“Hey, back. But, what’s going on? How did the interrogation go? I wish I could have been in there with you. I thought you were going to call me yesterday.” Tom shot several questions out at once.
“I don’t even know where to begin. Oh, Tom, it’s all so convoluted. When I returned from the interrogation … When I called you … The reason I was so upset was because someone had spelled out ‘Leave or Die’ in black roses on my front porch. Then the next morning D.S.S. showed up with Justin, but also a court order releasing custody to Clayton and June —”
“Oh, Shelby,” he interrupted. “I’m so sorry. How the heck did they get that so fast? That’s unheard of from all my research.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. But at least he’s home.”
“True, but I’m sorry. I feel —”
“It’s not your fault, Tom. Something’s going on. I don’t know what, but there’s more. The reason I didn’t call last night is because when I got home from playing with Justin at his grandparents’ house all day, I found another note, this time in bright red letters ‘Leave or Justin Dies’. They used ketchup, but I got the point. So, I spent the rest of the evening making preparations.”
“Oh my word, Shelby! Did you call the police?”
“Why? What good would it do? They gonna check ketchup for DNA? I took a picture, and the roses are still there. I’m sure they’ll find them eventually.”
“What do you mean? Who’ll find them?”
“I have about six detectives scouring my home and yard right now.”
This time, Tom sighed.
She spurted out a half-laugh in response to his sigh. “So … still interested in me, Tom?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “You need to get your head examined. Why in the heck would you want to get yourself entangled in my life? Can’t you see what a mess I’m in?”
“You’re my wife, remember?”
“It’s a piece of paper. It doesn’t mean anything. I wasn’t even lucid.”
“What are you going to do? What preparations were you talking about? How can I help?” he asked, ignoring her comment.
Shelby glanced behind her, noticing Clayton hadn’t moved from his spot on the swing, his eyes glued to her. “I’m leaving. And unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do.”
“When are you leaving?”
She choked on a breath. “Tom, I’ll be a fugitive. Last time I checked, that’s aiding and abetting. Even I’ve watched enough police shows to know that that’s illegal.”
“Sixty days.” His voice was flat, no inflection.
“Sixty days, what? For an annulment?”
“No. I already told you I’m not giving you an annulment. Sixty days is the most you can receive for aiding and abetting. Though, I’d get disbarred too. That’d suck.”
“You can’t be serious, Tom”
“I am. Heck, I never wanted to be an attorney anyway. That was my father’s dream, not mine. I’ve been trying to find an excuse to take off and hike the Appalachian Trail anyway. Are you packed?”
“Tom … ”
“Shelby … ”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re crazy.”
“I told you I was crazy. Let’s run away, together. I’m so tired of this life. I was aching for a reason to get away, and you’re it. I feel alive when I’m with you. These last two days have been awful.”
Shelby dropped her head against the steering wheel, and Justin lifted her hair and whispered in her ear. “Hi, Mama.”
She sat up and pulled him into her arms. “Hey, baby boy.”
And she knew right then; it was a reminder that all that mattered was Justin. And she’d do anything to keep him safe. If Tom wanted to put his life and career on the line, so be it. She’d take it. She wasn’t using him; he was a grown man.
“Meet me at the Super Wal-Mart in Murphy off Highway 19. No more phone calls, though. I’m pulling out the SIM card after this call. I don’t know how soon I can get there, but if I get there before you, I’m leaving by noon.”
“I’ll be there.”
Shelby hung up without comment. There was nothing else to say. She wasn’t sure how this was gonna work, but she couldn’t deny that it would be easier with Tom helping her.
Justin crawled on her lap and stood behind the steering wheel, thrilled to be in the front seat.
“Hey, baby, wanna be a big boy?” she chirped.
He nodded, flashing a huge smile.
“Wanna sit in the front seat like Mommy does with a seatbelt?”
“Mm-hm … ”
“Okay. Crawl over there and I’ll buckle you in.”
