Page 59 of Allie's Shelter
She recalled the brief glimpse of shock and anger after he’d put down the shooter at her aunt’s house. He’d said they weren’t together. She replayed the whole thing in her mind once more, easy enough since she’d been telling the story all day. After another mental review, she concluded he’d been honest about that much at least.
That didn’t negate that he’d been available to rescue her only because he’d been following her, trying to recover what she’d stolen. How he must have gloated when she’d fallen so easily for that weak excuse about working a neighborhood patrol.
Her mind was spinning. What was real, what was a blurry version of the truth, and what the hell was an outright lie?
Please not the kisses, she thought. Someday she might get over the other deceptions, but if he’d been acting about the kisses and the love making…
No. She could not punish herself with that scenario right now. She knew what she needed. Air, space, and the sound of her feet striking the earth.
Her duffle and backpack were in the office and when Jeannie asked what was wrong, Allie shook her head. “I need some air.” She picked up the stylish backpack. “Can you put this in the safe?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going out for a run.”
“Alone?”
“It’s better that way.” If she tried to explain further, she’d only end up a puddle of tears and emotional mush on the cracked linoleum floor.
“And if that Carpenter boy returns?”
“If.” Allie paused, hefting the duffle bag onto her shoulder. “Go ahead and give him the backpack. That’s all he wants anyway.”
Chapter nine
The Scooby Doo theme filled the car and Ross grabbed the phone. “Carpenter.”
“It’s me.”
Panic clutched in his throat. “Eva?” She sounded entirely out of breath. He battled against the immediate assault of worry. “What’s wrong? Where’s Allie?”
“Still in sight. For now.” More heavy breathing. “Does this chick ever slow down?”
“She’s running? Alone?” Ross stepped on the accelerator and glanced down at the clock on the dash. He could be there in twenty minutes if he didn’t get pulled over for speeding. On second thought, he might convince them to give him an escort. He edged the speedometer closer to ninety miles per hour.
“She’s not alone, I’m right here.” Eva managed to sound insulted despite her oxygen deficit.
“Does she know you’re following her?”
“Probably. As does everyone else with eyes. I ditched the wig about a half mile back. You think she’ll stop anytime soon?”
He was more concerned about what set her off. What was she thinking, putting herself in danger this way? “Triathlons are her thing.”
“I know! I put the background in the damn file myself.”
Ross winced. “Sorry.” Eva was doing her best and she’d never let him down yet.
“Telling you…if she jumps in this lake…I’m not swimming after her… And I haven’t understood the purpose of…a bike without a motor in decades,” Eva said between bouts of ragged gasping.
“She’s running near the lake?”
“Yes. Can I shoot her?”
“No.”
“Just in the leg.”
“Eva!”