by Theresa Hall
Allison’s heart shattered at the tone in his voice. She wouldn’t dare do that to him, but she knew why he felt the need to say it. “I wouldn’t do that, anyway.”
“I know. I just feel like I have to ask. I’m going to need to pull over for a second and make a phone call. I don’t have a strong cell reception right now, and it only gets worse from here.”
Jackson eased the truck off the road and put it into Park. His green eyes settled on her face and lingered there.
“I don’t know how you’ve put up with me. I’ve never met anyone like you before, Allison.”
His tone was soft as it poured over her. “Is that good or bad?” She gave a nervous laugh.
“I don’t know yet.” He smiled, then turned to open the door. “I need to stand out of the truck to get better reception, but I’ll be right here. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Ever again.”
“Same here.” The thought of being with Jackson Archer forever actually wasn’t such a bad idea.
* * *
Jackson walked to the back of the truck and leaned against the tailgate. He watched Allison through the back window. It amazed him that a traffic call had turned into this.
It was time to clear his mind off Allison and refocus. He was anxious to find out what was going on with the case. Devon hadn’t called yet, and he was starting to worry. Something didn’t feel right. It wasn’t like Devon to do this. Jackson dialed the number and waited.
“Hello?” A female voice answered.
“Hey, it’s Jackson. Karen? Why are you answering Devon’s phone?”
“Jackson. I’m so glad it’s you.”
Silence hung between them for a few seconds. His gut told him what his mind refused to believe. Something bad had happened. That’s why Devon hadn’t called.
“Is Devon okay?” He braced for the bad news.
“He’s been shot, Jackson. He’s out of surgery but it’s still critical. He woke up once and asked for you. Said he had something to tell you about the case. He’s been in and out, fighting the pain.”
Jackson doubled over to catch his breath. Lord, please don’t let him die. He stood up and steadied himself against the truck.
“I had no idea. How did it happen?” He had a million questions, but he knew Karen wouldn’t have the answers.
“I don’t have any answers for you. The only thing I can tell you is that Devon was at a red light coming into town. The weird thing was that he was driving Richard Maber’s truck. I was hoping you would know what was going on.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. But I can’t come to the hospital right now. It’s too risky.”
“What do you mean? Is Devon safe here?”
Her voice was on the verge of hysteria. He wished he could tell her yes, but he would be lying.
“Call and insist the department put someone outside his hospital door.”
“Why can’t you do it for him? Please, Jackson. You’re scaring me.”
“I can’t. Schmille put me on administrative leave.”
“What? Well, I’m not telling Devon right now. It’ll only rile him up.”
“No, don’t. There’s nothing he can do, anyway.”
“Do you know who shot my husband?”
“No, but we’ll find them.”
“Listen, I don’t repeat anything I hear you guys talking about. Ever. But Devon isn’t thinking straight on the pain meds and anesthesia. He said something about a crooked cop and how it was time for a shakedown, and then he said a name.”
Jackson’s stomach lurched. It felt as if someone had kicked him in the gut.
“Did you recognize it?”
“Yes, Schmille. He couldn’t say anything else. He was too out of it.”
The blood drained from Jackson’s head, leaving him dizzy. He always knew there was something about that man he didn’t like or trust. That had to be how they kept finding Allison.
“Karen, did he say anything else?”
“No, he didn’t mention any other names. Oh, wait. He said something about Al. He was mumbling but it sounded like he said, ‘Jackson, be careful, Al,’ but he was in and out at that time so I’m not sure if that’s exactly what he said.”
“Thanks, Karen. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Jackson’s heart sank. Be careful of Allison? But why? Was she involved in this somehow? Was she masterminding this whole thing? That couldn’t have been what Devon meant.
Jackson watched through the back glass as Allison brushed her hair. She must’ve caught him in the visor mirror because she turned to look back at him. Could he have been wrong about her?
Allison opened the passenger door and walked around the back of the truck. Her slippers scuffed against the gravel. She placed a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”
He looked into her eyes. The cold wind whipped the hair around her face. Devon’s comments left him wondering about a lot. Whatever he’d meant, Jackson didn’t want to believe Allison was guilty of anything other than being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
But he didn’t trust his own judgment anymore, especially where it came to Allison. He’d made some rash decisions the past few days. They’d all been because of her. She was getting to him in ways he had never imagined or expected.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine.”
She smiled. “I watched you while you were talking. Your face looked pretty serious.”
“Nothing to worry about. Let’s get back in the truck. We’re burning daylight.”
He watched her scuffle back to the truck in the slippers he’d bought her. A few days ago he was planning a fishing trip with his brother. It was crazy how fast life could change. He couldn’t wait to get her off the road and settled in at his parents’ house. No one would find them there. Or at least he hoped not.
