Текст книги "Love or Justice"

Автор книги: Rachel Mannino

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

“Come on,” he said finally. “Let’s go take care of these apples.”

She laughed, opening the car door. They grabbed the apple picker, heading out into the orchard with baskets in hand. They worked until well past noon, scooping up apples dangling from above. The sun was high. The day got warm enough to burn off the morning dew on the leaves of the trees. It was just turning into fall, and some of the apple tree leaves were beginning to yellow. As they walked back toward the farmhouse, Dante and Laurie could almost feel the seasons changing.

When they got to the front porch, Dante unlocked the door. They entered into a large sitting room that still had an assortment of antique wooden furniture. There were two matching end tables and a coffee table, all made out of deep mahogany, with ornate golden accents. The room was painted a light green, with dark green trim. To their right was the entrance to the hallway. They saw the base of the staircase leading to the second floor. At the back of the sitting room, a door led to the kitchen.

They headed toward the kitchen. The room had pristine, tiled floors with a blue and white pattern. There was an oak kitchen table in front of them, with six matching chairs. Beyond it, was a door leading to the back yard and several windows with views of the grape vineyard out back. The walls were painted a light blue with dark blue trim, which matched the floor tiles. To their right was an island in the center of a large kitchen. The island was tiled to match the floor, but the rest of the kitchen counter top was a polished oak, like the kitchen cabinets.

“This kitchen is so amazing.” Laurie sucked in a breath as she took it all in.

“Nicest kitchen I’ve ever seen.” Dante set their lunch down on the table. “Mom said their neighbors just remodeled it. They did a good job.”

“I agree.” Laurie sat down at the table.

Their work in the orchard made them so hungry they devoured their food without saying a word.

“Let’s take a look at the rest of the house.” Laurie said when they finished.

“All right.” He wasn’t one to snoop around, but it was his parents’ house now.

They went from room to room. Almost every room still had a smattering of furniture left inside, a desk, a lamp, some tables, or chairs. They were pieces the previous owners didn’t care about or just couldn’t fit into their new home. There was a formal dining room off the kitchen, and a family room next to that. Upstairs were several bedrooms and bathrooms. The master bedroom had a large, four-poster bed, complete with mattress and box spring. The bathroom attached to the master bedroom was enormous, with two large sinks, a shower, and a full tub. There was even room for a vanity, which was beside the door. Everything in the room was light sandstone.

“This bathroom is incredible. I can’t even believe this. Why don’t your parents live here?” Laurie gestured to the vanity.

“I have no idea, but they seem pretty settled into their simple farm house.”

“I’d move in about a heartbeat. This house is beautiful!”

“It is.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her toward him. “So are you.”

Laurie blushed. He kissed a trail from her forehead to her mouth. Then he covered her mouth with his, backing her out of the bathroom.

“Dante!” Laurie squirmed in his grasp. He held her tightly, determined to make it to the bed.

“What?” he asked, smiling. “There are no parents here. No other Marshals. I finally have you to myself.”

Laurie chuckled at him.

“Besides, they were nice enough to leave us a bed. I think we shouldn’t let it go to waste.”

He fell onto the bed on his back, pulling her with him. She laughed at him, trying to wrestle against him, but she didn’t try very hard. She gave in to his lovemaking, and soon enough he had her naked skin pressed against the length of his.

Afterwards, they lay on the bed beside one another, exhausted. Dante made a mental note to steal a blanket and sheets from his mother’s hall closet. He smiled to himself. If he was going to be here with Laurie often, well, that would suit him just fine. He made a circular pattern on Laurie’s shoulder with his finger, as he closed his eyes.

“I’m ready for a nap.” Laurie nuzzled his neck.

“Sounds good to me.” He pulled her closer. “Then we can finish in the orchard.”

“Deal.”

They slept for half an hour, before the chill that crept through the window chased them off the bed and back out into the sun. They worked on the pear trees in the afternoon, which lined either side of the driveway. They had to be more careful with the pears, which bruised easily. Their work was slower. They didn’t have as much fruit to carry back to the barn at the end of the day. As they drove back to the house, they talked about all of the different kinds of apples and pears they had yet to harvest.

“Dad told me before we left we could keep most of the money from the apple and pear harvest so we can get some winter clothes. I think we’re going to need them soon.” Dante reached for her hand as he drove with the other.

“Dante, how long do you think we’ll live here?”

He winced. Laurie rushed to continue.

