Witness in the Dark

by Allison B Hanson

  “I’m very well. How are you?”

  “Oh, I’m very well, too.” He smiled as he looked up at the ceiling. “Very, very well.” He grinned at her and winked. “With the exception of the gash in my arm that hurts like hell.” He shifted stiffly.

  “Can I get you something?” Not that he would trust any pill she might offer.

  “Come here,” he said, and reached for her.

  She didn’t make him wait. She crawled on top of him and her lips found his. They kissed for a long time. So long, she thought they were going to start something else, but something on the nightstand rang loudly.

  He shut it off. “Alarm,” he informed her. “We have to get on the road.”

  She let out a disappointed sigh, and he smiled as his fingers trailed down her cheek. “Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?”

  “Trust me, I’m more than okay.” She laughed as she got out of bed, looking for her clothes.

  He didn’t get up right away. Instead, he watched her with a predatory smirk on his face.

  “How are you dealing with doing the right thing?” she asked him.

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, kissing her again. “I don’t think anything has ever felt more right in my entire life.” He paused, then laughed, looking slightly embarrassed. “God. We’d better get going before I make a complete ass out of myself.”

  They got dressed, smiling at each other like idiots. She did the honors of wiping the room down for prints while he supervised, though it seemed like he was actually watching her instead of what she was doing.

  He stepped up behind her and breathed in her ear, “I wish we could stay a little longer.” He let out a slow breath. “But we need to go.”

  She smiled. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. For once in her life, she felt the power other women must feel when it came to sex. Garrett truly wanted her. Maybe all this time it hadn’t been her fault Lance wasn’t content with their sex life.

  “Hmm.”

  “Hmm, what?” he asked as they got in the car.

  She shook her head, letting all the negativity and insecurities of her past relationships flow away. After all, she was starting a new life. Why not start it with a positive outlook? “Just happy.”

  Garrett drove and held her hand, and would occasionally glance over at her and smile.

  They stopped at a parking garage and switched out vehicles again. In it, there was a new manila envelope with new IDs and passports. Now their names were William and Elizabeth Rhodes.

  “Up you go, Mrs. Rhodes,” he teased as he helped her into a big black pickup truck. He seemed light and happy, too. He sang with the radio as they left town.

  About two hours later, she finally remembered something. “Oh, no! My chain!”

  He laughed and touched her cheek. “You don’t need the chain anymore, Sam. Now you have strings.”

  Warmth shot through her body, and she nearly made them run off the road when she leaned across the seat to kiss him.

  They stopped at a department store on the way to the new safe house. When she walked in the front door of the store, her stomach tightened.

  “Jeez. It looks like Santa vomited in here,” she said, taking in the garland-wrapped poles at the registers, and the cashiers wearing elf hats. The place was crowded, even though it was after nine.

  “Just a week until Christmas,” Garrett said. “Everyone waits until the last minute for everything. It’s such a huge waste of time.” He shook his head.

  “You don’t celebrate Christmas?”

  “My mom wasn’t into the Christmas spirit. She was, however, really into Christmas spirits.” He chuckled, but she saw the pain behind his dimples.

  He’d told her his mother was an alcoholic, and now she could see it clearer—Garrett as a boy, taking care of his mother, when other kids were helping decorate for the holidays.

  “Did you ever have a tree?”

  “No.”

  “Presents?”

  “Sometimes.”

  But not always. She could read between the lines. “Turkey dinner?” she pressed.

  He shook his head, and got a cart. “Let’s get this over with.” He wheeled the cart toward the hair care aisle. “I need to touch up your roots.” Rubbing her head playfully, he added, “Please don’t pout, it kills me.”

  She didn’t pout when he put the box in the cart. Being a redhead actually suited her, and the short style was easy to live with. What girl on the run wanted to spend hours fixing her hair?

  His expression when he tossed two boxes of condoms in the cart made her laugh. Then he gave her a thorough look, and threw in a third box.

  Holy crap. Did he not realize what that look did to her?

  “It’s going to be a while until we’ll get to a store again,” he said, though she didn’t need a reason.

  “Is there an oven at the new house?” she asked. She was already planning menus in her head.

  “Yep. Two. Which means we can heat up two frozen pizzas at the same time,” he said proudly.

  “And I can make us Christmas dinner.”

  He looked at her blankly. “You know how to cook a ham?”

  “Ham is already cooked, Garrett. You basically heat it up and throw some glaze on it, but yes, I know how.” She grinned. “I can also make mashed potatoes and gravy. Would you like sweet potatoes?”

  “Can we have the green beans with the crunchy stuff on the top?”

  “Sure. That’s easy.”

  He hurried toward the grocery section, leaving her trailing behind.

  After the cart was loaded with supplies for their special dinner, they selected regular food, too. Frozen pizza, canned goods, and cereal. Finally, they pushed the overflowing cart to the front.

  When she got out her remaining cash, he started to laugh. “Don’t even think about it. Not going to happen.”

  She sighed and put the bills back in her pocket. He was still shaking his head as he handed over the credit card, then pushed the cart full of bags out to the truck.

