Nowhere to Run

by Valerie Hansen

  At this point, Seth wouldn’t have cared how much he’d have to pay or how far he’d have to drive. He needed phones. Period. In view of the urgency of obtaining them, he’d have given a month’s pay and traveled all the way to Little Rock if he’d had enough time to make the round-trip.

  Marie had dozed off when she was startled awake by a muffled, sing-song tone that she quickly realized was coming from her purse. Hands trembling, she retrieved the little phone Seth had given her and answered it.

  To her relief, it was him on the line.

  “Grab a pencil and write this number down,” he said. “It’s the one for the new phone I bought you. I’m charging its batteries and I’ll program it tomorrow, if you want, when we switch.”

  “I can program it,” she said, jotting down his area code and number. “I need to pay you for it, too. Are you sure it can’t be traced?”

  “Positive. Some of the new phones come equipped with internal navigational capabilities, but that one doesn’t have it. Neither does the new one. And you don’t owe me a thing. I’m planning to replace my phone as soon as the store gets more in stock, so feel free to use it as much as you like. Just don’t run the battery down till I deliver your charger and we switch instruments.”

  “There’s no one I want to call—except you,” she said.

  “Not even your friends?”

  “I don’t think I should. Not till things settle down and I know where I’m going. When I left home, I didn’t let anyone know because I was afraid they’d get in trouble. It was bad enough that I was mixed up in it.”

  “In what?” Seth asked quietly.

  “You know. Roy’s abduction.”

  “Oh, that.”

  She could tell there had been a change in his voice, in the way he was responding to her, and it was worrying.

  “What did you think I meant?”

  “Nothing. Keep that new number handy and don’t hesitate to call me if anything else goes wrong. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She took a deep, settling breath before she added, “I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”

  “Always tell me the truth,” he said flatly.

  “I have.” She felt the beginnings of a smile. “Well, except for the part about who I was and where I was from and why I was on the lam.”

  To her relief, Seth chuckled. “Now you’re starting to sound like a bad gangster movie,” he said. “Good night, Marie.”

  “Good night.”

  As soon as she heard him break their connection, she closed the little phone and took it back to bed with her, carefully tucking it next to her pillow so she’d be sure to hear the ring if Seth called again.

  She still didn’t know what to make of him, nor was she sure how she actually felt about him. Under less stressful circumstances she supposed she might have been personally attracted to him, but this was not a normal situation. Not even close. She couldn’t trust her emotions when every second of every day had her on edge beyond belief.

  Yes, she liked Seth, she admitted easily. And she knew he liked her. That much was evident. The question was, would they have even looked twice at each other if they had not been thrown together by circumstances? Probably not. And the time would soon come when, in the absence of any threat, they drifted apart naturally.

  It surprised Marie to realize how much she would miss Seth once she moved on. Staying put for more than another day or two was foolish, of course, yet the more she thought about leaving, the less she wanted to actually go.

  Closing her eyes and clasping her hands, she began to whisper a prayer. It wasn’t fancy or flowery or even very coherent, but she knew in her heart that the Lord was listening.

  What His answer might be or where He was leading her was a lot less clear.

  Eccles fidgeted as he sat by the agency computer and waited for eleven o’clock to arrive. He’d taken a risk by letting Seth disconnect, but he figured it was what the real Jonathan would have done. If he was going to continue to make Seth believe he was speaking with his old friend, he had to take some chances. The bit about the parrot had been a stroke of genius on Seth’s part. And he’d almost fallen for the ploy until he’d remembered that Jonathan had never done fieldwork with Seth, so they couldn’t have shared a case in the Caribbean.

  Right on schedule, Seth logged on with, “Hey, Bluebird. You there?”

  “Yeah, I’m here,” his enemy typed. “Waiting for your contact info.”

  “I was going to have a phone number for you but I wasn’t able to make the arrangements the way I’d hoped. Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Sorry. No can do. I’m taking a big chance talking to you at all. If I can’t do it by cell phone from now on, I won’t be available. Period.”

  Seth’s silence made Eccles wonder if he’d pushed him too far. Then, finally, Seth said, “All right. I’ll give you a number that will only be good for forty-eight hours. After that I’ll have another one for you. Understood? Don’t call before then unless you get something for me that won’t wait.”

  “Understood. Fire away.”

  Seth typed in the number, then quickly disconnected.

  In minutes, Eccles had used the area code to narrow his search and had identified the distributor of the batch of cell phones assigned that series of numbers. The manufacturers didn’t keep records of individual users by name, but that didn’t matter. Judging by the elapsed time, Seth had to have bought that phone locally. Therefore, he must be somewhere in north-central Arkansas. The trap was closing.

  Until he could get his equipment in place for an illegal triangulation trace between cell towers, he’d slowly feed Seth bits and pieces of information about the Jenkins case to keep him interested.

  It was only a matter of time before they’d know exactly where Seth was hiding out and everyone’s troubles would be over.

