“Will do,” he says as the line goes silent.
My father stands in front of me with his hands in his pockets, change jingles around from within. “What’re you doing here? Any news on your brother’s case?”
“We’re working a few different angles. I’ll keep you in the loop when I have answers.”
“What’re you doing here then? You should be out there working, taking down the son’s of bitches who took him away from me.”
I roll my eyes. My brother was his favorite. It’s never been a secret. “I’m stopping by for something.” Before I explain I consider this house could be bugged. It’s not certain, but I can’t take chances. “I’m going to grab something from my room. Be right back.”
I slip into the kitchen and pull out the junk drawer, easily locating the familiar key and sticking it in my pocket so he won’t notice. I head down to my basement bedroom and locate a few of my old camping items, shoving them into a duffle bag before heading back up the stairs. “What’s in there?” he questions.
“Supplies. Our surveillance platform doesn’t have a ton of amenities,” I lie.
“Well, okay then. Get on back to work. I expect news the next time you pay me a visit.”
I nod and swiftly leave from the house to avoid any more questions. I don’t have the time or energy for the third degree. The sooner I get back to the hotel the more I’ll be reassured she’s returned safely. It’s not like me to worry about anyone aside from myself, but with Nina I can’t help it. She’s taken ahold of me and I’m unable to let go, even if her threats go unanswered.
Being that I’m taking her out of town it’s important to have a vehicle, so the old pickup truck will have to do. I’d rather have my motorcycle, but it’s not feasible plus we’ll need supplies. I can’t expect her to be content in a cabin off the beaten path; in fact I’m worried she’s going to assume I’m taking her somewhere remote to finish the job. I have to be prepared she’ll think I’m the enemy.
I manage to snag a parking spot right out front of the hotel in order for a fast exit. I haven’t paid close enough attention to anyone who may have put a tail on me, and I’m worried she could already have someone on her trail. I head up the elevator realizing my gun is hidden in the truck. If I’m walking into a trap I’m not prepared and it will put me in grave danger. This is unlike me. My head is in a disarray and I’m unable to concentrate the way I need to. Since time is ticking away I decided to approach the room and listen at the door until I can determine if she’s alone.
Several minutes pass and I hear nothing coming from inside. I slide my card into the slot and open the door, standing back in case I’m ambushed. Nina is sitting on the far bed staring out a huge window at the city skyline. She turns to see me entering and stands, grabbing two bags, one of which I know she didn’t have before. “Where did that come from?” I ask to see if she’ll be honest. It’s these little tests that mean something, because if she’s willing to be honest about them there is hope for her yet.
“Well, I sort of snuck back to my place to get it.” She throws up her hand for me to wait to scorn her. “Before you say anything, I needed stuff and I didn’t want you going there.” Obviously because she needed what was hidden in the ceiling. If that doesn’t say secrets I don’t know what does.
“Were you followed? Has anyone been there?”
“I didn’t stick around long enough to check. Look, I need to get out of this town. I need to lay low. I’ve pissed off the wrong person and when he finds out he’ll come looking for me. The further I get the better.”
“Tell me who you think is after you. Can you at least give me that?”
She nods with a calm grimace. “I will, but not here. You’re right. I could have been followed. My head is all over the place. We should hurry.”
“I feel ya. Trust me. We should exit out the back then, just to be safe.”
A short walk out the rear exit ensures we aren’t spotted. Nina is quiet as we head to my truck. I’m wondering if she’s worried about having to come clean with me, or if her secrets are finally catching up to her in ways I can’t understand.
We make it out of town without much traffic. I turn on the radio when the silence begins to bother me. She’s staring out at the horizon for a while before turning the volume down. “Why are you helping me?”
“Because I’m a nice guy.”
“It can’t be that. You just got to town. You don’t have to do this. You can easily forget you know me. I don’t want you involved in this. Please. Drop me off somewhere and drive away. I won’t be angry or upset. I’ll feel relieved you’re safe.”
A half-smile forms across my cheek. “Yeah, I’m pretty certain I’ll never be able to forget you, not after what we’ve done together.” Just saying it makes the hair on my arms stand up. My mind lingers to our previous encounter and the one before that. I don’t think a brain injury would allow me to forget the beautiful woman sitting next to me. “I’m not dropping you off.”
“Are you a cop?” She asks calmly.
“No.” It’s not a lie. I’m not a cop. “Why?”
She shrugs as I glance toward her. “Just curious. It would answer a lot of questions I have. I’ve never met a guy who wants to risk his life for me for no apparent reason. I mean, you already got into my pants, what more could you want than to fuck?”
Damn. She’s right. What do I want? Is it about sex? The attraction I can’t seem to shake? Our connection? Or is it something more involved I don’t know how to explain? In a very short time this woman has grown on me. I’m happier when I’m around her, even when I know she’s lying to me. It’s ridiculous to accept, but I have no doubt that it’s inevitably true.
“I can’t give you a logical answer. I have a gut feeling you’re a good person. If I can be of assistance when you’re in trouble I’m going to do that, otherwise I won’t be able to live with the consequences if I do nothing. Can you understand that?”
