The Only Witness: The Center City Series: Book One

by Shannon Flagg

  “Don't lie, I can feel it. It doesn't feel good. We need to be honest with each other.”

  “I am scared. This is all new. I can't be sure what's going to happen. I don't know if this was the right choice.”

  “It was the only choice,” she cut him off, “you would have died in prison, it wasn't an option. So, we'll be honest with each other even if it's not easy.”

  “That works both ways,” Deacon pointed out, “you sure have something on your mind. You want to tell me what?”

  “Can you tell me about The Strays?” It wasn't what he'd expected her to say, even when Deacon knew that the question was coming.

  “Of course. I forget that you don't know some of this stuff. I grew up with it.” Deacon motioned to the bed. “I'll tell you everything I know, if you lie down. And if you let me find you something to eat after. You've got to keep your strength up. Stay strong.”

  “Alright,” she smiled up at him. “Start talking.”

  “The Strays have always existed in one form or another. Over generations the name we call them changes. They're a mixture of Shifters and Weres, something that never happens in a regular pack. They're not ruled by anyone in particular but have a set of rules they abide by.” Deacon followed her to the bed, knelt down and pulled her sneakers off when she sat down.

  “Josiah said that they have a reputation and that you should be careful. I heard him say it to you before we left. What did he mean by that?”

  “They do have a reputation, some of the members make a living by taking jobs that the packs won't touch.” Deacon set the sneakers aside, got to his feet and found her bag. He realized he'd need to get her more clothes, she only had several shirts, a pair of pajama pants and the jeans she was wearing. He needed to make sure that she had what she needed, what she deserved.

  “How do you know that you can trust them? That they'll have your back the way that the pack does? What if they have an ulterior motive?”

  “The Strays keep their word. It's a point of pride for them, and if they didn't, they wouldn't be able to interact with the packs. They will have my back and I'll have theirs. I'm Stray now. Actually, we're Stray now.” Deacon watched her take everything he'd said in. She'd relaxed some which pleased him until he realized that there was something that she was keeping from him. “I need to ask you something, Vera, and before I do, I'm going to remind you what you just said to me. We're going to be honest with each other, right?”

  “Right,” she replied. “How could you tell?”

  “I couldn't when you were all tense. Now that you relaxed it's more obvious.” It was the best way that he could think to say it, hoped that she'd understand. “So, tell me. Whatever it is, Baby, just tell me.”

  “What if it doesn't work? What if the treatment doesn't work? What if...”

  “You are not going to die, Vera. Stop thinking that. This is going to work, it has to work. I'm sorry that you're going to change now. I will find whoever it was and I will kill them. You have my word on that. This isn't what I wanted for you.”

  “If it helps any, changing sounds kind of awesome, but I'm just worried that I won't get to find out. I know I should think positive and all that, but it's just not that easy for me.” She took a deep breath. “And as far as whoever did this to me, I know that you'll get them. You don't have to tell me that.”

  “No, Vera, I need to tell you that. I need you to believe that, to trust me.”

  “I do, Deke,” Vera reached out and ran her hand over his arm. “I'm here, aren't I? I'm in this with you, all in. I love you. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” Deacon wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve feeling the way he did for her. It had opened up a part of him he hadn't realized was closed. “We're going to figure it out. And I need you out of that shirt, now.”

  “I'm not feeling too frisky, Deke.”

  “I need to put the ointment on your back,” Deacon hated the look that crossed her face. “I know it hurts. I've got something for that.” Susan had given him a bottle earlier in the car and he'd tucked it into his pocket. “Shit, I've got to get some water or something.”

  “There's a water bottle in my bag. And a protein bar. I need something in my stomach if I take a pain pill.”

  “I'll go get you something to eat.” Deacon offered, there had to be a stocked kitchen if this was a safe house.

  “I'm not hungry, I just need to have something in my stomach for the pill. Don't go anywhere.”

  “I'm not going anywhere.” Deacon promised.

  <#<#>#>#>#

  “Okay, I let you get some rest and get some food in you. Now it's time to get down to business. This isn't a place you can stay for an extended period of time. Safe houses such as this are scattered around the country, none within pack boundaries. We remain on the edge, and you will as well.” Lina walked around the table and placed folders in front of each of them. “Your monetary assets were transferred into numbered accounts at an off shore bank. I've included the name and numbers of a few financial advisers. Choose one, they'll help you with the rest of the details. In these folders there is also a map, you can choose any of the areas shaded in gray to settle in. The others are color coded to represent the packs to which they belong.”

  “How long are we welcome here?” Deacon spoke up without opening the folder. From the clinical way that Lina was speaking, he figured that it wasn't for long. Probably not another night. They needed to figure something out and fast.

  “You'll be expected to leave bright and early tomorrow morning. I realize, it is not much time. To compensate for this, I've arranged for two cars for you as well as additional funds to cover the cost of a new bike of your choosing for both Deacon and Houdini.” Lina smiled at them. “And we're very happy to have all of you with us. You will find clean contract phones in the cars, there is a number programmed in for if an emergency arises.”

  “Thank you,” Susan looked up from the folder. “Just one question, what about our properties, the houses and the businesses?”

