Despite the agony lacerating his heart, he was able to smile, even if it didn’t reach his eyes. He turned his attention back to his team.
“We’re going to Florida?” Emily asked.
“We’re going to Florida.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Mikey had a hard time controlling the rage flowing through him. How was it possible that they’d lost the woman? They were so close. They were so fucking close!
He’d had his men watching the damn mansion in New Orleans where she was holed up. The place was like a damn fortress with armed security patrolling the entire grounds. Trying to penetrate had been too much of a risk.
The other option had been to lure her out, which they had, thanks to the text message.
They had trailed her all the way to Mobile.
They had thought about planting a bomb in her car. But that would have drawn too much attention to them.
The boss was already getting hot under the ass. No need to give him a reason to get funny.
He hadn’t called in Babe of course. This was a thing of pride and honor to him. His brother’s death had to be avenged by no one else but him. He was sure that Slim would understand this.
He just needed to keep things clean. No more getting carried away. He had to make sure that no one else was hurt in the process.
It wasn’t that he cared particularly about the people. Mikey was a killer. He would kill his own wife if she ever betrayed him, much as he loved her. He did what had to be done. However, they did not need the police getting interested in what he was up to.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to bring his rage under control. It was still there though, boiling beneath the surface.
“Her car is still there, boss. But she hasn’t been back in more than two hours.”
“She won’t be back,” he said to the other person.
Somehow, she had escaped them. He was still having a hard time believing that she was able to pull off an escape. They had her in that Subway in Mobile. This could have ended now.
Instead, they had to wait for her to show up somewhere. She could be anywhere now.
He let out a string of swear words.
He ended the call and made another phone call.
“Has she shown up anywhere?” he asked the person on the other end of the line.
“The last activity we have for her was at an ATM machine in Mobile, Alabama. She also used her credit card to pay for a sandwich.”
“Damn bitch.”
“If she goes online, uses her credit card or her social security number anywhere, we’ll flag it.”
Mikey felt acid flood his stomach as he ended that call. He stared into the night, his mind on his brother. Tommy had counted on him to protect him, and he’d failed. But he was not going to fail at getting justice for his brother.
Don’t worry, Tommy boy. Soon you’ll be able to rest.
He hated to pull the plug on the search. But he knew there was nothing he could do. He would put their men in different states to be on the alert. Then he’ll wait.
Mikey knew he could be hot-headed sometimes, but he could wait.
When you stalked prey, you needed to learn patience. He could be patient. Not the way Slim was, though. The Abrantes boss could wait a decade to hit, but when he did, there would be no doubt about what the hit was about.
Mikey had no intention of waiting decades. But wait he could.
He signaled to his second in command. “Call the boys, we’re heading back to Chicago.”
It burned his throat to say that. He hated the feeling of failure, defeat. But he was not defeated. He would not be defeated. He was retreating only so he could come back stronger.
Just then his phone buzzed again. It was the man who was left to watch the Subway.
“Yeah?” he snarled into the phone.
“A bunch of Silver Shield folks just arrived. Including the one who was guarding her.”
Mikey paused and considered the new development. This was interesting.
“Stay on their tail and report to me.”
Maybe they did not need to head back to Chicago in a hurry. He nodded at his second in command.
“We won’t be heading back just yet.”
**
Janey drove ten hours straight to Tampa, Florida, stopping only once for gas in Tallahassee, where she paid cash. She had withdrawn enough cash to hopefully get her through a month. She didn’t know what she would do then. She didn’t know much about being on the run, actually, she knew next to nothing about being on the run.
But she did know that they could trace her digital activity, hence the decision to avoid credit cards and such. From now on, it was cash all the way.
When she drove into the city, she felt a measure of peace for the first time since she left New Orleans. She was also exhausted. She’d been running on adrenaline and she suddenly felt like a helium balloon that was suddenly losing air.
She needed a place to lay her head.
She drove right to the city center and decided that a coffee shop would be the best place to start. She pulled up into a parking spot in Downtown Tampa, then walked a few blocks into the coffee shop.
She was surprised to find one open so early. She checked her watch, it was six a.m. However, when she walked into the coffee shop, she saw that the clock on the wall was reading seven a.m. She reached for her phone to check the time difference, then remembered that she no longer had a phone.
“Good morning. You’re out early. What can I get you today?”
Janey gave a hesitant smile to the man behind the counter. He had a pleasant smile and when he made eye contact, she noticed that he had warm brown eyes that twinkled.
“A latte would be good,” she said.
“One latte coming up,” he said with a smile. “Are you new in town?”
She flinched, not sure if starting up conversation was a good idea. Then she reminded herself that she had come in for information. So she smiled self-deprecatingly.
“Yes. I’m here for a few days,” she said with a shrug.
“Do you have a place to stay yet?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m looking for a nice place that isn’t too expensive.”
He winked at her. “I know just the place. Here’s your coffee. Come over when you’re done and I’ll give you the details.”
