Deceit

her head she turned away and resumed pacing. “Little wonder I rejected everything I heard in that church.”

That was a rationalization itself, and she knew it. “Christians aren’t perfect, Melissa. God is. Don’t judge him by our shortcomings.”

She threw me a look—yeah, right.

I dropped my head into one hand. Rubbed my temple. Her words still burned.

Long minutes ticked by. Melissa and I did not speak. Eventually she sank onto the edge of her bed. She stared at the wall, the blank TV. Who knew where her thoughts now took her?

Mine remained on my seared conscience until I wrenched them away.

They eventually cycled back to the gunman. Was he at the hospital? If his shot was a flesh wound he could be here by now, just waiting for us to show ourselves. Or did Baxter have other people working for him?

Why was he pursuing Melissa now, after six years?

“Where is she, Melissa? Where’s Linda?”

Melissa shook her head, stubbornness thinning her mouth.

“You need to tell me! Don’t you care what happened to Linda? Don’t you want him to pay?”

She whirled on me. “No, I don’t care! Like I told you, I just want to live my life!”

“You have to care. You can’t be that hard.”

“Don’t you judge me.” Her voice steeled. “You have no idea how that night has haunted me. If I’m hard, it’s because life’s made me that way.”

“It’s haunted you because you’ve run from it. Deal with it. Tell what you know. Your conscience will be clear.”

“If I live that long!” She turned away from me, furious. Seconds later, the anger seemed to seep right out of her, air from a pricked balloon. Her shoulders slumped, and she dropped her head.

“Going to live with Baxter and Linda was the one break in my life.” Melissa spoke to the floor. “When I started working in his office, I thought I could take on the world. I’d be an agent too someday. I’d make millions. Be somebody. Then it all fell apart. Linda was killed, and Social Services took me away. They sent me to a horrible foster home. I lasted there one week before running. I’ve been on my own ever since, just trying to make it. Couldn’t even graduate from high school. Living with this man and that one just so I could have a roof over my head.” Melissa shifted on her bed and looked me in the eye. “I thought the world of Baxter.”

My voice softened. “But how could you, when you knew he was hitting Linda?”

She shrugged. “I got beat all my life. It’s what men do.”

I thought of Tom. His smile, his quiet strength. The comfort of his arms. Not all men, Melissa.

“Baxter turned on me after Linda’s death,” Melissa said. “Like everything was all my fault.”

“Probably because he knew you were a witness. Deceivers don’t like anyone who knows the truth about them.”

“I guess.” Another lift of her shoulder. “He made me hate him. For six years I’ve hated him. And now he’s trying to kill me. I won’t give him that satisfaction.” She pushed from the bed and went back to pacing. “Where is Perry?”

The clock read 8:55. “He’ll be here soon.”

I hoped.

Exhaustion washed over me. I wanted to curl up on the bed and sleep. Forget everything. What was I even doing here? Melissa was not going to change her mind about talking. Now with her life on the line she was more adamant than ever. Bottom line, she didn’t trust anyone to keep her safe until Baxter was behind bars. I could hardly blame her. Tonight, the minute Perry and I got her to safety, she’d run. And she’d go far, maybe even out of state. I wouldn’t be able to find her so easily next time.

Why should I even try?

Because if Baxter managed to find her first, he’d kill her.

My head lowered into my hands. So it had come to this. I’d started out with dreams of bringing Baxter to justice. Now I had to worry about keeping Melissa alive.

I stared at my lap, frustration and fear zinging my nerves. Then, out of nowhere, a new thought landed like an errant ball in my dull brain. I picked it up, turned it over. Examined its every side. It was a dirty ball, scuffed. One that would make you want to wash your hands after touching it.

I closed my fingers around it.

Voices sounded in the hall. My head jerked up, and Melissa stilled. We cast feverish looks at each other. The voices grew close, passed the door, then faded.

My muscles refused to relax.

I checked the clock. 9:05.

What if Perry never showed? My plan would fall apart.

I watched the clock turn 9:10. Then 9:15.

A soft knock rapped at the door.

Melissa gasped. Heat shot through my veins. I pushed off the bed and scurried on silent feet to the door. “Who is it?”

FORTY

“It’s Perry.”

I unlatched the bolt and eased open the door. Perry pushed inside and bolted all the locks behind him. He looked out of breath and tense, wary. A strand of his gray-black hair stuck out from the side of his head. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You okay?”

“Looks like it’s going to be ‘One of These Nights.’ Like the Eagles’ album.”

His dark brown eyes searched mine.

“Track five,” I said.

Knowledge flicked across his face. He gave me a slight nod.

“What are you talking about?” Impatience rolled off Melissa.

Perry looked past me to her. “This would be a good time to thank me for putting my life on the line for you.”

“Thank you. Unless you’ve got the police waiting outside the door.”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t.”

She nodded, her forehead creasing until once again she looked like a frightened child. “How do we do this?”

“I cruised the parking lot before coming in. I didn’t see anyone lurking around. Granted, I may have missed someone. But my car’s unlocked and parked right near a side door. We hop in and take off.”

“And what if it doesn’t work?”

“You got a better idea?”

“I had my own ideas. Then she came along.” Melissa gestured toward me with her chin. “Now look at me. Running for my life.”

Perry flexed his forehead, and his entire scalp moved. He and his wife had raised two daughters. That experience now played across his face. “You listen to me. Joanne’s trying to help you, and so am I. But I’ve had about enough of your attitude. So tell you what—she and I are leaving. You want to stay and fight this thing on your own, have at it.” He focused on me. “Let’s go.”

No way was I leaving Melissa. Either Perry’s frustration was getting the best of him, or he was bluffing. I hurried over to get my purse, then planted myself in front of her. “I have a plan.”