  “New To You is a crime scene. Valhalla Brothers has had its accounts frozen with the owner being under suspicion for two murders. Adelaide has taken up residence in Deacon's house with her new husband. The Vikings are under new management and something tells me that Houdini's room isn't his anymore. And Susan, I imagine you'll be evicted and your stuff put in storage after you don't pay your rent for a few months. Any other questions?”

  “You certainly don't sugarcoat shit.” Houdini spoke up. Deacon shot him a warning look, shook his head ever so slightly. They did not want to get a reputation as shit stirrers. Houdini mouthing off to Lina was just going to exacerbate the situation.

  “No, I don't.” Lina smiled at him. “You might want to pay real close attention to the list of rules inside the folder, Human.”

  “He has a name,” Susan spoke again, “start using it.”

  “Don't get your panties twisted, Doctor, he's a big boy. If he can't handle it, you should have left him behind.” Lina gave them all a nod and then left the room.

  Silence hung over the table for several minutes. Finally Deacon got to his feet. “I need some air. We all need some air.” It wasn't a suggestion and they all knew it. The conversation they all needed to have was one best out of earshot.

  “We could take these outside and look at them,” Vera tapped her fingers against the folder. “If we have to leave in the morning, we need to make some decisions and soon.”

  Together they walked through the backyard to a spot near a cluster of trees, Deacon motioned for Vera to sit down on the grass. He sat down next to her, threw the folder down. “We've got some decisions to make but first, we all need to be real clear that from here on out, we're playing by different rules. Some people might think we're in over our heads. I don't know, maybe we are, but it's the path we're taking and we'll figure it out. Make the best of it. Stay together.”

  “I'm with you, Prez,” Houdini told him.

  “Don't call me t
hat. I'm not your President, not anymore.” Deacon would have risen to his feet, but Vera placed her hand on his leg. “That's in the rear view now, just like everything else we've ever known. So, let's open that map and pick a place none of us have ever been.”

  “So, in order to change and run properly, the two of you will need somewhere with woods, rural would be best.” Vera picked up one of the folders, her expression serious as she took out the map.

  “The three of us will,” Deacon corrected her.

  “I'm good with anywhere but Florida.” Houdini told them as he laid back on the grass. “Fuck Florida.”

  “I'd never have suggested Florida,” Deacon told him. “Nothing down south, let's stay up north.”

  “Wyoming.” Susan spoke up. “It's got woods and mountains. Gets cold but we should be able to deal with it. I've heard that it's pretty there.”

  “Works for me.” Houdini was still on his back looking up at the sky. “Put our money together and get a nice place. Figure out something for work once we get there.”

  “Vera?” Deacon looked over at her.

  “Sure,” she replied with a smile. “Seems as good a place as any.”

  “Alright, Wyoming it is. We should get online, check out some places.” He decided that he'd figure out a way to leave that to people more technologically inclined than himself.

  “Actually,” Vera cleared her throat. “We need to figure out what we've got to spend and we should all figure out how much we can comfortably kick in while maintaining enough money to support ourselves for a few months, in case the jobs don't happen immediately. Also there's the fact we've all got to replace everything we had,” her voice cracked slightly, “there's clothing and toiletries and all sorts of things we won't think about until we need them.”

  “Baby,” Deacon grabbed her hand. “It's going to be okay.”

  “I didn't say that it wasn't,” she replied. “I'm just pointing out what needs to be done. I can do it, figure out the house and everything else. I just need the figures.”

  “I can live off two grand for three months,” Houdini piped up. “So whatever else there is, it's for the fund.”

  “I'd need a cushion of about ten grand just to feel covered.” Susan offered. “Everything else, I'm in.”

  “Same for me,” Deacon replied. “You figure out what you need, Vera, and then have at it. I'm sure there's a computer in the house.”

  “I can use my laptop. It's in my purse.” Vera replied as she gathered up the folders. “I should head in and do that, like you said we don't have much time.”

  “Do you need a hand?” Susan asked.

  “No, she's good.” Houdini sat up. “I need a hand with something, though. I need a run and a partner for it.”

  “Fine, but you'd better be able to keep up. I'm not stopping for you. I'll need to change.”

  Houdini popped to his feet with grace that defied his size. “I'll race you there.”

  Deacon watched with amusement as Houdini took off with Susan right on his heels. “Think that they slept together yet?”

  “Nope,” Vera replied. “But I'm guessing it's going to happen very soon.” Slowly she got to her feet. “Will you hang out with me while I work? I guess I'm not all the way comfortable in the house by myself.”

  “It's only one more night, Baby, then we'll be on our way to our new home.” Deacon rose to his feet, walked over to her and took her hand in his. “I need you to do one thing for me Vera, one little thing.”

  “What's that?”

  “Relax. Take a couple of deep breaths. Remember that we're going to get through this, all the way through it.” Deep inside of him he locked down the thought that he shared with Vera, the thought that this last ditch effort might be futile. In less than a month he could lose the woman he loved more than anything.

  Vera squeezed his hand. “I love you, Deacon, that's what's important. I love you more than I can ever say.”

