She opened the door of her freezer and tossed the corn back inside. Tears clogged her throat and her eyes brimmed as she reached under the sink for something to clean up Tyler’s accident. A truckload of grief pressed into her from all sides. She’d been wrong to think she could find peace here in Perfect. Would she ever be free from her past? Would she ever find a safe place where she could put down roots and make a permanent home for herself and her son?
That’s all she’d ever yearned for, and once again her dreams had slipped beyond her grasp.
Carlie ended her call with Ty’s school just as Wesley pulled out of Home Depot’s lot. Everything they needed to repair the back door had been tied to the rack on top of his SUV, and her stuff filled the cargo space. “Tyler’s school needs a copy of the restraining order and documentation that Jared’s parental rights were terminated in our divorce. Otherwise, they said they can’t deny him access to his son. I want to take care of that as soon as possible. When we drop the door stuff at my house, I’ll get my car and head over there with Tyler.”
Glancing at her, Wes shook his head. “We’ll go together. You have the folder with you, right? We’ll head there now—just tell me where it’s located.”
“Wesley—”
“I’ll likely be picking Tyler up and dropping him off for the next few days. It would be good to show my face there so they’ll know me.”
“That’s another thing I haven’t agreed to.” She was beginning to chafe at the control he wanted to exert over her life, no matter how well-intentioned it might be. She’d had more than enough of that with Jared. No man was ever going to put her into a box like that again.
“How has Tyler been getting to and from school up to now?” Wes asked, glancing at her again. “You start at the diner pretty early, way before the buses pick up the locals.”
“I’ve been dropping him off with Jenny’s niece, Ceejay. She has kids in the same school, and they all ride the bus together. Their oldest, Lucinda, keeps an eye on Tyler for me.” She turned to check on her son. He was sound asleep with one hand resting on Rex’s back. Poor little guy was worn out from the fright he’d suffered. “I’m off about the same time school is out, so I pick him up.”
“I’m not comfortable with that arrangement.” Wes checked on Tyler in his rearview mirror. “There are too many holes—too many opportunities for your ex to grab him.”
A chill crept down her spine. Jared would take Tyler if he could. Hadn’t he said with or without her he wasn’t leaving without his boy? Somehow he’d managed to slip away from the federal facility in Terre Haute where he’d been held. Sheriff Taylor had contacted Wes with that information. As the sheriff had suspected, a warrant had already been issued. Jared wouldn’t be free long enough to snatch Tyler. Would he?
“With more than one warrant out for his arrest, don’t you think he’s fled the area by now?” Grasping at straws, she chose that hope to hold onto. “He has to know the sheriff has everyone in Warrick and the surrounding counties looking for him and so does the state.”
“I heard what your ex said to you, Carlie. I heard his threats. Do you think he’s gone?” Wesley shot her an incredulous look. “Are you willing to risk your life and Tyler’s while Jared is still on the loose?” He shook his head. “I’m not.”
Her hand came up to touch the tender, swollen places on her face. “It’s just that . . . you’ve already done so much. I can’t ask you to rearrange your life for us.” Her throat closed, and she couldn’t catch her breath. “I don’t want—”
“My help?” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “You didn’t ask, but I’m giving it to you all the same.” His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Trust me, Carlie.”
“Yeah, well . . . that’s not as easy as it sounds.” She choked out a laugh and pointed to her swollen face. “You can see what happened with the last guy I trusted.”
“I understand,” he said, his voice gruff. “I haven’t been so lucky in the trust-placing department myself.” His mouth tightened into a hard line, and his Adam’s apple bobbed again. “But you can trust me, Carlie. I swear that I will do everything in my power to keep you and Tyler safe. You can take that to the bank.”
What did everything entail? He glanced sideways at her, and her heart seized at the absolute determination she read in his hardened expression. He was a Marine, an experienced soldier sworn to serve and protect, and she’d just caught a glimpse of what that meant. “Why?” Her eyes stung again. “Why would you do so much for me, when we hardly know each other?”