“It’s not that I don’t like it here, I do. I like it here. I just wondered.”

Dante sighed. He turned his head to look at her.

“I don’t know, Laurie. I just don’t know.”

“I do like it here.” She squeezed his hand.

“I know. I do too. I just…I have to know Kaimi is behind bars, hopefully behind maximum-security bars. I need to know the mole is in prison.” Dante glanced at her as he turned into the driveway. “Anything less and I can’t take you back.”

Dante looked out over the peaceful landscape.

“How will we find out if Kaimi and the mole are caught? Are you going to call Rick?”

“I can’t. He could be the mole, for all I know. I can’t talk to anyone in the Marshals Service,”

“Then how will you know?” Laurie glanced at him.

He hesitated. He didn’t like hiding it from her.

“Dante?”

He sighed. Dante ran his hand through his hair.

“My dad’s talking to some of his contacts still at the CIA. You can’t tell my mom, Laurie. He made me promise it would just be between him and myself, okay? My mom wouldn’t be happy if she knew he was still talking to his old contacts when he’s supposed to be retired.” He glanced at her. “Promise me you won’t tell her?”

Laurie grimaced.

“I promise. I won’t tell her. Besides, he’s only looking into it because of me anyway.”

“Just don’t let it slip out either. Remember, she worked for the CIA too, apparently.”

Laurie laughed.

“You’re right, she might question me while we’re pulling up potatoes.”

Dante let out a hard laugh. He couldn’t reconcile his mother with his image of an agent either. He pulled up to the house. He grabbed a small basket of pears from the back before joining Laurie on the porch.

When he walked into his parent’s house, they were both in the kitchen. Emma was at the stove, a frothy soup smelling of bay leaves and thyme bubbled in front of her. Albert paused as he spoke to Emma from the table. Everything appeared calm and peaceful between them now, with no trace of the tension from this morning. Dante wondered what had happened, but he knew better than to ask.

“How did the harvesting go?” Emma lit up as they walked in.

“Good. Great. We’re pretty tired.” Dante put down the basket of pears.

“How much did you harvest?” Albert clasped his hands together.

“A bin of apples. The pears were easier to bruise, so we had to go slow. Got half a bin or maybe a little more.” Laurie sat down at the table.

“Not bad.” Albert raised his eyebrows. “Not bad at all.”

“The farmhouse over there is beautiful. Gorgeous!” Laurie rested her head on her hands, her eyelids drooping. Dante knew she was exhausted.

“Yes, it is beautiful. Did you go upstairs?” Emma peered at them over her shoulder as she stirred.

“We did. The master bedroom and bathroom were amazing! I don’t understand why you haven’t moved in yet.” Laurie melted onto the table in a puddle.

“Oh, Albert and I have plenty of room here. We have almost the same size master. Maybe not as polished, but close enough. We’ve been trying to find a renter for the house, but haven’t had much luck.” Emma shot Dante a pointed look.

“We’re hoping maybe Bob and Gabriella will get interested, if they ever come to visit.” Albert leaned onto the table with his elbows.

“Because of course he doesn’t actually trust anyone else to live there.” Emma took bowls out of the cabinet and set them down with a hearty thunk.

Albert rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t say that, Emma. I would just hope my brother and his wife could live a little bit closer. There would be plenty of room for the boys.” Albert huffed.

Dante looked at Laurie, and they both smiled. Yes, now he knew his parents were just fine.

“Emma is that soup you’re making going to take very long?” Albert ran his hands over the table. “Because if it is, I could use Dante’s help in the barn for a minute.”

Emma dipped a spoon into the soup, tasting it.

“Probably another ten to fifteen minutes or so. I don’t think I soaked the beans long enough.” She waved them away.

“Son?” Albert raised his eyebrows at him.

“Yeah, sure.” Dante stood up. He didn’t want to move, but he had a feeling he knew what this was about.

He walked out to the barn with his father, where Albert turned on several work lights.

Albert walked over to a panel beside the metal tool organizer. He pulled out a fake portion of the wall. Dante could see there were several stacks of cash and behind that, several rolled up pieces of paper, all encased in a glass container. He watched his father open the lock on the glass container with a key on his key ring. Then he took out one of the rolls of paper. He brought it over to the worktable where Dante stood waiting.

“I had a call today from the agency.” Albert unrolled a map of Hawaii, hand drawn to scale. “They’ve gotten a lead that Kaimi may be in Kauai, here.”

