Innocent Lies

by Robin Patchen

  She studied him, waited for the quick answer. He didn't give her one. Instead, he let go of her hand and pulled into an empty parking lot.

  She didn't want to know. She wouldn't be able to survive if he told her there was somebody else.

  He shifted the car into park and met her eyes. "I never told anybody about you, because... Well, it didn't seem wise. People were always fixing me up. I refused so many blind dates with women, a friend tried to fix me up with a guy."

  The very thought of it made her laugh.

  He smiled, but it faded. "So... I dated some. Women," he clarified, which made her smile again. "Movies, dinner, a couple of church things."

  She swallowed, braced herself.

  "But there was never anything to it. Two, three dates, and I was done."

  "I see."

  "Nothing... It was just dates. No..." He swallowed. "Nothing happened with them. I mean, I never even kissed them."

  The words penetrated. Never even kissed...? "Seriously?"

  "Our wedding vows meant something to me. There's never been anyone but you."

  How could she have ever doubted this man? She leaned forward, unable to keep her distance any longer. The dog huffed in the backseat. Snowflakes landed on the windshield. The car was nearly silent, warm from the heater and the desire she couldn't temper.

  His mind seemed to be going to the same place.

  He placed his hand on the side of her face and claimed a kiss. It was sweet and tender and nearly made her cry.

  Just like that, he pulled away. He might as well have slapped her.

  He turned away, jaw tight.

  "What?" Her word was harsh. "What have I done now?"

  He faced her again. "Daniel is eight. Which means either you were still with Carlos after your sister died, or he's somebody else's kid. Which means, once again, you're lying about something."

  "Ah." She couldn't help the smile. "I can see why that would anger you."

  He crossed his arms and glared.

  "Or," she said, "Daniel isn't eight."

  He dropped his arms. "Wait. What?"

  "I told him to lie about his age."

  Eric seemed to process that. After a moment, he asked, "Why would you do that?"

  "Because Carlos is looking for a nine-year old. I figured that one little lie would protect him better than anything else could."

  "Huh." He nodded slowly. "But...he's tiny."

  "Yeah. He's always been little for his age."

  "I should have... I was like that, too," Eric said. "Until I hit puberty, people always thought I was younger than I was."

  "Otherwise, I would have gone the other direction, told him to tell you he was ten. Because he's super smart." She failed to keep the pride out of her voice. "Eight seemed easier to pull off."

  "Does Daniel know who his father is?"

  She looked down, shook her head. "No."

  "But he knows his father's not a good guy. He must know something, if he was willing to lie about his age."

  She met Eric's eyes again. "He doesn't know anything about Carlos. I told him I had to take care of something and I'd be back for him."

  "But he lied. Why would he do that, if he didn't understand?"

  "He's nine, Eric. I told him it was important and that, eventually, he'd be able to tell everyone his real age. He trusts me."

  Eric nodded slowly, processing. "So the story..."

  "It's all true."

  "And there's nothing else?"

  Oh, that she could tell him everything. She'd have to. Soon. But not yet. Not when they'd finally come to a place of peace. She looked at her hands, folded in her lap, and tried to think of how to answer.

  "What?" he said.

  She met his eyes. "There's a lot I haven't told you. Details I just can't..."

  He reached across the console and took her hand. With his other hand, he lifted her chin until their eyes met. "You'll tell me, in time. There's no rush." He pulled her as close as he could with the center console between them. She tucked her head against his neck and inhaled his woodsy scent. She felt warm, safe. When he spoke, she could feel the vibration of his voice on her cheek. "Maybe if I quit being so angry," he said, "that'll make it easier."

  She surprised herself with a short burst of laughter. "Wouldn't hurt."

  "I'm sorry."

  She backed up, met his eyes. "I knew you'd have given up everything for me. I didn't want you to do that. You understand that, right?"

  "Not really."

  "I thought you'd move on."

  "Then you don't know me very well."

  But she did. She knew him very well. After everything they'd been through, he deserved better than her. But he wanted her.