“You’ve always been good to me.” He shrugged. “I appreciate the way you reserve that table in the corner of the diner for me every morning.” One side of his mouth tugged up in a wry grin. “I need to have my back against the wall. I have to face the door when I’m at the diner. You figured that out without a word from me. I”—he cleared his throat—“I enjoy seeing your smiling face every morning, Carlie. Makes my day,” he said, his face coloring. “I sleep better after my visits to the diner.”
Wow. Just . . . wow. Who’d have thought such a big, tough guy like Wesley Holt could be so sensitive? Who broke this wonderful man’s trust? What would she give to be loved by someone like Wesley Holt? She’d never be so lucky or worthy.
Drawing in a much-needed breath, Carlie focused on where they were headed. She pointed to the sign for the next county road. “Take the next exit and head east for Tyler’s school.” Shoring up her battered nerves, she turned to face him. “You have no idea how much your help means to me. What can I do to thank you?”
“Let me and the crew at L&L help you and your boy.” His eyes met hers. Warmth and concern shone from their depths. “Just stay safe. That will be thanks enough.”
She nodded, unable to speak. Would all of his willingness to help disappear if he knew the rest of her sordid tale? Once he found out what she’d done to get drugs while living on the street, surely he’d turn away in disgust.
Wes pulled into the large parking lot of Tyler’s school and parked in one of the spots reserved for guests located near the front door. Carlie’s gut filled with dread. She climbed out of the SUV and went to the back, where she’d tucked the legal folder into the laundry basket holding some of her clothes. By the time she had the folder, Wes had Tyler in his arms. Her son rested his head on Wes’s shoulder, still half-asleep.
She marched through the front door, holding it open for Wes, and then headed for the office. The three of them walked through the double glass doors and up to the counter. “We need to talk to Principal Halverson and my son’s teacher, Ms. Hoff. Is there someone who can cover her classroom for a half hour or so?”
The school secretary’s eyes widened at the sight of Carlie’s swollen face. “If you’ll have a seat, I’ll see what I can do.”
Carlie nodded, moved to the bank of chairs against the opposite wall and sat down. Wes’s presence beside her was the only thing holding her together. She hated this. The busy office teemed with people. Teachers’ aides working at the copier, a woman putting things in the bank of mailboxes against the wall, other parents—they all stared her way, their expressions filling with pity and shock before they quickly turned away. Yep. Time to move.
CHAPTER THREE
WESLEY SCANNED THE AREA AROUND the school, checking for any sign of Jared’s stolen car on the road or in the parking lot. Tyler walked between him and Carlie. He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder and guided the two back to his Chevy Suburban.
Sunny Hollow Elementary School now had a copy of Carlie’s restraining order and documentation proving she’d had her ex’s parental rights terminated in the divorce. Carlie also provided the office staff and Tyler’s teacher with a short list of people allowed to pick Tyler up at the end of the day. Wes made sure he was at the top of that list.
One look at Carlie’s face, and the principal, assistant principal and Ty’s teacher had rallied around her, swearing to keep her son safe. No information would be given out about his whereabouts o
ver the phone, no matter whom the caller claimed to be. The assistant principal swore he’d stick by Tyler’s side once school was out until Wes, Carlie or the Maurers arrived to take him home.
Wes opened the back door of his SUV and positioned himself behind Carlie and her son, blocking the two from view. Carlie fastened her son into the booster seat they’d taken from her car, and Wes continued to hover until she was settled into the front with the door shut and locked. Only then did he circle around and climb into the driver’s side.
His eyes burned with weariness, and his stomach rumbled. He needed food and rest, and he was starting to get edgy. “Do you mind stopping by the diner before we drop your stuff off at my apartment? It’s close to lunchtime, and I skipped breakfast.” He glanced at her.
“No, I don’t mind. I’d like to see Harlen and Jenny anyway.” She twisted around to look at Tyler. “I’ll bet you’re hungry, too, aren’t you, buddy?”
