Page 43 of Laura's Truth
He eased back, wishing things could be different, and he did a mental victory dance when her tongue slid across her lower lip. “Ready?”
“I’m not sure,” she murmured, her eyes locked with his. It seemed to take a lifetime for her to step back, to continue their planned route down the beach. “Are you?”
“I guess we’ll find out,” he answered. Lacing his fingers with hers, he guided her away from the water, closer to the responsibilities and dangers waiting for them.
***
The nerves started when he saw the first sign for Haleswood. Drew had let her drive, unable to trust himself to stay on course into the proverbial lion’s den. He’d much rather face a monster like Hackett than a man of character like Ross. The flash drive he’d loaded with all the proof he had was in the pocket of his board shorts, the knife in a sheath, hidden by his shirt. As she took another turn down another featureless two-lane road, he hoped the fact that she was unarmed wouldn’t become a problem.
“Ross will understand.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Well, I thought you could use the reminder.”
“What? So I don’t accidentally shoot first and talk later?”
“Maybe.”
She was teasing him. It felt strange and it wasn’t a typical experience for a dead man exiled to the seedier parts of the world. Jokes and teasing came from getting to know someone. Getting close enough to understand their flaws and foibles, the tender spots of a person. He hadn’t let anyone that close since before he’d signed on with the CIA.
“You really believe he has the resources to prevent Hackett from noticing you’re online?”
“Not only do I believe, I’m confident you will soon believe.”
She had him there. He’d studied the other man’s reputation as part of his research before coming to Charleston. “Hackett could easily ruin him too,” he said, just to test her response.
“This from the man who’s vowed we will stop Hackett.”
Her use of ‘we’ offered another small reward. After managing to survive, his solitary search for revenge had turned into an equally lonely, if more noble, quest for justice. Now, through a strange twist, he had an ally. If what she claimed was true, he would soon have Carpenter’s team on his side as well. He should feel grateful and probably a little relieved. Instead, he withheld judgment, refusing to get too enthused.
“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” he said when she rolled to a stop in front of an electric gate. “This is his place?” Drew peered through the windshield. “The gate isn’t really subtle.”
“Do you see the house?”
“No.”
“Then reserve your conclusion until you have all the facts.”
Drew stopped trying to see beyond the trees and fields of crops. “What if it doesn’t open?”
“Then I guess we head into town.”
Carpenter’s local office was in the Haleswood courthouse, also home to the local sheriff’s department. He didn’t want to put either himself or Laura that close to law enforcement right now.
“We should’ve called,” he said, regretting his refusals when she’d asked him to do just that. Silently, he offered up a prayer to any listening gods or angels that the gate would open.
Long seconds ticked by until, finally, the light flashed on the box and a voice crackled through the speaker. Laura introduced herself and apologized for the surprise visit. Drew watched the gate open, then turned to watch it close behind them, feeling well and truly caught.
“No turning back,” he mumbled.
“It will be fine.”
Sure. “Is he paranoid or does he have that many enemies?”
“No more than any of us.” Laura reached over and patted his hand. “Relax.”
He tried, but couldn’t do it. “That’s not reassuring,” Drew said.