He pointed to a region spanning between the island’s two airports at the southern tip.

“He has quite a few friends at the golf club. Friends that would be willing to put him up for a while.” Albert looked up at Dante for a reaction.

Dante shook his head.

“Must be nice.”

“Not for long. The agency gave the information over to the FBI. They’re getting ready to do a raid in the next couple of days. They’ve been watching the house round the clock. If they so much as see his golf clubs, they’ll be on him.”

“Good. So we should know by the end of the week?”

Albert nodded. His father’s expression became much more severe. He looked at Dante, his brown eyes hardening by the second. Dante braced for impact. Nothing that followed that expression was ever a good thing. Ever.

“They think they know who the mole in the Marshals Service is.”

“Who?”

Dante gripped the worktable, leaning onto it. His heart stuttered. He wanted to know who the mole is, but God, it must be awful news for his father to look at him like that.

“You.”

Dante stood for a minute before his brow furrowed. He let the news sink in, but it didn’t make any sense at all. He stepped back from the table.

“Wait. What?”

“They think you’re the mole.”

“They can’t.”

“They do. You took the girl and disappeared. They think you were feeding Kaimi the information. When his two attacks didn’t succeed, you killed her off yourself.”

Dante stumbled backward. He felt numb. The nerves in his face and fingers seemed to have stopped feeding his brain information. God, they thought it was him. They thought he deceived them all. They thought he killed Laurie. Dante ran both hands through his hair. This couldn’t be happening. He started to pace.

“I’m sorry, son. They think it’s you. I wondered why Hilton hasn’t called. I doubt he will.”

“This is a disaster.” Dante came back to the table. He placed both hands on it to steady himself.

“It’s not a total disaster. You have Laurie. She’s safe. When you bring her back, they’ll know they were wrong.”

Dante nodded. His face contorted with anguish and he gripped the table harder. This whole situation was spinning out of his control. He felt his tenuous hold on it slipping away.

“This might even lure out the real mole—make him tip his hand now that the blame is all on you. This might work to our advantage.”

Dante, lost in thought, stared at the floor.

“The Marshals Service is doing their best to track you down, though right now they’re looking in New York.” Albert shook his head with a rueful smile.

“Why New York?” Dante asked.

“An informant in Kaimi’s organization heard that Kaimi planned to meet with the mole, but the mole had to cancel to leave for New York, so they think that’s where you are.”

“God damn it!” Dante walked away from the table, his hands balled into fists.

“What? Does that mean something to you?”

Dante stalked the floor of the barn below the loft, his father watching him closely. Anger coiled violently in his chest until he could stand it no more. He smashed his fist into the nearest support beam, which only succeed in making a satisfactory thud. Dante turned back to his father, shaking out his hand.

“Max.”

“Who is Max?”

“One of my men.” Dante ran his hands through his hair before he returned to the table. “Max was on my team. His parents live in New York. It must have been him.”

“Well, a lot of people go back and forth to New York, that doesn’t mean it was him.”

“No, I know it. I know it was Max. He acted strangely that entire assignment. I thought his unusual interest in Laurie was because of attraction. God, why was I so stupid? How did I not see it?”

“Traitors are not so easy to spot. It could still be anyone in the Marshals Service office. There’s not much we can do until the FBI catches either Kaimi or his informant. Then you’ll have your chance to clear your name.”

“I can’t believe they’d even suspect me. After everything I’ve done there.”

Dante stood over the table, one hand on his hip, and the other rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Not a moment for pride, Dante. After all, if you were them right now then you would suspect the same thing.”

Albert leaned over the table. He picked up a pencil and shaded in the area where the FBI suspected Kaimi was hiding. Dante watched a slow, sly smile creep across his father’s face.

“We just need to have a little bit of patience, and they’ll come out of hiding.”

Albert stood upright. He rolled up the piece of paper and put it back in the glass case.

“Let’s get back for super, shall we?”

“Yeah.” Dante shook out his anger.

“If your mother asks, you were helping me nail the new posts together for the upper field.”

Dante nodded with a grimace. Downcast and worried, he followed his father back to the house.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Fall descended on Nebraska. The days grew crisp. The leaves in the orchard turned a brilliant yellow and began to fall. The world turned to cracking at every turn, from the dried corn stalks underfoot, discarded after the harvest, to the wind whipping the bare branches of the trees.

