by Hope White
Was she kidding? How could Zoe protect Jack?
Then again, she’d talked both the teenager and the neighbor with the rifle out of shooting Jack. She had also neutralized the home intruder with her handy pepper spray.
Who was protecting whom here?
She didn’t want to disappear, yet Jack didn’t know any other way to avoid harm.
He’d been good at disappearing growing up when he felt threatened by bullies. He’d hide behind cabinets at school, or dive into a bush to camouflage himself, afterward feeling like a supreme loser.
That must be how Zoe felt when he suggested they leave town.
This was different. Her life was at stake.
He shot a quick glance into the rearview. Her eyes were closed, and she’d interlaced her fingers. Was she praying again?
A few seconds later she opened her eyes and caught him looking at her. He refocused on the road.
“Does praying help?” he asked.
“Absolutely, and it gave me an idea.”
“What?”
“The Mt. Stevens Resort. Curt, the manager, offered me a room. I’ll tell him, under no uncertain terms, not to let anyone know I’m there.”
“I’d rather take you to Bellingham or Seattle.”
“One night, okay? Depending on what happened at the police station, we’ll make our next move tomorrow morning.”
Their next move? Jack didn’t think they had any moves left to play at this point. Shots fired at a police station meant both a bold villain and a serious breach of security. Was Detective Perry even still alive? Jack didn’t like the man, but he didn’t wish him harm. “Do you have the resort manager’s number?”
“Yes.” She dug into her shoulder bag and pulled out a business card. “Shall I call him?”
“Yes, make the arrangements.”
She made the call. “Hi, Mr. Underwood. This is Zoe Pratt, Shannon’s friend... No, no word about Shannon. I could use a room at the resort after all, if you can still make that happen... Sure, no problem. I’m on hold,” she said to Jack. “Oh, hi again. Actually the isolated, private option would be great. Had kind of a crazy day... Can’t go into it.”
“Tell him to register under my name,” Jack said.
“Also, can you put it under the name Jack Monroe? The fewer people who know where I’m staying the better... Yes, a lot of questions. Right. I could use the peace and quiet... Okay, great. Thanks.” She ended the call. “Well, that’s all set. They’ve got a duplex available right now if I want to check in early.”
“We have to address a few things before we head over there.”
“Like what?”
“Your appearance.”
“What’s wrong with my appearance?”
“You look like you.”
“Wait, what? Ooohhh, you want me to look like someone else, not like Zoe Pratt, who’s being stalked because her friend was kidnapped.”
“That is correct.”
Jack was amazed by the way she boiled down the past few days of nonstop threat and danger into one concise sentence.
“Are you thinking hair dye, wig, what? It’s not like I can eat my Wheaties and grow five inches.”
“You’re being funny or sarcastic?”
“A little of both. Again, it’s my defense mechanism because I’m nervous.”
He glanced in the rearview, but she was playing with Romeo and he couldn’t see her eyes. Although her voice and her tone had a lightness to them, her meaning was very clear: she was, in fact, afraid about her current situation. And yet she was determined to stay in the area.
“To be clear, you want to stay in Mt. Stevens because...?”
“To clear Shannon’s name.”
“You’ll need to keep a low profile.”
“I understand that.”
“You may not like what you find out...” he hesitated “...about your friend.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“No, but it’s been my experience that people can surprise you, and not always in a good way.”
“I love Shannon. There’s nothing she could have done that would tarnish that love. It’s unconditional. Like God’s love is unconditional.”
“For people who believe in Him.”
“For everyone, Jack. We are all God’s children.”
Unconditional love. Interesting.
* * *
An hour and seventeen minutes later they had purchased supplies and Jack waited outside a gas station bathroom for Zoe to exit with her updated look.
She’d decided not to permanently dye her hair, because she said she’d tried that once and it turned out lime green. Instead, she’d bought a temporary spray-on color that her high school kids used. She’d also found a pair of glasses at the drugstore, and he’d managed to find the boots he was looking for at the country co-op store with two-inch heels to adjust her height. That and the monochromatic outfit and matching jacket would throw someone off track at first glance.
The bathroom door opened and she stepped out.
Maybe to anyone else she’d look plain and unremarkable, not worthy of a second glance. But to Jack she deserved a second, third and fourth glance. Beneath the all-black ensemble, gray-tinted hair and thick-rimmed glasses stood the enchanting Zoe Pratt. And she was looking at him.
“Well?” she said.
“Looks good.” He hit the key fob to open his truck.
“But not good, right? I mean, I look boring, that was the plan?”
“Correct. That was the plan.”
“Well, I think we’ve achieved that goal.”
He motioned her into the truck and shut the door. Zoe Pratt could never look boring.