  First, he figured he’d better check to see that Seth’s phone was operational. He dialed, then waited until Seth answered to say, “One thing I forgot to tell you. They found Roy Jenkins’s body.”

  “Are they sure it’s him?” Seth asked.

  “Yes. They’re sure,” Eccles answered, then quickly disconnected and began to grin. “Gotcha.”

  Marie responded to a knock on her door early the following morning. When she answered, Seth proudly displayed another hot breakfast. “Room service.”

  She had to laugh. “I didn’t order anything.”

  “No, but you still have to eat. Man cannot live by donuts alone, you know.”

  “Neither can woman and child,” she said, playing along with his misquote as she opened the door. “Come on in. Patty’s watching cartoons.”

  “You sure you don’t want to take her back to play at the preschool today? It would give you both a break.”

  “Not if I go along and help,” Marie said, stifling a yawn. “What’s the word on my car?”

  “Well, I could tell you I’m still waiting for the parts, but that would be a lie. They came in yesterday afternoon, as expected.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “Really? Then I can go?”

  “If you insist on leaving, I supposed I can have the car ready by late today.” He stared at her as if willing her to change her mind. “Are you positive that’s what you should do? We’d love to have you hang around here a little longer.”

  “We? We who?”

  Seth gave her a grin that made her tingle all the way to her toes. “Babe and me, of course. Well, and Becky and Timmy and the gang from church, too.”

  “Of course.” She made a silly face. “I might as well start asking your dog for advice. I don’t seem to be doing so hot by myself.”

  “That’s because there are sinister forces working against you, not because you’re making bad decisions.”

  “Sinister forces? Now who’s being melodramatic?”

  “I just call ’em as I see ’em,” Seth said. “By the way, when were you going to tell me about the ransom?”

  “What ransom?” Scowling up at him, Marie co
uld tell he wasn’t accepting her denial. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Okay,” Seth said, backing toward the open door. “Just think about it. When you’re ready to tell me everything, you know where to find me.”

  “Wait!” She followed him out the door. “What ransom? What on earth do you mean?”

  “There was a kidnapping near Baton Rouge a few weeks ago,” Seth said slowly, deliberately. “Your friend Roy and three other men were involved, as nearly as I can tell. The authorities believe Roy got greedy and kept the whole ransom for himself, which is probably why he was so scared when he came to warn you.”

  “What does all that have to do with me?”

  “You were tied to the crime as soon as you made that 911 call about Roy’s abduction. The cops were already looking for him and his partners. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re on your trail as we speak.”

  “Who? The police? Could they have been the ones in the white van?”

  Seth shook his head. “I doubt it. They would have just pulled you over and arrested you, not messed with your car. Whoever did that intended to catch you unaware and…”

  “And hurt me? Hurt Patty?” She knew her voice held panic but she couldn’t help it.

  “Maybe. Probably.” He reached for her hand and grasped it gently. “Look, Marie. I don’t think you were in cahoots with Roy during the commission of the crime, but somebody sure thinks you know more than you’re letting on. He never mentioned a thing about some missing money?”

  “No. Not even once. I know I’d remember because the minute he told me to run away, I started wondering how I was going to pay for it.” She swallowed hard, willing Seth to believe her, to accept her statement as the whole truth. “Maybe they’ll catch Roy and he’ll tell them I’m innocent,” she offered, hopeful.

  Seth shook his head. His grip on her hand tightened, and she was glad for the moral support when he finally said, “Roy won’t be telling anybody anything. They finally identified a body that was found a few days ago. Roy Jenkins is dead.”

  Although she had tried not to show it while Seth was still there, and make him feel even worse about being the bearer of bad tidings, the news about Roy had hit Marie like a blow to the heart. She wasn’t mourning his loss the way she had when she’d decided to make a clean break with him; she was sad because she had never been able to speak to him about her newfound faith without enduring his ridicule.

  Her only hope, at this point, was that Roy had finally turned to the Lord in his last moments. After all, he might be a criminal and an abusive drunk, but he was nevertheless Patty’s father. No matter what Marie might think of his lifestyle, she still cared about his eternal soul. And, in a roundabout way, she still loved the man she’d once thought he was.

  She sank onto the edge of the bed and cradled her face in her hands. There were no tears, only emptiness. Poor Roy. How many times had she thought that about him? Probably hundreds of times, especially lately. And now she had no one left but Patty.

  It surprised Marie when her mind immediately contradicted that conclusion with a vivid image of Seth; his smile, his concern, his wit, his tenderness toward both of them. She argued against including him in her inner circle of loved ones; yet, there he was, just the same.

  That was not good. It was more than not good—it was awful. Her life was one big instability, her future as uncertain as a wisp of smoke in a gale. The last thing she needed was to become involved with anyone, let alone a man who was so secretive about his own background. That was not going to happen. She was not going to permit it.

  Deciding on her next move, Marie looked to her daughter. “Finish your eggs, Patty. As soon as you’re done we’re going out.”

  “Oh, goody! Where?”

  “To the repair shop,” Marie said with conviction. “You can play with Babe while I watch Mr. Whitfield work on our car.”

