Eyes of a Stanger
Page 31
“Sheree said something about killing the governor,” Tawnia remembered suddenly. “Tonight.”
Sheree shot her a venomous look, but one of the men was already talking on the phone, relaying the information. “Don’t worry,” an agent said. “We’ll find out everything we need to know from Miss Activist here. They always break when they’re faced with the real-life consequences of their actions.” Sheree spat at him, but he stepped casually aside to avoid her saliva, a hard smile on his face.
Tawnia and Autumn went into the bathroom to wash Orion’s blood from their hands. After their hands were clean, Autumn threw her arms around Tawnia. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so, so sorry. I should never have made you go with him.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s me who’s sorry.” Sobs shook Tawnia. “How come I can’t tell the bad guys from the good guys?” But Tawnia knew it wasn’t as simple as that. Autumn hugged her harder, their tears mingling together.
“How did you know to come?”
“The FBI called Bret. They’d found out that Orion had bought a ticket to Mexico for Sheree that she never used. That led them to finding some connections to an explosives company in Mexico. The FBI knew Bret had talked to Orion and wanted to see if he knew anything.”
“It was Sheree all along.”
“The passion of youth. I bet she’s been used, just like Orion.”
“He wanted revenge.” Tawnia’s voice was hushed. “Big revenge. But he didn’t mean to kill all those people.”
“But he did kill them.”
Tawnia nodded, tears dripping down her face. She thought of Winter’s still form under that sheet at the medical examiner’s office.
When they emerged from the bathroom, Orion and Sheree had been taken away. Bret and Autumn stayed with Tawnia as she recounted to the authorities what had happened. At last they were permitted to leave that place of horror. They rode down the elevator to the lobby. Jake was waiting for them there, his worried expression relaxing as he spied Autumn.
“I came right after I gave you the directions. I was worried.”
Autumn smiled wearily. “We’re okay. I’m glad you came.”
“Come on,” Jake said. “There are some benches outside. The police and the FBI have the area roped off from the crowd. Apparently someone tipped off the media.”
Tawnia followed the group blindly to the benches, sinking onto one with relief. The air was warm and the sky a brilliant blue that seemed to wash away the vestiges of terror from her heart. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Autumn didn’t sit beside her. She looked at Bret, his hands thrust deep in his pockets. “Your turn,” Autumn told him. “Don’t blow it again.” Squeezing Tawnia’s shoulder, she walked with Jake to the other bench. Jake put an arm around her, and they began talking quietly, heads close together.
They make a great couple, Tawnia thought.
Bret sat beside her, his eyes scanning the roped area beyond which a crowd had gathered. Tawnia saw a news van, and she turned her face away.
“The county offered me a job today,” he said. “Clay Hanks’s job. I told them yes.”
He wasn’t leaving! Tawnia managed a smile.
Bret scooted closer, lowering his mouth to her ear. “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. Not even when I heard about Christian. I couldn’t believe I might lose you forever.”
There were many reactions Tawnia could choose. She could make light of the seriousness of his tone, pretending she really didn’t care. Or that he was just a friend. That would prevent any future pain where he was concerned. Yet her dishonesty with both Bret and Orion hadn’t helped any of them so far.
The other choice was to lay her feelings on the line—whatever the consequences.
“If you’re asking for another chance,” she whispered, “the answer’s yes.” His arms were around her in an instant, and Tawnia melted into him. His lips touched her cheek, sliding along her skin until his mouth found hers.
When he let her breathe again, Tawnia smiled. “Now that,” she said softly, “is what I call amazing.”
Bret grinned.
Autumn appeared beside them. “Hey, stop that.” She pointed to the television cameras. “You’re on national TV. Tawnia’s mother will think I’m a bad influence.”
“So what?” Bret said. “Her mother likes me.”
Laughing, Tawnia kissed him again.
About the Author
Rachel Ann Nunes (pronounced noon-esh) learned to read when she was four, beginning a lifetime fascination with the written word. She began writing in the seventh grade and is now the author of more than two dozen published books, including the popular Ariana series and the award-winning picture book Daughter of a King. Her most recent picture book, The Secret of the King, was chosen by the Governor’s Commission on Literacy to be awarded to all Utah grade schools as part of the “Read with a Child for 20 Minutes per Day” program.
Rachel and her husband, TJ, have six children. She loves camping with her family, traveling, meeting new people, and, of course, writing. She writes Monday through Friday in her home office, often with a child on her lap, taking frequent breaks to build Lego towers, practice phonics, or jump on the trampoline with the kids.
Rachel loves hearing from her readers. You can write to her at Rachel@RachelAnnNunes.com. To enjoy her monthly newsletter or to sign up to hear about new releases, visit her website, www.RachelAnnNunes.com.