* * *
A few minutes after they’d gotten back on the road, Jackson turned onto a long dirt driveway lined with mesquite trees. At the end stood a white two-story farmhouse with a large front porch. She noticed rocking chairs on each side. It was like a picture right out of a southern magazine.
“This is beautiful. Did you grow up here?”
“No, they bought this place after Dad retired. They aren’t farmers. They lease the land to the neighbor’s son. He farms cotton on it every other year. They just enjoy the quiet country life. It didn’t surprise me when they settled out here.”
“I love it.”
“It’s pretty secluded. Which is why you’re here, so don’t try to access the internet, cell phones or anything else.”
“Do you think they could track me down out here?”
“Mom and Dad have a high-tech security system and a Great Dane named Sugar who likes to bite strangers. Just relax and get some rest until I figure out our next move. When I know what that is, I’ll tell you. You deserve to have some rest. Take advantage of it.”
Allison blew out a ragged breath. “I can’t relax. Now I have to worry about Sugar eating me like a snack when I get out of the truck.”
Jackson laughed. “She’s well trained to take commands, so you’ll be fine.”
She loved animals, so she hoped he was right. Meeting his family had her stomach in knots. As if she wasn’t a wreck already, the thought of being around his parents was almost as scary as running from a killer.
He pulled up to the house. “Just giving you a heads-up. I haven’t seen them in a while. I don’t want to scare them with the truth. I’m going to go in first. You stay out here and change your clothes. Whatever you do, don’t tell them what happened to you.”
“I won’t. But don’t you think they will ask?”
“Sure, they will. They’re my parents. I’ve decided we’re going to let them think whatever they want. If they ask, I’ll tell them the truth. I don’t want to stress them out by telling them w
hat’s really happening, unless they ask me. I can’t lie to my parents.”
How in the world was he going to pull this off? There was no way his parents would believe they just came for a visit. She hadn’t known him for long, but she knew his parents would be shocked to see him with a woman. He’d never be able to fool them with this.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
She laughed. “No, I don’t think you do.”
“You’re thinking I can’t pull this off.”
She nodded. “Well, yeah. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
He opened the truck door and glanced back at her. He winked and shot her a playful grin. “I’ve got this. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Allison’s heart skipped a few beats as she watched him shut the door and walk up to the house. He was a man of many layers. But one thing she’d discovered was that he was a man of integrity. And like it or not, she completely trusted him with her life.
The front door of the house opened, and a dark-haired woman, who looked exactly like Jackson, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. She led him into the house and shut the door.
Allison sank down in the front seat and wriggled out of the ragged clothes she was still wearing. She slipped on the shirt and sweat suit, cleaned her feet, and spritzed on a little body spray. She sat back up on the seat and pulled the visor down so she could use the mirror.
The sight of her reflection was frightening. Dark circles hung under her eyes, making her face look paler than normal. No amount of makeup could cover what she’d been through. She dabbed on some mascara and lip gloss hoping it would help a little. Last, she pulled the slippers back on and waited for him to come out to get her.
The front door finally opened. A gigantic black dog lunged onto the porch and then raced for the truck. The dog braced its lanky body against the window and stared right at her. She’d managed to escape a killer more times than she was willing to count, and now she was about to get eaten by an oversized house pet.
“Sugar! Get down!”
A gray-haired man stood on the porch yelling. This had to be Jackson’s father, but there was hardly a resemblance. There was no doubt that he got his looks from his mother.
The dog slid down the window and ran back to the porch. Jackson walked out behind his dad and motioned to her. He was out of his mind if he thought she was getting out of the truck. Jackson motioned to her again. She shook her head. She wasn’t getting out if that dog was around. He jogged down the steps toward the truck and opened the passenger side door.
“Come on, Allison. It’s time to meet my parents.”
“What about that horse they keep in the house?”
Jackson laughed. His face looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen it. She could already tell that being with his family was good for him.
“Sugar won’t hurt you. As long as you’re with the family, she knows you’re okay.” He reached out to take her hand. “Let’s go.”
Family? Allison looked down at his hand over hers. For a second, all the pain and terror she’d been feeling vanished. She wished they could stay like this forever.
“Okay, let’s do this.”
THIRTEEN
Jackson knew touching her hand was taking a huge risk. He knew bringing her here under the premise of a relationship was like walking blindfolded into a fire. Somehow, he’d have to tell his parents the truth, but he didn’t like the idea of worrying his mom. If they asked, and they would, he would tell them everything. He knew they would respect the fact that he wasn’t going to let anything else happen to Allison. He’d make sure to put an end to this nightmare. Even if it meant losing his job. Which was unlikely, given the fact that Schmille would be on his way out once this whole thing was blown wide open.
“Are you totally sure that dog won’t eat me alive?”
“Absolutely.” He grinned. She was squeezing his hand like a lemon. “Unless you make me scream out in pain from that death grip you have on my hand. Sugar probably wouldn’t like that very much.”
She looked down and let his hand drop like a hot coal. “Sorry.” Her face flushed.