Laurie and Dante settled into a comfortable life on the farm. They rose right after the sun, ate breakfast with Emma and Albert, and went over to the orchard. They harvested apples and pears all day, then came home for dinner. In the evenings, they would watch TV for a little while. Dante would often use his parent’s computer to surf the internet. Ultimately, they would fall in bed together at the end of the day exhausted.

Dante would have been at peace, but at the end of the week, Dante and Albert heard nothing from the CIA. Nothing at all. The silence stretched into another week.

Finally, Albert pulled Dante aside one Saturday while Emma taught Laurie how to can applesauce. They went out to the barn.

“What did they say?” Dante closed the door, his breath steaming the chilly air.

“The raid came up empty. They’re not done sifting through all of the information yet, but they’re not even sure Kaimi was ever there.”

“Great, perfect.” Dante ran his hands through his hair as he began to pace the cement floor of the barn.

“Patience, son. You have to—” Albert started.

“I know, Dad. I know. But it’s not your job that’s on the line.”

Albert, leaning over the table, looked up at his son. His expression was stern, his eyes impatient. Dante clenched his jaw. Then he heaved a sigh of frustration. He came back to the worktable and Albert continued.

“The agency has two other leads on Kaimi. An agent identified him here, in a house outside Honolulu. It seems Kaimi is still able to check-in on some of his business associates. They didn’t overhear where he is staying. They couldn’t get information out before he left. A citizen called in a tip that he may be here in Maui.”

Albert pointed to Kahului, at the neck of the island’s west end.

“With a boat at his disposal, he can get back and forth between Maui and Honolulu. It would only be a few hours between the two.” Dante frowned.

Albert scribbled a note in shorthand beside Maui. Then he shaded in the areas where Kaimi was spotted.

“Who was this business associate Kaimi met with?”

“Classified.” Albert continued to make notes on the map.

“Dad, I have a level three security clearance. I’ve had it for years.” Dante put his hands on his hips.

Albert smiled.

“I’m sure you do, but that doesn’t even begin to touch this.”

“If it’s relevant to Kaimi’s whereabouts—” Dante started.

“Then I’ll tell you, but as of right now, I’m not sure that it is.”

Dante’s face tensed. His jaw ached. Anger settled in the pit of his stomach, making it burn. He left the table and went back to pacing.

“When is the FBI going to move on the Kaimi tip?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Their putting surveillance in place now. They’ve had no real evidence he’s there, so they’re looking at all additional known associates in case he’s checking in on them.”

Dante nodded.

“Anything else?”

Albert shook his head.

“Not yet.”

Albert put the map back into the hidden safe. Dante went back to pacing. He tried to choke back his disappointment. There was nothing he could do to find Kaimi from here, and he knew it.

“Who are your contacts at the agency?”

Albert turned around from replacing the fake panel. He looked surprised.

“You know I won’t tell you. It’s classified.” Albert’s brow furrowed.

“Can they be trusted?” Dante stopped pacing to stare at him. “Are they working the Kaimi case now?”

“Of course they can be trusted. They wouldn’t be at the agency if they couldn’t. The second is irrelevant. They have access to the information we need.”

“They’re not going to have the best information if they’re not working on the Kaimi case. Can you talk to the agents working the Kaimi case?”

“What should I tell them? That my son, who’s suspected of being a mole in the Marshals Service, wanted to inquire after Kaimi?” Albert planted his feet on the floor and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Well, maybe I should just call some contacts if you’re not willing to get the job done.”

Albert took several quick strides to close the gap between them.

Dante saw his jaw tense, and his brown eyes shot sparks. Dante’s system flooded with adrenaline. Every muscle tensed as he prepared for battle.

“I’ve been getting this job done since long before you were born, young man. How dare you suggest anything else.” His father pointed one long boned finger at him.

Dante pulled himself up to his tallest height. His face screwed up in anger. He was nose to nose with his father. He could feel his hot breath fanning his cheek. Dante wouldn’t retreat one step—not one.

“Really? Did you get the job done the last time you went after Kaimi?”

Albert curled up his fists, as he stared into his son’s eyes. His lips contorted into a sneer, as his cheek muscle jumped with barely controlled anger.

“You were always a stubborn child. Arrogant, even. Talking about things you know nothing about.”

“How would you even know? You weren’t there. You wouldn’t know anything about my childhood.”

A flicker of remorse and pain crossed Albert’s face. It was brief, but Dante saw it before Albert regained his composure. Albert looked down at the cement floor of the barn.