  And for all her plans to leave him, she knew she couldn't do it again. She wouldn't. Somehow, this was going to have to all work out. She had no idea how, but she also knew she'd never have the strength to walk away from Eric again. "Can we just...?" She paused, collected her thoughts. "I know it's ridiculous, and I know everything is up in the air, and I know there's still Daniel, and I have to figure out how to get him back and get us safe and..." Her voice trailed off. "I don't know what's going to happen, Eric. I just know I need you. I don't want to leave you again."

  He brushed her hair behind her ears, looked deep in her eyes. "Whatever happens now, we're in it together.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Eric's phone rang, and he and Kelsey both jumped as if they'd been caught. As if there were something wrong with a husband and wife kissing. His pulse raced, and that had nothing to do with the ringing phone and everything to do with the beautiful creature in his arms.

  It was probably good they were in the Jeep with a console between them.

  Probably good there was a dog in the backseat, watching their every move.

  The phone rang again.

  Eric shifted just enough to see Kelsey's face. He smiled, kissed her forehead.

  She smiled in return, blushed and looked away.

  Eric forced himself to focus. Beyond his very alluring wife, beyond the windows of his Jeep to the snow falling outside. Right. There was a whole world out there. A world filled with evil and danger. A world that seemed like it couldn't exist in the same realm as this peaceful place.

  The phone rang again.

  She sighed, and the soft sound made him want to start all over again. He sat back in his seat and hit the button on his steering wheel to answer. "Nolan here."

  "It's Brady. You're not at the cabin yet, are you?"

  "Not even downtown yet," Eric said. "We, uh..." He glanced at Kelsey, and her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. "The traffic is terrible."

  "Good, excellent." Brady's voice held an intensity that focused Eric's thoughts. "Durant's on the move. Jimmy's following."

  Eric glanced at Kelsey. "I need to get her—"

  "Got a plan. Head to McNeal's. Park right in front, if you can. Go inside, both of you. Rae's almost there." There was a pause before Brady said, "No idea how she got ahead of you."

  Eric wasn't about to explain. "And then what do we do?"

  "I gotta go. I'll call you in a minute."

  Brady hung up, leaving Eric and Kelsey staring at the now silent dashboard.

  "He'd better not be thinking of sending you and Rae off by yourselves," Eric said.

  "I'd rather stay with you."

  Eric ignored the comment as he maneuvered back into traffic. They finally made it through the one stoplight in town, and he parked on the street in front of McNeal's.

  Kelsey reached for her door handle, and he grabbed her arm, lifted his eyebrows.

  "Oh, for heaven's sake," she said.

  "It's that bad having your husband open the door for you?"

  "I'm sorry. Of course not." He heard the anxiety behind her words, the fear.

  He held her gaze. "I'm going to make sure you're safe."

  "What about you?"

  He smiled. "I'll be fine. Don't you worry about me." He walke
d around and opened her door.

  She stood beside him, her gaze on his face. "But I am worried about you, Eric. Now that I have you back..." Her eyes filled again.

  The woman cried more than a newborn.

  He pulled her into a hug. "I'll be fine. Nothing's going to happen to me."

  She pulled away. "You promise?"

  Her fear was palpable. Suddenly, he was very aware of the line of traffic moving slowly beside them, the people in the restaurant who could easily be watching. He felt very exposed.

  Too exposed as he led her to the sidewalk. But Brady wouldn't have had them come to the busiest restaurant in Nutfield on the most crowded street in town if he hadn't wanted them to be seen.

  Kelsey was still waiting for an answer.

  He kissed her forehead. "I promise I'll do everything in my power to stay safe."

  "That's not exactly the same thing."

  He wasn't about to make promises he couldn't keep. He took her hand and led her to the door.

  They stopped just beyond the threshold, and he took in the crowd. McNeal's was doing quite a business, considering the storm building outside. About half the tables were full. He scanned the customers. No Otero or Ruiz, not that he'd expected them. Nobody suspicious-looking at all. Behind the counter, the staff was buzzing like they'd never been busier. The line of take-out sacks on the counter probably explained that.