She smiled in gratitude, took her latte and went to find a nook where she could drink in peace.
She thought about what she was going to do. She would probably stay here a couple of weeks then move on. She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. She’d pinned her hair up, but several strands had escaped, giving her a tired look.
After she had several hours of sleep, the first thing she was going to do was dye her hair. She was going to change the color to something uncharacteristic. Red? Maybe black. She would decide later.
She thought of what else she could change. Maybe she would get contacts. That would change the color of her eyes. Too bad she had neither the courage nor the funds to get plastic surgery. Right then, plastic surgery was beginning to look damn good.
She would change her face if it meant she could live her life without fear. For now though, she just needed to sleep.
Several minutes later, she found herself pulling up to a beautifully restored period home. It was so gorgeous it took her breath away. From the beautifully maintained lawn, to the large veranda filled with potted plants.
Janey felt her troubled soul being soothed just by gazing upon the house. She stepped out of Lydia’s truck, saying a quick prayer of thanks for the woman, and walked up the steps, into the house.
“Hi, welcome to Eliot Place.”
Janey clutched her purse and smiled at the woman behind the counter. She didn’t seem much older than Janey, though she had the sort of confidence and self-possession Janey used to envy. Before she met Drew.
Thinking about Drew brought a sharp pain to her heart. She brought a hand up to her chest and tried
to massage away the pain.
“Hi. I’m Amelia Jones and I would like a room here, please,” she said to the woman.
“Hi Amelia, my name is Christine Baxter and I own this place with my husband. We have one free room, but it’s a really small room and it’s just under the roof.”
Janey didn’t care. She only had one concern. “Does it have a comfortable bed?”
Christine laughed. “I see what your priorities are,” she said. “There’s a queen-size bed and it’s very comfortable.”
Janey nodded with a small smile. “I’ll take it.”
“Alrighty.” She mentioned the price, which made Janey cringe a little. She could afford it, but not for more than a few days or she would run out pretty quickly.
“That’s fine.”
She filled the paperwork and paid cash for three nights.
“Luggage?” Christine asked with an upraised brow.
Janey had to think fast. “My partner is coming with my stuff in a day or two. I have a business meeting so I came on ahead. I have all I need in the meantime here.” She patted her purse.
The other woman looked doubtful, but she smiled and led the way up the stairs to the room Janey had paid for.
When she stepped in, she suppressed a gasp of surprise. The room was done up in cream with orange accents. It really was a small room, but it was charming. And most importantly, it had a large bed that looked quite comfy.
“It’s an adorable room,” she said to her host.
“It is my favorite room in the entire house,” she said with a bright smile. “I’ll leave you to settle down. You’re in time for breakfast, if you would like to have any. Just come down.”
Janey smiled her thanks, but the last thing she wanted was to eat. She thanked Christine as she left.
Alone in the room, she was pleasantly surprised to discover a whirlpool tub. She thought of having a bath, but she was just too tired.
She stripped to her undies, thankful for the warm Florida weather. Then she climbed onto the cool sheets and lay down.
As she closed her eyes, an image of Drew formed behind her lids. She sucked in a breath. She could feel her eyes stinging behind her lids. She missed Drew so much, it was a physical ache. Would she ever not miss him?
She didn’t think so.
She had never fallen in love like this. So totally, so irrevocably. Drew was everything to her. The intensity of her feelings scared her.
She turned and lay on her side. After a few moments, she snagged one of the pillows and held it to her midsection.
At that moment, she wanted more than anything to feel his strong arms around her. She had no way of getting in touch with him, even if she decided to do that. She had no phone.
But you know his number by heart.
She shook the thought away. She did know his number, thanks to the many times she’d picked up the phone to call him and chickened out. This was before he came sauntering back into her life.
As she drifted off to sleep, thoughts of Drew crowded her already fatigued mind.
I love you, Drew. Please come and find me.
Don’t let the bad guys get me.
The last thought she had before sleep finally took over was how futile her thoughts were. Drew was never going to find her because she hadn’t told him, or anyone else, where she was going. How could she have, when she’d had no idea about her destination?
It was a fact she would have to get used to now. She was on her own.
Janey Moore was all alone and she had to keep her head above water, somehow.
Chapter Twenty-seven
When Janey opened her eyes, it was dark outside. She’d slept through the day. Her stomach grumbled in protest. She was famished.
She got up from the bed and swayed on her feet. Shutting her eyes, she placed a hand on her head as she tried to keep her world from spinning, literally.
A few minutes later, she made her way gingerly to the tiny bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Next she got dressed in the pair of jeans she’d worn earlier, but topped it with one of the two blouses she’d thrown into her purse.
Picking up her purse, she pressed it close to her body until she could feel the outline of the metal inside. Feeling slightly reassured, she made her way downstairs.
Christine met her at the foot of the stairs.
“Oh, you’re up!” she said with a pleasant smile. “You look much better.”