  “Marry me?”

  “Wait, what?” Vera stopped walking, eyes wide.

  “I said, will you marry me?” Deacon hid his grin with effort at the feelings he felt raging off of her. Feelings that ranged from thrilled to scared. Her silence gave him pause. Was loving him enough to overcome everything that she had rolling around inside of her? “Fuck, Baby, say something.”

  “You really want to marry me?”

  That's when Deacon realized the surprise she felt wasn't the impromptu nature of the proposal; no, it was because she couldn't wrap her mind around the fact he wanted to marry her. “That would be why I asked. I know that it's sudden, I get that. You don't have to answer now. You could take some time and think.”

  “Yes.”

  “Alright, take all the time that you need. There's no pressure, Vera, never any pressure from me.”

  “No, I didn't mean that I need time.” Vera swallowed hard, her hands shaking as she gripped his hand tightly. “I'll be more clear. Yes, Deacon Hawke, I will marry you. There's just one thing.”

  Deacon's heart had been soaring and now it sank, because he couldn't imagine a good condition attached to a proposal that he'd made without even a ring. He wanted her to have the ring that his grandmother, his father's mother, had worn for her entire marriage but giving it to her wasn't possible. The ring, and so many other things that he could never replace, was still in Center City.

  “Deke? Did you hear me?”

  “What's the condition, Vera?” He knew that his voice had an edge to it, a coolness that he didn't intend but couldn't really control. “We wait until after the wolf moon to see what happens?”

  “No,” Vera replied, the smile was still on her face, but it was more nerves than excitement. “I was just going to say that I want to do it as soon as possible. I need to look for a Justice of the Peace or something.” She let out a deep sight. “I know that it's probably not possible, I mean you're a wanted man and putting your name into the system would just be like drawing a map for Chief Will.”

  “There are other ways to get married,” Deacon pointed out. “How about you take care of the details of our place to live and I take care of the details of the wedding?” He nearly laughed at her expression; details were something that Vera enjoyed. “Or we can do it together.”

  “No, I'll work on Wyoming and you'll work on the wedding.” Vera smiled brightly up at him.

  In that moment, despite everything, all was right in the world. Deacon had never seen anyone as beautiful as Vera, especially right now, with the way that she was looking at him. He'd give her a wedding, even if it wasn't the grand event she deserved.

  Chapter TWENTY-TWO

  River Rock, Wyoming was a rural town. It was everything that they needed, small enough to be private but large enough for the four of them to stick out like sore thumbs. Vera had gone back and forth over the numbers for hours, found a figure that left them all more money than they'd said they would need for three months of no work and allowed for Houdini and Deacon to buy whatever bikes they desired.

  Searching for a place that would be big enough to accommodate them all, fit within their budget and had unrestricted access to a large span of forest was challenging. Vera knew that Deacon was bored, but he stayed there with her, snacking on whatever Esther brought them out of the kitchen. She'd told him to take a break after a few hours and he'd gone outside.

  Finally she found a place and it was perfect. Three bedroom house set on twenty acres that included woods and a stream. There were also two other buildings on the property; it wasn't important what they were, because they could be anything. Twenty acres would give Deacon and Susan plenty of space to run. Three bedrooms meant that they could all live under the same roof. And the best part was they had enough money to pay for it.

  The only thing that bothered her was that she, even with putting the majority of her reserved money in, was putting in the least amount. Even if she put back the money to live on, she was still way lower than the rest of them.

  Vera rested her head on h
er hands, the majority of her money was invested in New To You. It had been her grand plan not to get rich but to be comfortable, maybe even expanding the store to carry artisan items from the town. Her focus had been so set, her desire strong enough to be willing to live on ramen for as long as it took, she had never even considered that something she wanted more would come along.

  A light knock sounded on the open door and Vera looked up to see Houdini. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself, what's up?”

  “I need you to come with me, now.” His face was expressionless, hands clasped in front of him. “Leave the computer, Vera, come on.”

  Vera shut the laptop, jumped to her feet. One thought filled her head, consumed her. Had something happened to Deke? “What happened? Damn it, Houdini, talk to me.”

  “We've got to go outside,” he reached out and grabbed her hand. “Need you to move it a little faster.”

  Vera couldn't get a full breath in, but she began to move to match Houdini's pace. She pulled ahead of him when she realized that they were heading out the back door. Had whoever attacked her come here? Was it someone else? What is a Stray? Were they all in danger? The thoughts consumed her entire mind enough that she stumbled down the back stairs, hit the muddy ground, but she managed to use her hands to stop her from going face first.

  “DEKE!” Vera got to her feet, ran forward and stopped at the sound of a twig cracking. “DEKE! Where are you? Damn it, where are YOU!?”

  “Right here,” his voice came from behind her. Vera whirled around, grabbed his shirt with her muddy hands because he was that close.

  “You scared me, twice! Where were you? What's going on? Why did Houdini come get me?” Her fingers ached from holding the tee so tightly. “Deke?” Vera didn't know why he wasn't answering her, but it was really starting to freak her out.

  “I did it.” He smiled down at her, brought his hand up to move her hair out of her face.