  The waitress, Bonnie, shuffled over when they walked in. "How many?"

  "Two," he said.

  She winked and lowered her voice. "Brady told me to seat you guys by the window. Don't know what's going on, but I'm glad to help." She led the way to the seat in the window, and they each sat. "Coffee?"

  Eric shrugged, frustrated. "Uh..."

  "Coffee."

  After Bonnie walked away, Kelsey sighed. "Are we supposed to sit here and enjoy a meal? What's going on?"

  "No idea."

  His phone rang. He angled it to show Kelsey Brady's name on the screen, then answered.

  "You made it?" Brady said.

  "Just got seated."

  "You guys order something, then have Kelsey go to the restroom. Rae's waiting for her. They'll go out the back. Be sure to slip her the key to the cabin that Sam gave you."

  "Okay."

  "No big goodbye scenes," Brady said. "We don't want to tip off anybody watching that she's leaving."

  "I figured. Do you think we're being watched?"

  "Very likely. And we need to throw Durant off her trail, especially since you won't be with her."

  Good point. His blue Jeep Wrangler wasn't exactly inconspicuous. "Who's going to protect them?"

  "Donny'll follow them to the cabin and stay with them there."

  "Just Donny?"

  "We need everybody else. This deal is going down today."

  "How do you—?"

  "Later."

  That whiff of hope Eric had experience earlier grew into something powerful. They could actually do this. They could catch Otero and Durant in the act of handing off the merchandise. The thought made him ill. But if they pulled this off, they could rescue three women, maybe underage girls. They could put at least two men behind bars.

  They could protect Kelsey and Daniel.

  Eric could get his life back.

  He was afraid to hope. But his fearless, optimistic heart pounded in overdrive. He stared at Kelsey, who watched him just as closely, and spoke to Brady on the phone. "How long do I wait?"

  "Five minutes after Kelsey and Rae leave, I'll be there. We'll go together."

  "Got it." He ended the call, smiled like all was well, and kept his voice lowered. "Things are looking up."

  Her eyes widened. "Yeah?"

  He nodded, wished he could explain. Wished he knew enough to explain. He figured Rae would take care of that for him.

  Bonnie returned with the coffee and two glasses of water. "What do you kids want today?"

  "Baked potato soup for Kelsey," he said. "I'll have the fish and chips."

  Bonnie winked and turned toward the kitchen.

  Eric tried not to roll his eyes. He leaned closer to Kelsey. "I think she has a latent desire to be a spy."

  Kelsey watched the waitress's retreating form. "Nobody would suspect her."

  He nodded, took a deep breath, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out the single key Sam had given him, then took Kelsey's hand. He slipped the key into her palm, closed her fist around it, then set his other hand on top.

  He smiled as if all was well. If everything went the way they hoped it would, then all would be well. But he'd been a cop long enough to know that things were never that easy. He leaned forward, laughed like he was making a big joke, and lowered his voice, keeping his smile in place.

  "You're going to go to the bathroom. Rae'll meet you there. You're leaving with her. Out the back."

  "Why—?"

  "Just listen, okay?" He smiled again, and she followed suit, though he saw the worry in her eyes.

  "I..." Eric swallowed, squeezed her hand, worked to keep his expression neutral. "You asked me to make a promise—that I would be okay. I won't make promises I can't be sure to keep."

  Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but he continued before she could interrupt.

  "I don't know what's going to happen today. I can promise you I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, you and your son. And I'll do everything in my power to come back to you in one piece." He brushed a teardrop off her cheek. "And you can make a promise to me, too."

  She swallowed. "Anything."

  "You can't leave me again. If you have to run, then we run together. Whatever happens, you and I have to stay together. Okay?"

  She blinked back fresh tears, nodded. "I can't leave you again. I won't."