Jack scanned the surrounding area, including the burger restaurant parking lot next door for anything out of the ordinary, anything to indicate they were being followed or had been found. Although he didn’t want Zoe telling Dispatch she was with Jack, he knew it was only a matter of time before authorities pieced it together, especially considering they’d been inseparable for three days.
He climbed into the front seat.
“I don’t look that bad, do I, Romeo?” she asked his dog.
As Jack was about to clarify he didn’t think she looked bad, just the opposite, his phone rang. He recognized Detective Perry’s number. He hit the speaker button.
“Detective.”
“I assume you still have Zoe?”
“I do.”
“That was good work, getting her out of there unharmed.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you confident you can keep her safe?”
“I am.”
“You do that and I’ll focus on the case. Let me know where you end up.”
“Are you all right?”
“No, I’m not all right. Someone assaulted my deputy and tried to break the perp out.”
“Tried?”
“The perp’s dead and his coconspirator fled the scene. Be on the lookout for a white minivan. Washington plates.”
“Detective Perry, were you shot?” Zoe asked.
“Yeah, not serious. I’m going to text you a picture of the perp to determine if he was the intruder from the other night. Let me know. And check in periodically.”
“Yes, sir,” Jack said.
“Graham, you can call me Graham.”
“Okay, we’ll get back to you on the photo.”
“Be safe.”
“Thanks.” Jack ended the call and passed the phone to Zoe.
“That was cool.”
“What?”
“He wants you to call him by his first name.”
“I don’t understand why.”
“It means he respects you, probably because you wanted to help him back at the police station.”
/>
“But I didn’t help him.”
“He sensed you wanted to, but getting me out of there was more important.”
Jack puzzled over her comment. It was a natural reaction for him to want to assist the detective, especially since he’d been injured, but Jack had been torn. He needed to protect Zoe more.
He was certainly relieved that the detective didn’t demand Jack return with Zoe to the sheriff’s office. Not that the perp’s coconspirator would make a reappearance, but because it would be traumatic for Zoe to have to reenter the building where gunfire had sent her diving under a desk. It had been a smart move on her part.
Jack felt there had been a shift in the communication channels between him and the detective. A good thing. He would rather have Detective Perry as an ally than an enemy. Jack and Zoe had enough enemies at present, including the weather, which was preventing teams from going back up to search for Shannon.
“We got Detective Perry’s text,” Zoe said, looking at Jack’s phone. “It’s the guy who broke into Shannon’s place and assaulted you.”
“Text the detective and let him know.”
She did, then passed the phone back to Jack in the front seat. “So, the man who came for me at the inn wasn’t the man who kidnapped Shannon, which means that guy still has her? And how many people are involved in this thing?”
“There’s no way to tell.”
“That was a rhetorical question.”
“It didn’t require an answer?”
“Nope, and yours wasn’t very comforting,” she muttered.
“I’m sorry.” He needed to keep his mouth shut, wait for a clear signal that she expected an answer. Only, he wasn’t sure he knew the right one to give.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. You’re trying to be helpful and I’m overly emotional. Not a good combination.”
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“I know.” She leaned back and petted Romeo.
Jack wished she was still resting her hand on his shoulder. When she touched him, the world seemed to make a little more sense. He wanted to do the same for her.
“Would it help to talk about the case or talk about something else?” he said.
“Definitely talk about solutions, possibilities, ways to bring this to resolution. Huh, I kinda sounded like you. You’re rubbing off on me, Jack Monroe. So, I was able to retrieve the journal from the inn last night when I collected my things. Let’s start there.”
He heard her digging in her shoulder bag, and considered her words: He was rubbing off on her? He hoped not. Yet he could use some of her intuition and good nature to soften his edges. He heard the sound of pages flipping.
“Oh, right here she wrote about Randy, her boyfriend, that he was acting weird.”
“Define weird.”
“Knowing Shannon, that could mean he was withdrawn, quiet. She is quite a lively person and enjoys being around people who are upbeat and energetic, as well. I practically fell off the mountain trying to keep up with her on the trail.”
“You did fall off the mountain.”
“Not because I was clumsy. That jerk shoved me off.”
“Right.”
“If it hadn’t been so slippery, I could’ve gotten the advantage.”
“The advantage?”
“Kicked his kneecaps or done something to throw him off so we could have escaped.”
“I’m sure you could have.”
“Wait, are you teasing me? I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor.”
He shrugged. Maybe she was rubbing off on him after all.
“Shan also wrote about a subordinate who was giving her trouble, said he was skeegy.”
“That is not a word.”
“Shan made it up when we were kids. It means he was creepy, made her feel uncomfortable. His name is Walter Grosch. Maybe we should talk to him while we’re at the resort. That would be easy and under the radar since he’s already there, right?”
“Maybe easy, but perhaps not a good move if he’s involved in this.”
“True.”
“I can do a check and see what pops up.”