  It struck her as they loaded the groceries onto the back seat that she had forgotten a major Christmas necessity. A gift.

  She wanted to do something nice for him. Something special, to show him how much she appreciated everything he was doing for her. But how would she get it and keep it a surprise?

  She had an idea.

  When the last bag was shoved onto the backseat, she rubbed her arms in the cold air and looked around.

  “Oh, crap. I forgot something,” she said, utilizing her high school drama club training.

  “No problem.” He closed the door and turned to go back to the store.

  “Wait. Why don’t you go over to the liquor store and get us some wine to go with dinner?”

  “You can’t go back by yourself,” he told her. His arms were already stubbornly folded across his chest.

  “But you’ve already checked the place out. I’ll be fine. I have my gun. I’ll only be gone for ten minutes. I’ll meet you back here.”

  “Sam, if this is about personal girl stuff, it doesn’t freak me out.” He took another step toward the store.

  She chuckled. “Yes, it does.”

  “Okay. It does, a little. But it’s a fact of life. I’ll deal.” He was so gorgeous with his breath making little clouds in the cold air when he spoke.

  She tried again. “We need to get on the road before the ice cream melts. It’ll be quicker if we split up.”

  “I can see my breath. The ice cream isn’t going anywhere.” He stopped walking and looked at her. “What’s going on?”

  Uh-oh. Now he was suspicious.

  She let out a sigh of exasperation. He was too good at this subterfuge stuff. She would have to tell the truth. He’d totally ruined it.

  “I want to go into the store alone so I can buy you a present.” She crossed her arms and raised her brows.

  “A present?” His confusion made her all that more intent on getting him one.

/>   “A Christmas present.”

  “You don’t need to do that. You’re making me dinner. That’s plenty.”

  “But giving someone a gift isn’t just about the person getting the gift. I want to do this.”

  “Sam, it isn’t necessary. And I don’t have anything to give you.” He held out his hands as if this made perfect sense.

  “Seriously? You’re risking your life for me every day. You lost one of your houses. You’ve taught me how to defend myself so I have a fighting chance of coming out of this trial alive and in one piece. Please just let me go into the store and buy you some crappy thing that makes me feel good!”

  She hadn’t meant to yell. But she’d never had to force a gift on anyone before.

  “Okay.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll stay at the front of the store. You have ten minutes.” He muttered something else to himself as he led her through the doors. The only things she could make out were “ridiculous” and “personal girl stuff.”

  “Don’t peek,” she ordered as she left him at the front door.

  “Hurry up.” He put his hands in his pockets, clearly unhappy with the situation.

  Too bad.

  She strode to the toy department and went up one aisle and down the next looking for what she wanted. She’d picked up a roll of wrapping paper on the way, and tapped it impatiently against her palm until she finally found what she needed.

  She expected to see Garrett pop around the corner to check on her any second, but he didn’t.

  A lanky guy with dirty blond hair stepped into the same aisle as her. He had nothing in his hands. No basket, no cart. Not even a list. He smiled at her and she smiled back, trying to gauge his intentions.

  Instead of picking up the box she wanted, she went down two more aisles and turned back to see if he was following her.

  He was.

  “Damn it,” she muttered, and moved to the less crowded automotive section. The oil change center was closed and the lobby was dark. No one was around. She checked both doors in the hall to the shop area, but found them both locked.

  Her gun pressed against her back, a reassurance. But killing someone in a busy department store was probably not the best way to stay hidden. She would be a sitting duck for Howe’s men while sitting in prison.

  Garrett’s words echoed in her head. Anything can be used as a weapon.

  Looking at the roll of wrapping paper in her hand, she frowned down at the little snowmen as they frolicked against the blue background. They didn’t know what was coming.

  The dirty blond guy stepped into the shadows where she waited. This was it. Time to see if she remembered any of her training.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Garrett knew going back into the store had been a horrible idea. Not only was it risky and unsafe, but how could he accept a present when he had nothing for her?

  Maybe he could have spent the time looking for something, too. But, no, he’d had to make sure she was safe. Which meant staying close while some asshole followed her into the deserted automotive section. What the hell was she doing?

  Hadn’t he taught her better than this? She should have come back to the front to find him at the first sign of trouble. Instead, she was hiding. And not very well.

  The skinny man was moving into the dark hallway where she’d disappeared. Garrett frowned as he checked the door on the left. Locked. He wouldn’t be able to hide this guy’s body in there.

  Just then, Sam launched into action.

  She hit the dude across the throat with a tube of wrapping paper, and in a flash, his face was smashed into the floor, her gun pressed against the back of his skull.

  Astounded, Garrett stood back to see if she would need his help. An impressed smile swept over his face. God, she was sexy when she was threatening someone with a gun.

  “How many are there?” she asked the guy.

  “What?” The asshole winced as she ground her gun into his temple. Damn, that looked like it hurt. Especially when she stepped harder on the back of his neck.

  Garrett smiled wider.

  “Don’t screw with me. How many of you are here?” she demanded.

  “Just me. One person,” the guy said quickly, his voice squeaking. He was clearly terrified.