Justin did as she asked. He didn’t speak a ton of words, but he always understood what she said. She glanced behind her at the porch while she reached for the seatbelt.
Clayton was standing in front of his doorway, talking to a younger detective. He flashed a glance in her direction, but then opened the door and walked inside.
Shelby’s heart pounded in her chest as she turned the key. There was no time to waste. She had to crawl out of here slowly, but then she had to hightail it out of dodge before they came looking for her.
Adrenaline surged through her veins as she crawled down the long driveway, tempted to pound the accelerator. The thumping of a drum pounded in her ears, and she realized it was the blood pumping in her head.
A quick peek in the rearview mirror revealed no one had seen her leave — yet. She pulled out onto the main road and hit the gas.
Shelby glanced at Justin. As much as she wanted to strap him in his car seat, she couldn’t. She had to wait until the first stoplight.
She picked up her phone and pushed the last call, thankful that he picked up on the first ring.
“I thought you said no more calls.”
“I’m already out,” she screeched. “They’ll be looking for me. I don’t know what I was thinking, leaving then, with all those cops around, but I was so afraid that they’d find something and arrest me again.”
“Come to my house instead. I’m only ten minutes away.” He rattled off his apartment address, and thankfully, she knew exactly where it was. “I’ll pull my truck out of the garage and we’ll hide your vehicle in there. My truck’s not big, but they won’t be looking for it, and it’ll come in handy where we’re going.”
“But I have a camping spot picked out, Tom.” Typical man, she fumed. Already trying to take control.
“Shelby, a friend of mine has a cabin. He used to go hunting out there, but it’s been years since he’s been able to get up here. Every time I use it, I fix something as payment. When he does come, it’s in the summer, so it’s empty for at least four months. No one here knows about him, and the police will never find us there.”
“Wow. Have you run away before, Tom?”
“No. But I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Okay … no time to talk. I have to pack a few things. Hurry up, so we can get out of here.”
Even as tears filled her eyes, Shelby smiled. Tom was either crazy or sincere, and right now, she wasn’t sure which one, but she was thankful she had someone on her side. “I’ll be right there.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Tom packed a duffel bag of clothes, threw in some toiletries, his laptop, phone, chargers, his .38, and then set it by the front door.
Next, he went through his pantry, grabbed as many nonperishables as he could, and stuffed them in plastic grocery bags he’d stored under the kitchen sink. He didn’t keep much, but the items he did stock were mostly canned and dried food, since he rarely ate at home.
Before he left the house, he made a phone call to the one person who wouldn’t ask too many questions.
Chad picked up within seconds. “Hey, Tom. How are things coming along? Based on the news, things aren’t looking too good for your girl.”
“Terrible. And I don’t have any time to talk, so give me a few seconds and please don’t waste time questioning my sanity. I’m leavin
g town immediately, and I can’t tell you where or when I’ll return, but I need you to do me a favor. Call Bearns this afternoon.”
“The police detective?”
“Private investigator now. He’s done side work for the firm a few times. Pay him whatever he needs to clear Shelby, and I’ll reimburse you.”
“Tom, I don’t think —”
“Chad, trust me. I know it sounds crazy, but I have to do this. Please. Just call him and hire him. I don’t care what it costs. I want Shelby cleared. She’s not guilty, I’m sure of it.”
“Okay … but how will I get in touch with you?”
“You won’t. When she’s cleared, we’ll be back. Please call Michelle and apologize, and help her out in any way you can. God, I’m going to miss Sam. Okay. I have to go.”
He hung up and released a long breath. He knew he was doing the right thing. He’d always wondered if he could have done more to save Brandy, and now he was getting a second chance with a woman he was absolutely crazy about. No … no one would change his mind.
After carrying everything to the garage, he loaded the bed of the truck with his dirt bike first, all his hiking gear, and then cleaned out the front seat for Shelby and Justin. He pulled the truck out of the garage, and within seconds, Shelby pulled into his apartment complex.
