“I got the impression she was more curious than concerned. So I left.”
“You’re being paranoid.”
Had he forgotten Trinity Woods? “That’s what you thought when I told you my sister was in danger. I had to push you to go to Florence to get her. If you’d waited until Monday, like you planned, she’d be dead instead of the babysitter.”
“This is different.”
“Why would the manager of the Redwood Inn be curious about you? You’re just some guy who rented a room.”
“Not quite. The room’s on your tab, so that connects us. And there are a lot of people in this town who keep an eye on whatever you do, since their livelihoods depend on the prison.”
“So what? I stay at that motel all the time, and I often bring people to town, to tour the prison or for meetings. What did the manager do that made you think she was acting suspicious?”
“She gave me a funny feeling, so I decided to get out of there. Why take chances?”
With a sigh that signaled a small concession, Wallace put his briefcase on the picnic table. “Did she get a good look at you?”
“I don’t see how she could have. I slipped out while she was handling a delivery.”
“And that’s when you called Peyton to come to your rescue.” The steely note was back in his voice.
“I haven’t called Peyton for anything. I don’t even have her number. It’s not like the phone at the motel has caller ID.”
“If she didn’t drive you, how’d you get here?”
“I walked.”
“I’m not helpless.” Virgil had made the same trek last night to leave her the rose. It took him a little over two hours each way. But he didn’t mind the exercise. After being locked up, it was empowering just to be
How would he handle being locked up again? It wouldn’t be easy; he understood that. The freedom he’d enjoyed these past few days had been intoxicating.
Knowing Peyton would be there, at the prison, was the only thing that made it tolerable. He didn’t want to acknowledge why.
Wallace glanced around. “So where is she?”
“Haven’t seen her.”
He checked his watch. “She’s probably not home from the prison yet. You ready for tomorrow?”
“I am.”
“Peyton briefed you on who’s who in the Hells Fury?”
“She did. She brought me here on Friday, showed me photos, told me everything she knows about them.”
They both heard a car coming up the drive. Rick was closer to the edge of the deck and walked over first, so Virgil hung back. Neither of them spoke as she climbed the stairs. Wallace’s car would’ve alerted her to the fact that she had company.
“What are you doing here?” she asked Rick.
Maybe he hadn’t communicated with her, either….
“I figured I’d better come back to…protect my interests.”
“Which are…?”
“A successful operation, of course.”
“Coming today instead of tomorrow is somehow going to help?”
“I’m needed here.” He motioned to Virgil. “Our
When her gaze swung his way, Virgil could tell she hadn’t realized he was there. Her lips parted, but she didn’t reveal any more surprise than that.
Thanks to Wallace, Virgil felt completely exposed. He could’ve lain low without showing up here as Wallace had just pointed out. He’d come because he wanted to see her. And that had to be apparent. “It’s dark now, so I can go back,” he said, and skirted past them.
He wished she’d do something to show she’d forgiven him. But she didn’t. She averted her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to look at him and let him go.
19
Wallace studied Peyton as Virgil left. He thought she might run after him. The way her eyes followed him suggested she wanted to. That bothered Rick, but she held back and, to be sure she didn’t surrender to the impulse, he moved in front of her and indicated the door. “Shall we go in?”
She lowered her voice even though Virgil’s footsteps had faded. “What are you doing? You can’t let him go back to that motel.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not safe! If he’s really on Michelle’s radar, she won’t forget it. You don’t want
“Virgil.”
“That’s his name.”
It was her familiarity with it that drove him crazy. “So what do you want me to do? Rent a room for him somewhere else? How do we know that won’t make matters worse?”
She bit her lip. “There’s no need to do that. You can both stay here. It might be a bit cramped and…odd, considering—well, everything—but it’s only for one night and at least we know it’ll be safe. That’s the most important thing, the one thing we can’t lose sight of.”
“Is that
“You’re being ridiculous! My offer protects your plan. Isn’t that what you want? For this investigation to be successful? Because if he goes back to that motel, I’ll go to the media if I have to but I’ll stop him from entering the prison tomorrow or any other day. Either we do everything we can to keep him safe or we release him from the obligation and turn him loose.”
Rick didn’t want Virgil Skinner anywhere near Peyton, not after what had happened while he was gone. He needed some time alone with her to let her know he was available now. Surely, once she realized that, Virgil would hold no interest for her. But she could be so stubborn. And it made sense to hunker down here, all three of them. “I’ll get him.”
She looked so pretty standing in the moonlight. He’d fantasized about her for months, maybe even a couple of years. So why hadn’t he pursued the possibilities between them? Why hadn’t he prepared for what he now wanted by at least flirting with her?
Because he was too damn practical. A cheap one-nighter with a stripper once in a while kept his sex life interesting without endangering his job. But now that he was divorcing Mercedes, it was time to figure out who would replace her.
“If I bring him back, will you be grateful?” he teased.
“Grateful?” she echoed.
“You know, make me glad I did?”
Instead of smiling in return, she studied him as if she’d never seen him before. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
It was too big a reversal, too soon. He decided not to push it. “I’m just messing around.”
“No, you’re not. You’re treating me differently after what I told you last night.”
So that was what she was worried about. “But not because I hold it against you. I know you’re under a lot of