“Yeah,” Tyler answered with an enthusiastic nod.
“Good.” Wes started his SUV and headed toward town. “Lunch first and then we’ll drop your stuff off at L&L. Noah and I will head out to your house to replace the back door once you’re settled.” He’d nailed the broken door closed as best he could, but if anyone wanted to get in, it wouldn’t take much to break it down again. Coffee. He needed buckets of the stuff, because it was going to be a while before he could sleep.
An hour and a half later, fed and dosed with unhealthy amounts of caffeine, Wesley pulled into his parking spot behind L&L. Carlie had brought Jenny and Harlen up-to-date on everything that had happened, and he’d called Sheriff Taylor to let him know there was no need for a deputy to park outside Carlie’s place. He’d also talked to Ted, filling him in on everything that had happened and letting him know that Carlie and her son were going to stay with him for a while.
He climbed out, unloaded Rex and scanned the alley. Once he was certain the perimeter was secure, he opened the back cargo area of his SUV. Carlie got Tyler out of his booster seat, and the two of them came around to join him.
“Can you manage this?” He handed Tyler a small cardboard box containing toys, his tablet, headphones and electrical cords. Tyler nodded and took the load from his hands. The back doors to L&L opened. Noah and Kyle joined them.
Kyle got to them first. His gaze settled on Carlie’s swollen face, then flicked to the pile of stuff in the back of Wes’s Chevy. “What do you need?”
“I’m assuming everyone knows what’s going on,” Wes asked, reaching into the back of his SUV for a large laundry basket holding Carlie’s things.
“We do.” Kyle reached out to take the basket from him.
As soon as Kyle took the load from Wes, Noah leaned into the truck and hauled out a couple of beat-up suitcases.
“Carlie and her son are going to stay here until her ex is caught,” Wes told them. “I’d appreciate it if you guys would look out for her and Tyler while Noah and I head out to her place to fix the doors.”
“Done,” Kyle said, heading for the door with his hands full.
His dog didn’t behave as if anyone lurked in the shadows. Rex meandered to the corner of their building and sniffed around for any new pee-mail on the narrow strip of dry grass. He relieved himself against the bricks, then he trotted back to Wes’s side like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Still, Wes couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Shouldn’t surprise him. Most likely a PTSD reaction to the day’s events. Exhaustion mixed with an overload of caffeine probably didn’t help the paranoia. He yawned, and his jaw made a cracking sound inside his head. Fix door, and then sleep.
Wes grabbed the last box, looked around the alley one more time, took up the rear and trailed the rest of the staff into L&L. His friends surrounded Carlie and Tyler as they entered the production area, keeping them in the center—the safety zone.
“Oh, my God, Carlie!” Paige cried. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Carlie muttered.
“Come on, let’s get you two settled.” Paige walked toward the elevator. “Cory and I put fresh linens on the beds in the spare rooms of Wes’s apartment, and Ryan is up there now, making sure all the windows are locked and the blinds are down. We use the two extra bedrooms to photograph our furniture samples, and the last beds we photographed are still there. You and Tyler will be sleeping in style.”
Carlie’s face reddened. “Tyler and I appreciate having a safe place to land for a while.”
Wes looked around the room. “Speaking of Cory, where is she? Where’s Ted?”
“They left to run an errand, and then they’re picking up sandwiches for everyone. We’re staying put for lunch today.” Paige hit the Up button on the freight elevator. “The guys and I will get Carlie and Tyler squared away. I know you have a door to fix. You and Noah can go.”
“Is that OK with you, Carlie?” Wes studied her. He could see being the center of so much attention made her uncomfortable, and he didn’t like the idea of leaving her.
“Sure.” She nodded. “We’ll be fine. Thanks, everybody. I’m just feeling a bit . . . overwhelmed right now. Tyler and I aren’t used to having so much help.”