  He took a deep breath. It felt like the first real breath he'd taken in nearly a decade. Then he remembered the show they were supposed to be putting on. No big goodbye scenes. Just a casual lunch. He put on a fake smile, and she returned it. He focused on her eyes. "I love you, Kelsey. I've loved you every single minute since the first moment I saw you when I was eighteen years old. No matter what it's cost, no matter the lost years, no matter what the next hours and days bring, I will never regret putting that ring on your finger. I will never regret loving you." He squeezed her hand. "You are worth it."

  Her fake smile faded. Her mouth opened, but she didn't speak.

  "Now." He let go of her hand. "I can't kiss you goodbye, because you're just going to the bathroom."

  "Oh. But..." She still seemed unable to come up with a response.

  "I know, Kels. You don't have to say anything. I know."

  She stared another moment, then slid to the edge of the booth and stood. "Be right back."

  He watched as she weaved among the tables. Right after she reached the hallway that led to the bathrooms, Bonnie hefted a huge tray and stopped in the perfect place to block everyone's view.

  Eric sat back, swallowed, and told himself that he would see Kelsey again, that she wouldn't disappear.

  So why did he feel like something had just ripped a hole in his chest?

  ERIC nodded politely when Bonnie delivered their meals.

  Frustration and irritation rolled over him as he snatched a piece of fish, dipped it in tartar sauce, and took a bite. It was delicious, as always. If he ever moved back to north Texas, he'd quit eating seafood all together. Being a stone's throw from the coast had spoiled him. He munched on french fries, glared at his phone as if that would make it ring, and then turned his attention outside.

  He hated sitting by the window. Normally, he'd have refused this table, but this had been Brady's idea. Apparently, exposed was the point.

  Another few bites of fish, more french fries. And then Brady's tall frame passed by outside. A minute later, he walked in.

  Eric started to slide out of the booth, but Brady shook his head and joined him. He slid into Kelsey's seat. "Soup? really?"

  Eric lowered his voice. "I didn't
know we were actually eating."

  "We are." Brady took a spoonful of soup. "Never ordered the soup before. It's not bad." He took another few bites, then sipped Kelsey's water. He studied Eric over the glass. "Relax. Eat." He lowered his voice. "We'll go soon."

  "Fine." Eric took another bite of fish, but he couldn't enjoy it, not with all that was going on, knowing something had happened, and he was in the dark. And the way Brady was studying him wasn't helping. "What?"

  "What held you two up?" Brady's eyes narrowed. "I can't figure out why you weren't halfway out of town by the time I called you. I was sure we'd have to wait for you to get back."

  Eric huffed out a breath. "Aren't we in a hurry?"

  "We have time."

  "Will you tell me—?"

  "In the car." Brady lowered his voice to say that, then returned it to a normal level. "Car trouble?"

  "No." Eric didn't want to explain what they'd been doing. "We pulled over for a minute. We were talking."

  "Talking, huh?"

  Eric glared at him.

  "Okay." Brady held out his napkin with a smile. "Not sure if that's a hickey or lipstick on your neck there."

  Eric wiped his neck, glared at his friend.

  Brady laughed out loud. "No judgment here, man. She is your wife."

  "You're in an annoyingly good mood." Eric glared at him, but Brady ignored him.

  Bonnie returned, greeted Brady, and left the check. Brady pulled out his wallet—Eric didn't even reach for his. Brady'd just earned the right to pay for their meals. Brady set the wallet down and kept eating.

  Finally, his phone dinged with an incoming text. Then he stood and tossed a few bills on the table. "Let's go."

  They left the restaurant. Eric glanced at his Jeep, saw the dog in the backseat. "Crap. Magic."

  Brady paused, followed his gaze. "We'll get someone to take care of her. Run the keys inside and give them to Bonnie."

  Eric did, explained the situation in a hurried whisper. Two minutes later, he opened the door of Brady's truck.

  Brady was setting his phone in the console when Eric slid into the car. "I called my dad," Brady said. "He's going to get the dog and take her over to the cabin. Kelsey likes her, right?"

  "They made fast friends."

  "Good, good." Brady maneuvered into the traffic, which was starting to thin out, and headed south. "After you left, TakeTwo left a new message on the message board. If we deciphered it correctly, the deal is going down soon."