say that like it surprises you.” His eyebrows drew together in question. “Why else would I be here?”

“Your mother’s will…settling the estate…familial obligations,” Lou replied.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Lou. I’m here because of you. Jeb called and asked me to come and I’m here. Because of you. Because I care about you. I might be able to get some things done here while I’m with you. But you are the main reason I’m here. I want to try to keep you safe. But that’s hard.”

“Is that why you slept in my room?” she whispered to him. “To keep me safe?”

“Hell, no.” He grinned. He stepped closer to her and said in a low voice, “That was because I wanted to make love to you.”

Her heart started to pound in her chest. Making love and being in love were two different things. But not to me. I love you, she wanted to scream. But she didn’t. Instead she wrapped her arms around his waist and said, “I’m glad you’re here.” I’ll take what I can get until it’s time for you to go. Even if it’s temporary.

Lou turned to Wes and said, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Can you promise me she’ll be safe?” Brody asked.

“I’ll do my best,” was Wes’s response, as he flipped his phone open and started barking orders into it.

****

When darkness fell, Lou slid her fingers between the slats in the window blinds and spotted the headlights of a vehicle coming down the drive. When it was highlighted by the lights from the barn, she saw it was a pickup with a camper shell.

“Who is that?” she asked, turning to Wes who was still on the phone with his crew.

Wes craned his neck, looking out the window. “Those are my guys.” He spoke into the phone. “Yeah. Just pull into the barn.” He snapped his phone closed.

Wes turned and unlocked the back door. He pushed Lou in front of him through the doorway, whispering, “Show time.”