“I guess. It’s very noble.”
“What about you?” I question. “Are you a cop?”
“If I was a cop do you think I’d be taking help from a civilian?” She has a point. “I’d call for backup and be done with this catastrophe.”
“Okay, neither of us are police officers. I guess it counts as getting to know you.”
She snickers. “You have no idea what you’re involved in.”
“I have nothing to lose, though, it would be nice if I knew a little bit about why you’re running. Who is after you?”
She stares out onto the road. “Bad people. I’ve gotten involved in something I thought I could handle. Now I’m in over my head. I never expected they’d try to take me out by cutting my brake lines, but this isn’t the first time.” She stops abruptly and becomes quiet again.
I have to know why. “The brakes weren’t the first time? When was it?”
She’s stubborn, but finally speaks words I’m not prepared to hear. “A couple weeks ago when that guy died; the one who used to live in your room.”
“What do you mean?”
“The less you know the better. I’ve already involved you too much, Moth. I don’t know why either. I’ve spent my whole life shutting people out and the moment I saw you in that parking lot everything changed. What is it about you? I want you to walk away to keep you safe, but I also want you to hold me and never let me go.”
When I look over she’s waiting for me to react. My hand reaches for hers before I can even consider what it means. Our fingers lace together and this small gesture becomes a powerful connection. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. We’re going somewhere the people who are after you won’t be able to track, even if they know you’re with me. It’s safe.”
“How can you be sure?”
“It belongs to someone my dad knows. He’s in a nursing home now. It’s been untouched for years.”
Her grip loosens but doesn’t let go. I can tell she feels reassured. “It’ll be nice to be able to breathe again
.”
I glance in the rearview mirror and notice the same vehicle has been following us for several minutes, even after I switch lanes and take an exit. “Do you have your phone on you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Get rid of it.”
“What? Why? It’s a burner phone. My other one is for work and I left that in my car.”
“Why do you have a burner phone? Are you a spy? Are you a drug dealer?” I say it like I’m joking, but it’s also to watch for her response so I can continue profiling her.
“My credit sucks, so I bought a cheap one to use when I needed it. I break them too often to buy an expensive phone.” It’s a lie. Both Nina and Windy have good credit, but I’ll go along with it for now.
“Just throw it out anyway. I have a spare I’ll give to you. Trust me. I think someone is following us. They could be tracking your phone.”
She turns and looks. She’s not inconspicuous, not that it matters, it’s getting dark outside and the truck’s back window is too dirty for someone to see details. “How long have they been behind us?” She’s a little freaked out when she asks.
“A while. Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
I pull off abruptly into a gas station parking lot and look at Nina. “Stay down. I’ll be right back.”
She grabs my arm preventing me from leaving the vehicle. “Please don’t go. We can lose them on the road.”
“I don’t know if they’re following us for sure. It’s fine. I’ll be right back. Stay low and don’t open the door for any reason.”
I shove out the door and begin to prepare the truck for a fill up. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man in the car watching me. He’s on a phone. The call ends and he begins to climb out. While the gas begins filling the tank, I walk around the truck and look underneath. Sure enough, I spot a tracking device. “Mother fuckers.” I yank it off and attach it to the vehicle parked behind mine. I hurry and hang the pump back into position, then jump back in the truck and take off. Lucky for me a larger pickup has pulled in and blocked his view of us. We are out of the parking lot before he makes us and begins to follow. This is where I use my training to ensure we lose him. “I need you to hold on. I’m going to do something I saw on television.”
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
I maneuver through traffic, leaving just enough room to wedge myself in between two vehicles. Then, when I’m given the chance, I take a left hand exit. It’s too late for him to notice. He can’t make the turn, therefore loses us in an instant. I pat on the wheel, proud that I’ve accomplished it. My job doesn’t usually require me to drive recklessly. I gave that up when I stopped being on the force. “I told you. I had a plan. We lost him. He won’t be able to track us down now. I turn quickly and get back on the road we need to take to the cabin.
It’s been years since I’ve been to this place. I pass by the driveway because it’s overgrown with brush. Once I locate where the culvert is, I’m able to drive through the vegetation until I reach the locked gate. I retrieve the keys from my pocket and toss them over to Nina. Can you unlock that while I drive through? Just shut it when I’m past. I’ll wait for you to get back in.”
She does as I request then climbs back into the truck. “If you’re taking me back here to kill me they’ll never find my body.”
I chuckle. “Aww, you figured me out.”
She shoves me and smiles. “Shut up. I’ll have you know I can handle myself just fine. If you were a hired hit man you’d have a fight on your hands.”
“I’m almost sad I’m not. I’d give my left nut to see you in action.”
Her brows lifts. “That can be arranged.”
“Yeah right.”
I’m a little disappointed when we pull up to the cabin. It needs to be condemned. I’m wondering if the roof is stable. A large tree has taken out part of the porch. The main structure seems to be intact, but I won’t know until we venture inside. “It’s nothing to look at,” I mumble.