Janey laughed. It sounded hollow in her ears. “I do feel better.”
“Great. If you need to grab a bite, there’s a really nice place just down the corner. It’s a bistro. Food is delicious and affordable.”
Janey’s stomach chose that moment to rumble again.
She glanced at the other woman in embarrassment, then they both burst out laughing.
“I guess I better get going before that happens again,” Janey said.
Christine waved to her as she made her way past the reception and out the door.
Eliot’s Place was not exactly in the busiest part of town, but it was busy enough. Janey decided to walk down to the bistro Christine had told her about. She found it without difficulty and walked in.
She looked for a table at the far back, in a corner that did not have a lot of lighting. It was bright enough that she could see everyone who came into the bistro, while she herself remained hidden in the shadows. She did not want any surprises.
She picked up the menu and glanced at it. While she was hungry, she did not feel the need to burden her system with a lot of food at that hour.
The food was affordable, just as Christine had said. But Janey was cautiously watching over every cent she spent. So she chose one of the lower priced items on the list.
A waiter came over to take her order and left.
Janey glanced around, her eyes scanning the area for anyone who was watching her with more interest than necessary. No one seemed to notice her presence. She took a deep breath and let it out, forcing herself to relax.
When her meal of chicken salad came, she ate it with relish. It was just chicken salad, but Christine was right. The food was good.
Once she was done, she didn’t linger, but hurried back to the Bed and Breakfast. Though she’d only just opened her eyes a couple of hours ago, she was still tired. She stifled a yawn as she walked back into the house.
Waving at the young woman behind the counter, not Christine this time, she trudged up the stairs, fell on the bed and went straight to sleep.
The next day, she paid a visit to a hair salon, on Christine’s recommendation. It wasn’t one of those elegant, pricey, uptown places where one had to book months in advance to get an appointment. But it was a nice place and a phone call from Christine had snagged her an immediate appointment.
She sat down, waiting for the hairstylist to attend to her. The place was a beehive of activity, with several women in it.
A reed thin woman walked towards Janey. She looked to be about the same age as her.
“Hi, I’m Alicia of Alicia’s Beauty Parlor. Christine mentioned that you needed something done with your hair?”
Janey nodded. “I need a makeover,” she said. “Something that would make it almost impossible for people who know me to recognize me.”
Alicia walked around Janey, studying her face. At one point, she stepped closer and picked a few strands of Janey’s hair, running them through her fingers.
“What are you thinking?” Alicia finally asked her.
Janey hesitated. “I’m not sure…I was thinking of changing the color?”
Alicia nodded. “Are you averse to chopping it off?” she said, lightly touching Janey’s hair.
Janey paused. Aside from regular trims now and again, she had never cut her hair short. Then she shrugged, “Whatever works for you.”
Better to have no hair and be alive than a head full of hair and be dead, she told herself.
Alicia clapped her hands together, her eyes suddenly twinkling with delight. “Oh, I can
’t wait to get started. I will give you such a makeover, your own mama’s not going to recognize you.”
Janey tried to smile and failed dismally. She hoped to God that she hadn’t made a mistake.
Alicia led her through the busy room with several busy hair stylists, into an inner room. She pointed to a seat in front of a large mirror.
“Sit,” she said, turning away.
Janey sat down.
Alicia returned with a white cover and wrapped it around Janey, completely covering her up.
“First I’m going to cut your hair, then I’ll apply the dye. Once that is done, we’ll style it and then do your makeup.”
Janey fidgeted. “How much is this going to cost me, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Alicia gazed at her through the mirror and their eyes met. The other woman tipped her head to the side and considered Janey for a moment.
“I’m so excited by what I can see in my mind’s eye,” she said, waving her hands as she spoke. “I will do this for you at no cost.”
Janey was uncomfortable. “I don’t understand…Why…What?” She didn’t know what to say.
Alicia laughed lightly. “There’s something about you that I can’t place my finger on. But when I look into your eyes, all I see is a desperate cry for help. So, help you I will, in the best way I can.”
Janey’s eyes filled with tears and she brushed them away impatiently. She couldn’t go around crying each and every time someone did something nice for her.
She let her eyes expressed her thanks. Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a rush and nodded once.
“I’m ready.”
“Yay!” Alicia said, clapping her hands in delight. She gave a wide smile, picked up a pair of scissors and got to work.
Half an hour later, Janey stared at herself in the mirror. Her mouth was hanging open in shock. Alicia had cut her hair really short, just an inch or two below her chin. She had cut the hair into a kind of layered style, but that was not what had Janey gazing at herself in unabashed surprise.
Her hair, which she had always thought was hopelessly straight with only a few reluctant waves had taken on a life of its own. Soft, loose curls framed her face, highlighting her cheek bones and making her eyes seem larger. She had an air of fragility and strength at the same time, and looked entirely more sophisticated than she really was.
Silver Shield Security Box Set Page 43