Nowhere to Run (11 page)

“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.

“T
here'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 what 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?”

“She'd better hope he did,” Earl said, “or she's going to be in more trouble than she's ever imagined.”

 

Marie signed the credit card charge after reiterating her specific instructions to Seth. She trusted him. That would have to be good enough insurance because there was no way she could have afforded the repair bill otherwise.

To her surprise he also handed her a wad of cash.

“What's this for?”

“I added a little to the charge so you'd have more traveling money and took it in small bills,” Seth said. “I figured you had to be running short, and since you were using the card anyway, I didn't see how it could make things any worse. Right?”

“Right. Thanks. That was smart.” She studied his nearly blank expression. “Are you ever going to tell me how you got so proficient at subterfuge?”

“Nope.” A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes began to sparkle. “Not a chance.”

“That's what I thought.” Offering her hand, she waited for him to shake it. Instead, he grasped it gently, comfortingly. “Just before you leave, I want to give you the new phone.”

“Why not trade now? I have the old one with me.”

“It's complicated. I need to keep it for a few more hours. And I want you to promise you'll throw it away and replace it as soon as you reach a store in West Plains or Springfield that carries the same model.”

“I don't want to replace it. How will I know I'm getting one that won't be traceable? Didn't you say some come with a built-in navigational system?”

“Yes, but…”

She pulled her hands free and began waving them in front of her in a gesture of surrender. “All right. Have it your way. I figured you'd need your old phone back because of all the numbers in its memory. If you want to wait to trade, that's fine with me. Just don't let me forget to give it to you.”

“I won't. I left an extra mobile charger on the front seat of your car. It plugs into the cigarette lighter so you can use it while you drive.

“Thanks.”

“Call me if there's anything I can do for you,” Seth added. “Promise?”

“No.” She blinked back unshed tears. “You've done enough. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you properly.”

“I do,” Seth said. He stepped closer, bending his head to one side until their lips were nearly touching.

Marie realized he expected a goodbye kiss. She wasn't going to give him one. No, sir. Not her. She was going to resist the urge to kiss this handsome, kind, generous, new friend, no matter what.

His warm breath tickled her cheek. His nearness made her shiver. She swayed, feeling suddenly off-balance. Seth was right there. So close. So appealing. So, so…

Raising on tiptoe, she made herself just tall enough for their lips to connect ever so briefly. She hadn't intended to even kiss him, let alone make it the best kiss of her life, but that was exactly what it had been.

Wide-eyed, she staggered back. “Uh-oh.”

He was grinning. “You can say that again.”

“I'd rather not,” Marie countered, blushing.

Seth sobered. “You don't have to leave.”

“Yes, I do.”
Especially now.

“All right. Here's what we'll do. I'll take your car for a test drive to make sure it's running right, then bring it to your motel room later. While I'm doing that, you can drive my truck home and pack up your things. When I get there, we'll switch vehicles—and telephones.”

“You don't have to go to all that trouble.”

“Yes, I do.”

She could tell by his stern expression that he was not going to budge, so she capitulated. “Okay. We'll do everything your way this time. When?”

“Here are my keys. You go now. And take Babe with you so Patty will have plenty of time to say goodbye to her. I'll bring your car by in a couple of hours.”

Marie paused to lay her hand lightly on his forearm. “Be careful?”

“I will. You, too. Remember, that old truck drives just like a car unless you lock the hubs and put it in four-wheel drive, so don't let that scare you.”

“Nothing scares me,” Marie insisted. She turned away before she added softly, secretly, “Except how I'm starting to feel about you.”

 

“The car's still parked over there, but it looks like the woman's leaving,” Al said. “What're we gonna do?”

“I'll follow her,” Frank said, reaching for the ignition key. “You and Earl get out, stay here, and keep your eyes on that car.”

“What if it leaves, too? What then? Are we supposed to run alongside it?”

“I hadn't thought of that,” Frank said, disgusted. “Okay. We'll all go. Or we'll all stay. Vote.”

“I say we stick with the car or go get my truck,” Al said. “We wouldn't have this problem if you hadn't insisted we all ride together.”

Earl agreed. “Yeah. Look, we know that's her car. It has to be. So she'll be back. As long as we have that car, we've got her. What we can't do is tip our hand till we can catch her alone.”

“Okay,” Frank replied. “It's fine with me if you two want to sit here and stew all night long. I'm gonna go inside and get me a cold one.”

With that, Al erupted into laughter. “Oh, yeah? Well, good luck, man. This is a dry county you've stuck us in. Can't get a beer around here if your life depends on it.”

“You're kidding, right?”

Al's glee increased. “Nope. Get used to drinking soda pop. That's all they sell.”

“Terrific. That's the last straw. If Roy wasn't already dead, I'd gladly kill him for this.”

 

Seth realized that Marie was right about the personal information stored in his old phone. If the store had had two phones in stock the night before, his plans would have gone off without a hitch. Since they'd only had one, he figured he'd eventually give Marie the new instrument and keep the old one until he could replace it. His only real problem was the fact that he'd had no choice but to disclose the new number to Jonathan. He supposed he could have given him his old number, but that would have meant that Marie might have taken the next call and have inadvertently led Jonathan to think Seth had betrayed him.

If he hadn't had the mind of a spy, keeping it all straight would have driven him crazy. As it was, he'd worked out the details of the phone exchange to his satisfaction and was merely biding his time until he could make the switch and let Jonathan know that the former number was no longer viable. Once Marie ditched that phone and bought a new one, there would be no more ties to her at all. In theory, it was a perfect plan.

If Seth hadn't had a niggling suspicion that it was too good to be true, he might not have broken down and phoned her at the motel.

She answered immediately, sounding a bit breathless. “Hello?”

“It's me, Seth,” he said.

“I'm glad. You won't believe all the people who have called this number wanting to talk to you. I finally started taking notes like a secretary.”

“Sorry about that.”

“It's okay. How long before you bring my car?”

Seth chuckled. “Why? Are the children running you ragged?”

“Only the two-legged one. Babe is curled up on the rug and taking a nap. I think Patty wore her out.”

“Okay. I have one stop to make before I deliver your car and we switch phones. Wait for me?”

“I have a choice?”

He had to laugh again. “Not really, unless you plan to steal my truck. I wouldn't recommend it. It's pretty decrepit.”

“So, are you telling me that the mechanic's truck needs repair?”

“Something like that.” It was good to hear humor in her voice, to sense the lightness of her spirit for a change. Maybe leaving town was the right thing for her to do after all. She certainly seemed to think so.