He flagged her down and pointed to the garage. “Stay in the car,” he instructed when she started to get out. “Pop the rear hatch and let me load everything first.” He glanced around the parking lot, grateful that most residents were already at work.
Shelby pushed an overhead button and the rear hatch opened.
Tom poked his head inside and saw her son in the front seat. “Hey, Justin. I’m Tom.”
The little boy waved, then buried his head in his mother’s arm. Shelby caressed his head and flashed Tom a tentative smile. “Tom, are you sure?”
He nodded. “Shh … I’m working. We can talk in the car.” He grabbed all of her stuff and put it in the bed of the truck. “Umm … Shelby … we don’t need a tent. Can I leave it here?”
She furrowed her brow. “What if this doesn’t work? I may have to go somewhere else.”
“Okay … but it’ll work.” He pushed the button to close the hatch, then went to the backseat and pulled out Justin’s car seat. He strapped it on the passenger side, then motioned for Shelby to come out.
Shelby stepped out of the vehicle with Justin in her arms, then strapped him in the seat. As she walked around to get in the driver’s side, she stopped. “Wouldn’t it be safer for his seat to be in the middle?”
He shooed her inside and jumped in behind her. He put the key in the dash and turned off the passenger airbag. “This is an older model, so it doesn’t have the airbag sensors.”
“Oh … ”
He started the truck, pulled out of his complex, then headed southeast on Highway 74.
“Hey,” Shelby complained, looking over her shoulder. “I wanted to go west.”
“And that’s exactly where the police will look first. Nantahala, where your family lives. We’re already on this side of the city, so we’ll be out of here before anyone knows we’re gone.”
She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. “So, you’re gonna start calling the shots?”
“If I’m right, is that wrong?”
Shelby huffed out a breath and a sigh at the same time, shaking her head. “I don’t know. It seems relying on other people to help me is what got me into this mess in the first place.”
Tom rested his hand on her knee. “Shelby, I swear I won’t let you down. Only, I do have to make one stop.”
“No,” she said immediately. “No time.”
“I need to get money. The cabin is stocked, but we’ll need cash. And I won’t be able to pull it out later.”
She smiled. “Good, we’re a team then. You have the cabin and getaway car, and I have the cash. I emptied all of my accounts yesterday. I have enough to buy food for a year if need be.”
“Shelby Lynn Turner, you’re my kind of woman.” He reached for her left hand. “Where’s your ring? Just because it was spur of the moment doesn’t mean it wasn’t nice. I paid big bucks for that diamond.”
She reached inside the top of her blouse and pulled her necklace out with the two dangling rings. “I even got an engagement ring, huh?”
He smiled, happy to see that she at least had the rings on her. “Of course. People have accused me of many things, but never cheap.” He laughed, then pulled her hand to his lips. “So, are you going to put them on now?”
She whined softly, resting her head on his shoulder. “Tom, we’re not married.”
Tom touched his hand against her cheek, but kept his eyes on the road. “Okay, Shelby. Whatever you say.” He pushed on the gas as soon as the road opened. It was an hour drive, but he’d enjoy the ride with her pressed against him. “You know something I just realized … fancy cars with center consoles and backseats are highly overrated. I rather like having you squished up against me.” He reached over to Justin and put his hand out. The little boy gave him a ‘low five’ immediately. “How ya doing, Jus? Ready for a fun trip?”
“Mm-hm,” he said, then buried his head into the bolster of his car seat.
“He’s shy,” Shelby said, looking up at him. “My brother taught him the ‘gimme five’ thing.” She sucked in a breath. “I told Andy last night that I was leaving, and he offered to come with me, as if he needs more things to worry about in his life.”
Tom scooped up her hand, threading their fingers together. “It won’t take long before they figure out we’re together. He’ll know you’re okay.”