“Come on, you’ve got to stay with me on this. You can’t wimp out on me in front of my parents. I don’t want to scare my mom into thinking something is wrong.”
“I won’t. I can do this.” Her eyes met his with determination.
Jackson led her up the front steps where his parents stood ready to pounce. “Here it comes,” he whispered through clenched teeth.
“Hi,” his mother said, her arms outstretched to give Allison a hug.
He watched as Allison smiled back and allowed his mom to embrace her. She pulled away from Allison and placed a hand on his cheek. “Jackson, I’m so glad you brought her. Y’all come inside. We were just about to sit down to lunch. Let me make you both a sandwich and some soup. It’s not much, but it’ll warm you up.”
“How’s work, son?” his dad asked.
Jackson stepped aside to allow Allison to follow his mother into the house. He turned his face away from his dad before answering.
“Going great, Dad.”
He knew one of his biggest flaws was not being able to put on a poker face in front of his parents. Somehow, they could always see a lie in his eyes.
The smell of tomato-basil soup and chicken panini filled the house. His mom was an excellent cook who’d always had a knack for making the smallest meal seem special.
“It smells so good in here.” Allison trailed behind his mother toward the kitchen.
A strong hand grabbed Jackson’s shoulder.
“Come here, son.”
Jackson’s stomach knotted. “Yeah, Dad?”
His father sat down in his favorite old brown recliner and looked up at him. “Sit down. Let’s do some catching up,” he said, motioning toward the couch.
Jackson sat and waited for the questioning to begin. Being raised by an officer of the United States Army meant walking the straight-and-narrow line. Colonel Steven Archer didn’t tolerate being lied to, especially not by his own children.
“What’s on your mind, Dad?”
“What are you doing here, Jackson?”
And there it was. “We just came for a visit.”
“Cut it out, son.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me. What’s she doing here? You and I both know that’s not your girlfriend. Nothing against her, she seems nice and all, but you haven’t brought a girl to meet us since Hope died. And I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t bring one here wearing sweatpants and slippers.”
His dad leaned forward and stared him in the eyes. Jackson’s cheeks warmed and thought he felt beads of sweat forming at his hairline.
“So? What’s going on, son?”
Jackson dragged both palms down his face, then rubbed the stubble on his cheeks. He blew out a ragged breath. “Yeah, okay. You’re right. But Dad, you can’t tell Mom yet. She’d be terrified if she knew the truth. I was going to tell you, but I don’t want to worry her.”
“Do you think I told your mother everything I did in the army? She won’t ask if I tell her not to. Now what is going on?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Jackson!” His mother’s voiced echoed from the kitchen. Two seconds later she appeared in the living room with her hands on her hips. “Jackson, it’s rude to leave your guest. Come on, lunch is ready.”
“We’ll be right there, Lynda.”
Jackson watched his parents exchange a look only the two of them could decipher. His mom walked away without saying another word.
His dad turned his gaze back on him. “You were saying?”
Jackson decided he’d better start at the beginning. He should’ve known this was going to happen. “Dispatch got a call two nights ago saying there was a woman reporting an overturn
ed vehicle. When I went to check it out, I found Allison in her car. She’d crashed through Bob Langley’s fence. She confirmed there was an overturned truck. She said a man inside was shooting at her. We checked it out and found a body inside. No sign of the man she talked about, but it turns out the body was an undercover DEA agent.”
His dad interrupted. “And you trust this girl, Jackson? What were you thinking bringing her here?”
“Because they’re trying to kill her.”
His dad leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity. He leveled his eyes on Jackson’s face.
“Who’s they?”
“I don’t know. She’s clean, Dad. She works for Paradigm Enterprises in Houston. Apparently, she does all kinds of administrative duties for them.”
“Get to the point, Jackson.”
His dad wasn’t a man who liked waiting. Jackson cleared his throat and continued explaining. “She accidentally took a picture of the guy in the truck when she went to render aid. He started shooting at her, but she got away. I found out a little later that the man who tried to kill her is in the cartel. Someone also tried to kill her in the hospital.”
“I trust you’re doing whatever you can to keep her safe?”
“Of course.”
“Then why is she here? Why didn’t you hand her over to the feds? What makes you think you’re better at this than they are?”
“We have a dirty cop in the department.”
“And you know this for a fact?”
“Yes. Devon was shot, and he told his wife while he was under sedation.”
“Devon? Is he going to be all right?”
“I hope so. He’s critical. His wife said he was mumbling something about crooked cops. She said he mentioned Captain Schmille.”
“How can you be sure they won’t find her here? ”
Jackson braced his elbows on his knees and rested his head in his hands. This was all starting to make sense. Now that he was able to say it all out loud, it was falling into place. He caught a glimpse of a family picture sitting on a bookshelf across the living room. His late wife and baby smiled back at him. Coming here was a big mistake.