Dante felt ashamed. His dad was trying to help him. Here he was, throwing a tantrum because it wasn’t the information he wanted to hear.

Dante took a step back. He ran his hands through his hair, cursing.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It was a low blow.”

Albert nodded. He paused for a few minutes, thinking. Then he put his hands on his hips, and gave a rueful smile, still looking at the floor.

“You were always fiery as a kid. Every time I came home, there were sparks flying. I thought you would just outgrow it. When you got older…well, I just started to guess it was because I couldn’t be there for you and your mom. As if you were perpetually angry at me.” Albert spoke softly, and let out a breath.

Dante closed his eyes. Never in his whole life had he imagined his father as vulnerable. Here it was before him, exposed and hungry for his attention. It felt good for a brief second that his father finally broke, but now Dante just felt like a bully.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a pain-in-the-ass kid. I don’t mean to be a jerk now. I’m just frustrated. I need Kaimi to be caught so I can go back to my job. So I can take care of Laurie.”

Albert nodded. His fingers twitched as he stared at the floor. Then he looked up at Dante.

Dante felt like he was ten again, standing around, waiting for his father to notice he was there.

“We’ll get him, son.” Albert’s voice took on a tone of newfound determination. “We’ll bring him in. We’ll get your job straightened out.”

Dante nodded back. After a few moments of staring at each other, Albert broke away to lead the way to the door. Gratefully, Dante followed.

***

 

Laurie

“They’ll find him, Dante,” Laurie said to him as he drove. “They will. It just takes time.”

“They should have found him by now. It’s been months. Something’s not right.”

They were in the truck, driving back from Fremont. They had gone into the small town to shop for winter clothes with the money they earned from the apple and pear harvest. The fall had melded into the holidays, and Thanksgiving was at the end of the week. They both knew buying winter clothes couldn’t wait anymore. They were already freezing half the time as it was, and they didn’t fit into the heavy coats his mom insisted they wear.

It had been a relief for them to get off the farm for the day. It was nice for them to see someone that wasn’t Albert or Emma. Laurie hadn’t been shopping in months, and it was the first time she and Dante were out in public together as a couple. She enjoyed being able to hold hands as they walked down the street. She loved the way Dante placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked around the stores. It gave her a small taste of what life they could have had together if they had just met under different circumstances, if they weren’t forced to hide all of the time.

Now, driving back, for Laurie the farm felt like home. On Thursday, it would be her first Thanksgiving outside the resort in over a decade. She would be with a family, a family that felt like her family.

She glanced over at Dante’s profile. He was tense, worried. He seemed that way more and more lately. They no longer spent their days roaming around the orchard, and it seemed that Dante felt caged. He paced around the farmhouse, he fidgeted almost constantly. She placed her hand on his shoulder. He glanced over at her. She gave him a reassuring smile.

“They’ll find him. It just takes time.”

He half-smiled. He took one hand off the wheel and picked up the hand she laid on his shoulder. He kissed her hand. He brought both of their hands to rest on the console between them.

“I know, I know.” He sighed. “I’m just frustrated.”

“I know. You can’t do anything about their investigation from here. They’re doing the best they can.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think they are.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if he had a mole in the Marshals Service, what’s to stop him from having a mole in the FBI? They could be derailing the whole investigation, tipping him off every time they’ve got a lead on him.”

Laurie nodded as she absorbed that theory. He was right. If they didn’t catch Kaimi, then they may never find Katherine and Easton James. That is, if they were still alive. Laurie turned her gaze to the passing farms, lying dormant for the winter. The thought of Kaimi escaping justice while the Jameses suffered made her furious.

The other half of Laurie almost hoped they never caught Kaimi. That was a terrible thing to want. After all of the people he’d killed, she wanted him behind bars for the rest of his life, but she also wanted to stay here with Dante for a long time. Maybe even forever.

“What does your dad think about this theory?”

“Haven’t talked to him about it.”

“Maybe you should.” Laurie squeezed his hand. He squeezed hers back.

Then he pulled into the driveway. With the corn stalks now cut down, you could see the house half way down the drive. As Dante approached, Laurie’s heart stuttered. There was a van parked out front. His parents hadn’t told them about anyone coming over. He slowed the truck down, so it wouldn’t make as much noise pulling in.

“Who’s here?” Laurie sat up taller in her seat.

“I don’t know.” Dante released her hand.