“Are we gonna be okay, Tom? What happens when we’re both sitting in jail? Doesn’t it look bad that we’re running? How are we gonna know when it’s safe to go home?”
“Hey, this was your idea. How would you have known in the middle of the wilderness? See, you need me.” He laughed. “I have Chad hiring a private investigator. I’ve worked with him before, so he knows me. He’ll know this is all a big mess. Jason Bearns used to be a police detective in Bryson City, but now —”
She shot up in her seat. “Bearns?”
“Yeah,” he said, confused.
“He was there this morning, Tom. Did you tell him we left?”
“No, I told Chad to call him this afternoon and hire him.”
“He’s the man who came to my house the other day looking for that Hale guy, and then he showed up this morning with Detective Meare, so they’re obviously working together.”
“Bearns is a good guy, Shelby. He’s hard, but he’s fair. He’ll get to the bottom of this, I swear.”
She sunk into the seat. “I hope so … God, I hope so. I’m so tired. I haven’t slept for more than a few hours in days.”
Tom kissed the top of her head. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll wake you up when we get there.” He shot a glimpse over at her little boy, whose eyes were also closing. “Justin’s beating you to it.” His eyes popped open at the mention of his name, but then his head bobbed.
Shelby ran her hands over her son’s head. “Anything for him,” she said on a sigh.
“I know.” Tom drew her head to his shoulder. “Take a nap, Shelby. I’ll take care of you now.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Shelby felt the change of the road beneath the truck and poked her head up to look around.
Tom had just pulled off the highway and was heading up a steep embankment that she was positive only one vehicle at a time would fit on the narrow gravel drive.
“Afternoon,” Tom said, squeezing her leg lightly with his hand.
For a brief second, she wondered why she felt no need to move it. It wasn’t like her. Of course, they’d kissed while lying in bed together, but somehow, his hand resting on her knee felt more intimate. Almost sensual. A chill swept through her body as she realized she’d be in a cabin alone with him for an indefinite timeframe. That could be nice — or scary.
She looked at
the time on the radio in the dash and responded, even though it wasn’t afternoon. “Thank you. I needed some sleep. So, whose place is this again?” she asked, wondering what would happen if the owner showed up unexpectedly.
“A friend of mine from college. Name’s Cameron. His parents owned it. When we were in college, we’d come here to hang out. I haven’t been here with him for years, though. He lets me use it, since I keep an eye on it. Make sure no one trashes it. Fix whatever needs fixing. That sort of thing.”
“And how do you know he won’t show up?”
Tom laughed. “Easy. He and his wife are expecting their first child, and she’s about seven months now, I think. No way would they make the trip.”
“Oh. That makes sense.” Shelby scanned the rock face as the truck climbed the steep mountain road. “Wow. That’s scary. How do you drive on this road during ice storms?”
“Very carefully,” he said. “Though, I think if that happens, we’ll just ride it out inside.”
Shelby turned to look at him and caught sight of the slight quirk of his lips. She opened her mouth for a snappy comeback, but then thought better of it. More than likely, Tom could outplay her in word games.
“That actually happened to me a few years ago,” Tom continued. “I’d come down here from Appalachian State to study for finals and ended up stuck here, but it was incredible. The entire forest resembled a winter wonderland, something you’d believe only Hollywood could dream up. Icicles hung from every tree limb and the ground was a blanket of white. But my favorite part is the silence. How isolated the forest feels. The only sound … an occasional snapping of a branch under the weight of the ice.”
“You know, Tom … ” He peeked at her, but then quickly turned his eyes back to the road. “You talk like my brother.” She laughed. “Well, not in a literal sense, as you are so articulate in your speech, but your love of kayaking and the outdoors. It’s such a stark contrast to how you described yourself.”
He nodded and released a soft chuckle. “Just because I chased women doesn’t mean I couldn’t find time to appreciate the outdoors. I love them both. Nature in the daytime, women in the nighttime.”
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