She sighs heavily while staring at the same thing. “Anything is better than running for my life. Until I can figure things out this place will do fine. Are you sure it’s okay that we’re here?”
“As you can tell from the struggle it took us to find it, I’d say we’re great.”
“What about food?”
“There’s a little store down the road a few miles. It’s like a Mom and Pop shop so you don’t have to worry about cameras or digital transactions. Cash only. We’ll be good. Besides, I was able to snag a few packs of Ramen just in case. The last time I was here we packed all the bedding and linens in large plastic bags. If not I brought one blanket in my duffle bag.”
“I’m not afraid of little spiders,” she admits.
“Shit, I am. Fuck those little bastards. They have no business being anywhere near me.”
I have to play with the lock to get it to open. It’s beginning to rain, but it feels like more of a mist. I hurry Nina inside before she catches a chill. It’s obvious someone has used the place after I’d been there when I was in my teens. The furniture is different than I remember. There is a newer refrigerator and the doors are open so it doesn’t mold inside. I’m thinking the place was winterized before people stopped using it. I walk over to the sink and notice antifreeze remains around the drain. It’s going to take me a while to get the water running again, so I know I need to get started. I grab my flashlight out of my bag and head for the front door. “Give me a second. I’m going to see if the power will come on. I need to mess with the water, because it looks like someone treated the pipes to keep them from freezing. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
She’s got her arms folded across her chest. “Do you want me to start a fire?”
I turn back and nod. “Yeah, if you can find stuff inside to make it work. Light some dry rotted pillows if you have to. Oh, and plan to tell me everything when I get back. It’s time I know the reason why I’m going to extremes to keep you safe.” When I walk out the door I don’t expect a response. She’s stuck now. She has no choice but to come clean with it all, and I’m prepared to listen and accept the things I won’t be able to change.
Chapter 16
The generator is out of gas, so we won’t be getting electricity any time soon. I manage to turn the water on, but we have to retrieve it from an outside pump being that there isn’t electric to bring it into the cabin. For now it will have to do. Nina probably won’t like it, but we all have to shit in the woods at least once in our lives. If animals can do it so can we.
I can already smell smoke coming from the chimney and know she’s gotten a fire started for heat, and I guess a bit of ambience. It won’t allow us to see all around the small home, but enough to manage without injuries.
When I step inside it’s full of smoke and dust. She’s got the back door open and she’s beating the hell out of a blanket. I notice the cabinets have been opened revealing what’s left of the non perishable items. Like I remember, the pantry is stocked. There are two jars of peanut butter. Cases of soup. A few kinds of beans, both dry and canned. There is a five pound bag of rice and some other miscellaneous edible things we can make something out of. Of course, my mind goes right to chili. It’s easy and it fills a man like me up. It also gives me flatulence, which probably isn’t a great side effect when I’m treading lightly with this woman. Nonetheless, beggars can’t be choosers.
When Nina sees me she comes inside and closes the door. “I was trying to tidy up a bit. It’s musty.”
“Yeah. I didn’t have time to have the maid come,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “Funny. How did it go outside?”
“I got the well to work, but we’ve got no electricity. I hope you can handle roughing it.”
“I used to camp when I was a kid. I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about,” she jokes. “Did you mention fishing? I haven’t been in years.”
This girl was made for me. I’m putting it out there, because there’s no doubt in my
mind that it’s true. Everything that comes out of her pretty mouth verifies it.
“You like to fish?” I want her to reiterate.
“Yeah. We used to go out on my dad’s boat every summer. We’d fish and crab for hours and then come back and cook it up for dinner. We’d catch bushels of crabs and have the neighbors over because we could never be able to eat it all ourselves.”
I’m surprised she’s talking about her past, her family even. “Do you have a large family?”
She shrugs and peers away. I can tell her mind has gone to a scary place. “I used to.”
“Am I allowed to ask what happened?”
She sits down on the edge of the sofa and pats the spot beside her. “I’d rather start with something easier to handle, if that’s okay.”
I nod and wait.
She’s playing with her hands, a telltale sign she’s uneasy. “I mentioned before I wasn’t who I used to be. It probably didn’t make any sense to you, but I’m ready to explain. I owe it to you for bringing me here out of harm’s way.”
“So you’re not Windy? Did you change your name?”
“Sort of. My real name is Nina. I was born in Guatemala and brought to the states when I was just a baby. My grandmother and my father raised me and my cousin, Nico. Growing up everyone thought we were twins. Nina and Nico Corsivo, cousins born on the same day, only four hours apart. We resembled each other enough so we just went with it. Nobody knew any different.”
“Are you still close?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “We were. We used to be, before…”
She stops and I can tell it’s off limits.
“Did you legally change your name?”
She seems withdrawn even though I get an immediate answer. “No. It’s complicated. I just wanted you to know the truth. I haven’t told anyone my secret, but you’ve been good to me and I appreciate it.”
“What happened to your mother?” It can’t hurt to ask.
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