  “Lots?” the eager child asked.

  “All day, if necessary. I don’t want him dragging his feet, and the best way to make sure he’s really working is for us to be right there watching him.”

  “Are we going to church school, too?”

  “No,” Marie said flatly.

  “Why not?”

  “Because…” Her first reaction had been to keep everything from the child, but after this morning’s scare she was more inclined to share enough to help Patty avoid getting into more trouble. “Because, there are some bad people out there who want to catch us, and you and I are going to be really smart and get away as soon as our car is ready to go.”

  “Bad people?” Patty asked softly, hesitantly.

  “Yes. Bad like the man who tried to steal Babe from Mr. Whitfield’s truck the other night.”

  “I was scared,” the child admitted.

  Marie took her in her arms and gave her a supportive hug before she said, “Me, too, honey. But nobody will bother us again. I won’t let them. I promise.”

  As she let go and straightened, Marie wondered how in the world she’d manage to keep that promise.

  ELEVEN

  “There’s going to be a big celebration around the square in Serenity this coming weekend,” Seth told Marie as he struggled to lift her gas tank and slide it back into place beneath her car. “It’s called a town reunion, and it is, but it’s also a street fair, with booths and crafts and all kinds of activities. Patty would really enjoy it.”

  “We won’t be here,” Marie told him.

  He chose to delay the rest of their conversation until he’d tightened the bolts that held the tank frame in place. Wiping his hands, he ducked out from under the hydraulic lift and smiled at her. “It’s too bad you’ll miss it. There’ll be turtle races for the kids.”

  “Turtle what?”

  “Races. This part of the country is full of wild terrapins of all sizes. We collect dozens of ’em for the races, and each child is assigned one with a number on its back. Then they run heats, just like at a track meet, and have a runoff of the winners at the end. It’s a hoot to watch. You should hear all the cheering.”

  “What about the poor turtles?”

  Seth laughed. “They get released back into the woods, none the worse for wear, and live to race another day.”

  “Oh good. I was worried.”

  “I was, too, the first time I saw them set up for the races. It turned out to be a lot funnier than I’d expected it to be.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Marie said. She eyed her car, still up on the rack. “How soon before you’re finished?”

  “Not too long. The tank and fuel pump are done and I’ve blown out the lines. All I have left to do is install the new filters and put fresh gas in the tank.”

  “And bill me,” she added.

  Seth shook his head. “That’s not necessary.”

  “Yes, it is. About how much do you expect it to cost?”

  He watched her expression change to one of worry as he quoted a figure. “Like I said, you won’t have to pay.”

  “I’ve never asked for charity,” Marie insisted. “And I’m not about to start.”

  She paused long enough to chew on her bottom lip and Seth could tell she was pondering an important decision.

  “Tell you what,” she finally said. “I don’t have much cash, but I can give you a credit card for the repair bill. All I ask is that you hold the charge for a week or so before you submit it. Will that be satisfactory?”

  “I don’t see any problem. Will a week be long enough?”

  “Assuming Roy’s partners have already traced me this far, I see no reason why not.”

  “What about the police? I suppose they’re watching for credit card activity, too.”

  “I haven’t done anything illegal.”

  “That won’t stop them from arresting you. There’s probably an APB out for your car.”

  “I thought of that after you noticed I was from Louisiana,” Marie said. “I don’t know how to change a license plate, not legally, anyway. I know w
hat Roy would do but…”

  “But you’re an honest person,” Seth finished for her.

  “Bingo.”

  “Then I recommend mud,” he said. “Just smear it on the plate and let it dry. That’ll cover you at least until you get caught in the rain or drive through a wet-weather crossing too fast and make waves.”

  The way she blushed further endeared her to him. If he’d been able to figure out how to convince her to stay in Serenity, he’d have felt much better about everything. As it was, he intended to surreptitiously follow her, at least a little way, to be certain she got back on the highway without incident.

  And after that? Seth gritted his teeth. Unless Jonathan came up with something helpful soon, there wasn’t one more thing he could do except stand back and let her go. The notion of doing that tied his gut in a knot and left his mouth dry as cotton.

  Al, Frank and Earl were sitting in Frank’s car in the lot at Hickory Station. Earl was watching the repair garage through binoculars.

  “He’s letting the blue car down now,” Earl said.

  Al snorted. “Do you see the woman and kid?”

  “Yeah. The woman, at least. She’s been hanging around there all day.”

  Leaning back and closing his eyes, Al said, “This is boring. Wake me when something happens.”

  Frank hit Al’s leg and cursed at him. “Bored? We wouldn’t have to sit here at all if you’d done your job right.”

  “Me? I’m not the one who smacked Roy so hard he croaked.”

  “Shut up, both of you,” Earl ordered. “What’s done is done. The only way we’re going to get our hands on that money now is through the woman, so I suggest you concentrate on helping me keep track of her.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Al made a sour face. “What if she can’t help us? Huh? What if Roy never told her anything?”