The freight elevator thunked into place on the first floor, and Paige unlatched the iron gate. “You might as well get used to it.” She gestured to Carlie and Tyler to get in. “You go to school with my brother’s kids, Lucinda and Toby, don’t you? How old are you, Tyler?”
“I’m six,” Tyler said, clutching the box to his chest. “Mommy said I could stay home with her today. That’s why I’m not at school. I’m in the first grade. Toby’s only in kindergarten, but he’s my friend. We take the bus to school together, and I get to play at his house sometimes.”
“That’s good. I have a little boy who just turned one,” Paige chattered on as she stepped into the elevator. “I’ll bet Sean would enjoy playing with you, too.” Paige glanced at Carlie. “I’ll bring him by soon.”
“That would be great. I haven’t seen him since the last time you brought him into the diner, and that’s been a few months. I’ll bet he’s grown a lot since then.” Carlie smiled, but then grimaced and touched her lip. “Ouch.”
The guys put their loads down in the elevator, and Kyle got on, reaching for the box Wes carried. Wes handed it over, and then he and Noah headed for the door. “Make yourself at home, Carlie. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Once they were on the road, he breathed freely for the first time all day. “Carlie’s ex can’t get to her on the third floor of L&L. He’d have to get past the security system and the crew, and the guys won’t let that happen.”
Noah shot him a sideways look. “Who are you trying to convince, me or you?”
“Me.” He shot him a sheepish look. “I’d feel better if we kept a gun handy on the first floor production area, just until the guy is back behind bars.” He shifted in his seat. “Carlie’s ex threatened to kill her.”
“She told you that?”
Wes shook his head. “I heard him. He held Carlie and her boy at knifepoint, and you can see what he did to her face. After the sheriff left, Carlie showed me a picture of her ex’s handiwork.” A sick feeling lodged in his gut. “That asswipe beat her so bad he put her in the hospital.” He huffed out a breath. “I don’t get it, Noah. I can’t wrap my brain around how he could do that. How can a man hurt his wife so badly he breaks her bones, and then tell her he loves her?”
“I don’t understand it, either,” Noah said. “We won’t let him get to her, Wes.”
His phone rang through his car’s syncing system, and he hit the phone icon on the dash. “Hey, Paul,” he greeted the sheriff. “Tell me you have him.”
“I wish I could. I called to let you know he’s ditched the stolen car. We found it on the side of the highway a few miles west of the turnoff to Carlie’s place. We don’t know if he’s on foot, if he’s stolen another vehicle, hitched a ride or even which direction he’s heading.”
�
�Damn.” Wes smacked the steering wheel. “He could be anywhere.”
“I’ll keep you updated,” the sheriff said. “We’re looking for him, and so are the surrounding counties. He may have hightailed it out of the area.”
“It’s possible, but my instinct tells me he’s still close. Noah and I are almost to Carlie’s house now.” He took the left turn, surveying the surrounding area for places where Jared might hide. The woods near a tributary to the Ohio River looked likely. “We’ll scope out the grounds for any tracks before we fix the door.”
“Let me know if you find anything,” Paul said.
“I will, Paul. Talk to you later.” He ended the call and glanced at Noah. “Unless Carlie’s ex has help, he can’t have much money or gear. He’s going to have to surface eventually.”
“And when he does?” Noah’s gaze shot to him. “What then?”
Wesley’s jaw tightened. “When he does, I’ll be ready.”
“To do what?” Noah’s eyes narrowed. “It’s best to leave this to the sheriff.”
“Oh, I plan to—so long as Jared doesn’t get anywhere near Carlie or Tyler.”
A delicious aroma woke him from a dead sleep. Wesley’s mouth watered, and for a few seconds, the smell confused him, but then it all came back to him. Carlie. He scrubbed at his face with both hands before checking his alarm clock. Six p.m. He’d only had a few hours of sleep, and he didn’t start work until ten. He thought about closing his eyes again, but the scent of something home cooked compelled him to get out of bed.
The Twisted Road to You (Perfect, Indiana Book 4) Page 4