“Sounds good. I’d feel better knowing we’re doing something and I’m not sitting around wallowing.”
“I would feel better, too.” Actually he felt better because she felt better. “We’ll start with Walter. Then what?”
“It would be nice to talk to her boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, whatever he is. Who knows if or when he’ll return. But he’s not high on the suspect list since he’s not even in town.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not involved.”
“You make good arguments, you know that?”
“Is that bad?”
“Not at all. It keeps me sharp.”
“There’s the resort.” He nodded. “Three hundred and twenty-five rooms. Tourists ski in the winter and hike in the summer. I’ll pull up to the lobby and check in.”
He pulled up and parked on the far end of the parking lot. “I’ll be right back.”
* * *
“He’s coming right back, Romeo,” Zoe said, petting the dog. Jack would return, they’d check her into the duplex, and she’d be safe.
For the time being. What would happen when he was called out on a mission? He couldn’t be here 24/7, and he wouldn’t have to be if they made progress on figuring out who kidnapped Shannon and why.
She thought about what he’d said, about the possibility she may not like what she found regarding Shannon. Fine, she would brace herself for the worst, but she still didn’t believe it.
“‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’” she said softly. And she could. She could stand up to the anonymous threat hounding her, and she could accept whatever truths they’d uncover about Shan.
A sudden tapping on the window made her jump. Kelly stood outside, waving. Zoe opened the door.
“I recognized Jack’s car and was hoping you were inside,” Kelly said. “You’re not going to believe what happened.”
“What?”
“Move over.” Kelly climbed into the back seat and shut the door. “This.” She held out her cell phone for Zoe to read.
Zoe was looking at a text...from Shannon.
“Whoa, I don’t believe it.”
“I didn’t either, but it’s her, and she’s okay. Read it.”
Zoe read the text: Got away from goon. In trouble. Don’t tell police.
“Don’t tell police?” Zoe looked at Kelly. “Why not?”
Kelly shrugged. “Have no idea. Did she text you?”
Zoe checked her phone. Nothing. “No. What are you going to do?”
“Not tell police, that’s for sure.”
“Hang on, shouldn’t they know so they can send more search teams out? Maybe they can triangulate the location where the text came from or something. Jack would know about that stuff.”
“She’s my best friend and she asked me not to tell police, so I won’t. I’m so glad she’s okay.”
“I wish we knew where she was and what’s going on.”
Kelly’s phone beeped with another message.
“Is it Shannon?”
“No, my boss. Gotta run.” Kelly leaned forward to give Zoe a hug, then left.
Zoe watched as Kelly crossed the parking lot and passed Jack. Kelly nodded her greeting, but didn’t stop to chat, so Zoe figured she didn’t share the news about Shannon.
Should Zoe? Yes, she should definitely tell Jack, no question. She trusted him implicitly. But how much should she share?
“Everything. He needs to know it all.” Even if Zoe wasn’t pleased about the in trouble part of the text. She needed to practice what she preached, and that meant unconditional love no matter what kind of trouble Shannon had
gotten herself into.
She sighed, anxious for him to return, and considered the text. It seemed odd that Shannon referred to the kidnapper as a “goon.” That didn’t seem like a word Shan would have used. Even more odd that she’d texted Kelly instead of Zoe.
Jack slid into the front seat. “He reserved half a duplex in the northeast corner.”
“Kelly got a text from Shannon.”
Jack turned and looked at Zoe.
“Shan’s text said she escaped the guy, but she’s in trouble and not to tell police about the text.”
Jack blinked his warm blue eyes, but didn’t say anything.
“I’m ready. I can handle it.” And she could. She waited for Jack to tell her they needed to call the police. Immediately.
“What do you want to do?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s get settled. Then I’ll call Detective Perry.”
“Okay.” He put the car in gear. “She could be in trouble because she got all turned around up there and can’t find her way back. Did she mention any landmarks?”
“I didn’t even think of it that way. No, she didn’t mention landmarks. I’ll text Kelly and ask her to reach out and see if Shan will respond.”
“Why did you assume the mention of trouble was nefarious in meaning?”
“Because she said not to tell police, plus Shan didn’t text me, she texted Kelly.”
“And...?”
“I mean, I was with her up there when she was taken. I was shoved off a mountainside and you’d think she’d wonder if I was okay, and she’d know how upset I’d be about what I’d witnessed and...” Her voice trailed off. “Wow, I sound like a self-centered jerk.”
“It’s normal to say things out of character when you’re upset.”
“In other words, I’m not usually a self-centered jerk?”
“That’s rhetorical again?”
“I guess.”
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Be hard on yourself. I don’t think many friends would have stuck around like you have, considering the danger you’re in.”
“Yeah, and I am so done with being a target. I want Shannon back and safe.”
They pulled up to a duplex and he turned to her. “Then let’s focus on finding answers.”