He pulled up behind the van. There didn’t appear to be any disturbance around the yard, or the front porch. The van had Iowa plates, which made Laurie even more nervous.

“Stay here. Take the keys, and don’t come in until I come get you.” He through her a pointed look as he handed her the keys.

“Okay.” She nodded and sank down into the seat.

“I mean it. Stay here.”

“I will.” She waved him away.

 

***

 

Dante

Dante took his gun out of the console. He got out of the truck, closing the door slowly until he heard a soft click as it latched. Walking in the blind spots created by the vehicles, he went around to the front door. He turned the knob. He moved inside, but the house was silent. He heard no one, saw no one. He cleared each room on the ground floor until he reached the kitchen. He opened the pantry door, but nothing stared back at him but potatoes.

“Looking for someone?” came a voice from behind.

Gun ready, Dante spun around.

“Marshals Service,” he yelled. “Oh, dammit Uncle Bob!”

Bob burst into laughter.

“It’s not funny! I could have shot you!” Dante holstered his gun. He heaved a sigh of relief.

“Nah, I trust you, kid. Where’d you hide your lady?” Bob was grinning from ear to ear.

“She’s out in the truck. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” Dante put his hands on his hips. Bob shrugged.

“Didn’t know that I was. Gabriella and I decided this morning. Packed up the kids, threw ’em in the van and came this way.”

“Next time, call first.” Dante clapped him on the back in a bear hug. “Or else next time I will shoot.”

Bob chuckled at him as they walked toward the front door.

“Where’s everyone else?”

“Gabriella’s upstairs taking a nap. Albert and Emma took the boys out to show them the barn.”

“Did Dad have a heart attack when you came up the lane?”

“Just about. Though your reaction was even better. At least he didn’t try to shoot me.” Bob wiggled his eyebrows.

“Well, I have a witness to protect.” Dante gestured to the truck, and Laurie waved.

“The way I remember it, that’s not all she is.”

Dante smiled, his face flushing. He forgot Bob already knew.

Dante waved to Laurie. She didn’t move, she just sat in the truck. He waved again, but she gave no response. Just as Dante started to become concerned, Laurie reached over and rolled down the window.

“You said not to move until you came and got me. You’re still on the porch.”

Bob burst into sidesplitting laughter. Dante smiled, shaking his head.

“Well, kid. What are you waiting for? Go get your girl.” Bob clapped him on the back.

Dante left the porch, crossing the yard to the truck. When he got there, he reached for her door handle, but she had it locked.

“Can I help you, officer?” Laurie gave him an innocent smile.

“Very funny, now let’s go inside.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t go in until my boyfriend tells me it’s safe.” She batted her eyelashes. “Because, you know, I’m just a helpless female.”

“That’s not…” Dante started, but then he laughed. “That’s not what I have ever said to you.”

“I mean, it’s not like I’ve saved his life twice or anything, because if that were the case maybe he should let me go in the house. He might need me to save his life—again.”

“Hey, hey. I’ve also saved your life too.”

“When?” She quirked an eyebrow.

“When? The night I first met you.” Dante lifted his hands.

“You mean when I attacked the intruder that was ready to kill you?”

“Yeah, because I had them distracted while you were busy hiding in the closet.” He yanked on the door handle.

“Which is where you told me I had to be. Then there was that time at the safe house when I had to shoot the other guy who was about to kill you.”

“I shot the guy who was ready to kill you. Furthermore, at the first safe house, I killed three guys who were trying to kill you, so I win.” Dante put his hands on his hips.

“You win? You win what?” Laurie laughed.

“You—now get out of the truck.” Dante pulled on the door.

“What if I don’t want to get out of the truck? What if I don’t feel it’s safe?” Laurie crossed her legs and settled back into the seat.

“Get out of the truck. Who’s going to hurt you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you?”

“Me. Me? Get out of the truck” He was determined to get her out now, but realized his keys were in Laurie’s hands. He went back to the porch. He picked up a thin wire he had laid there the day before, when he mended the fence around the yard. He hooked the wire as he walked back, and dropped it in between the window and the doorframe until he found the latch.

“Hey, hey. That’s cheating!” Laurie squeaked.

“Just being resourceful.” He popped the lock and flung open her door.

Laurie tried to scramble for the driver’s side door, but he was much faster. He wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her out of the truck, shrieking and laughing at him. He pinned her against the cab.

“Will you ever follow directions?” Dante hovered over her.

“Not planning on it, no.” She grinned up at him.