  Garrett should have stepped in to help the poor guy out, but he was enjoying himself too much. Watching Sam’s moves was better than any action flick, and a hell of a lot hotter.

  She handled herself like a pro, though he could see her chest moving rapidly as she swallowed. Despite her fear, she was dealing well with the situation.

  Still, as much fun as it was watching her, he decided to intervene before the guy got hurt. “Let him up.”

  She jumped as Garrett moved into the hall with his gun drawn and aimed at the asshole on the ground.

  “Shit,” the guy said and closed his eyes like he was praying for his life.

  Garrett noticed a puddle growing from his side. The guy had wet himself. With a look of disgust, Sam let go of him and stepped back to let Garrett handle it.

  “He was following me.” Her shoulders relaxed, and Garrett felt a twinge of happiness that she was allowing him to help.

  “No shit. He started following you as soon as you walked in, but I don’t think he planned to hurt you.”

  The guy clearly wanted to hit on her.

  She frowned in confusion.

  God, she was adorable. Leave it to Sam to completely misread the loser’s intentions.

  She glared at the guy like an angry kitten as he tried to stand up. “What do you want with me?”

  The man glared down at his jeans, took a deep breath, and blurted, “I was just going to ask you out.”

  “Oh.” She seemed completely stumped, which made her that much cuter. Garrett did his best to smother his smile when she looked over at him. “I guess I overreacted.”

  “Ya think?” the guy snapped.

  “Hey, now. No need to be rude. You were following the lady down a dark hallway. She had a right to protect herself.” Garrett stared the man down. “Maybe you’ll think about that the next time you decide to act like a stalker instead of just coming out with it.”

  The man nodded. “No problem, man.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sam offered. “Um… I’m married.” She held up her left hand, wiggling the fake wedding ring.

  Garrett swallowed down his silly pride.

  Despite the ring, he had no claim on her. And he never would. No matter how much he might want her to be his. It just wasn’t possible.

  “Can I go now?” the man asked.

  She looked at Garrett, silently asking him to make that decision.

  “Go.” Garrett nodded.

  As soon as the man was out of sight, she stowed her gun back in her waistband. “What if he says something?”

  Garrett glanced at the guy’s pants and chuckled. “No way he’s ever going to tell anyone about this.”

  She snickered.

  He kissed her, unable to stop himself. Then brushed back a lock of her hair. “I’ll see you at the front of the store. Watch your step.” He pointed at the puddle and walked away, laughing.

  How was he ever going to give her up?

  “That was fun,” he said as they walked to the truck, a bent roll of wrapping paper sticking out of her bag. He slung his arm over her shoulder and winked at her. “Poor guy. He’ll probably never ask anyone out again in his life.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Watch it, or you’re going to end up with a bag of coal for Christmas.”

  She stayed in the truck while he ran into the liquor store to get the wine. He felt a little more at ease leaving her alone, now that he knew she could defend herself. At least against unwanted advances.

  He was still smiling as he perused the wine aisle for something special. He still didn’t have so much as a twinge of regret over the change in their relationship. In fact, he was looking forward to getting to the safe house so he could be with her again.


  The few times in the past when he’d been locked away with someone had always been a pain, but being with Sam didn’t even feel like a job anymore.

  As he was making his way to the register, his phone vibrated. His boss had been trying to get in touch with him ever since Garrett had hung up on him.

  “Damn it,” he said, moving down the aisle so Sam couldn’t see him on the phone. So much for it not feeling like a job. “Yeah?” he answered.

  “So you’re still on the job?”

  “Of course.”

  “Is she okay?” Thorne asked.

  “She’s fine.”

  “And you?”

  Garrett knew Thorne wasn’t asking just to be friendly. He flexed his arm, feeling the burn as the stitches pulled. “I’m healing.”

  “Can you still be effective?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Does she suspect anything about…what’s coming?”

  “No. I haven’t said a thing, as ordered.” Garrett was almost insulted by the question.

  “It’s time,” Thorne said.

  Garrett’s heart pounded harder. He wasn’t ready for his time with her to be over. And it would be. As soon as she learned the truth, and what he’d been hiding from her.

  “No. I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” Garrett said firmly.

  “Good thing you don’t get paid for thinking.”

  “Look, I’m getting her to the new safe house tonight. We should let her rest.”

  “Rest from what?”

  “Are you kidding me?” Garrett clamped his jaw. Sometimes his boss was completely oblivious and insensitive. “What’s the big rush?” he said, forcing himself to sound calmer. “I can bring her in after the holidays.” He really wanted to have Christmas with her. They already had plans.

  Thorne hesitated for a moment, then said, “Okay. After the New Year. I’ll call when I’ve set things up.”

  Garrett hung up the phone and went to pay for the wine. His good mood had taken a hit, but he was not going to let SD Thorne ruin his remaining time with Sam.

  Garrett would have hell to pay later, he knew that. But it would be worth it.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  The new safe house was a lot like the first cabin, Sam noticed as they pulled up. It was nestled in the mountains, but it was built mostly of stone and was much older than the one in Tennessee. There was also a safety bunker in the woods, but Garrett spared her the cruel lessons and let her mark the path herself the first time they walked it.