by Sharon Sala
But it was Jordan Bien, the young girl Wyrick and Charlie rescued from the cult of the Fourth Dimension, who was the most affected by what she’d seen.
Jordan’s psychic powers were continuing to develop, but she’d never “seen” any of what Wyrick had just revealed, and she was in awe of Wyrick’s bravery in the face of all she’d endured.
The mental image of Wonder Woman had given Jordan the mental strength to endure the cult until she was rescued, but Jade Wyrick had just become her new idol.
And Jordan wasn’t alone in her awe.
Thousands upon thousands of women who had lost their hair due to their ongoing cancer treatments, or from other diseases, began taking off the scarves they wore to hide their bald heads, while others threw away the wigs they were afraid to be without.
If that Jade Wyrick woman could go bald and flat-chested and tell the world to kiss her ass, then so could they.
Her fierce spirit scared some and intimidated others. But that was just today’s viewing public.
Wyrick knew none of this, and it wouldn’t have mattered if she had. She just wanted her life back, and to go to the office with Charlie, and go home to Merlin’s tomatoes, and the mansion and its secrets she had yet to uncover.
As for Charlie, he knew his days with her at the mansion wouldn’t last forever, but he had a gut feeling it was too soon to leave.
That night, as they were sharing Chinese takeout, and debating the wisdom of which case to take next, he brought up the subject.
“How do you feel about being here alone?” he asked.
She didn’t answer immediately, which told him she wasn’t all that comfortable. Then she shrugged it off.
“It doesn’t matter how I feel about it. I’ve been alone for years. This just happens to be the biggest place I’ve been alone in.”
He reached for another spring roll and dipped it in duck sauce.
“I don’t have any reason I can’t stay...if you want to give this some time. I mean, this press conference could stir up some more crazies.”
Wyrick’s heart skipped a beat. Okay. How do I say yes without making a fool of myself?
“You think?”
He nodded. “Yeah, this is all pretty new. I mean, you’re still the best news of the day, and they’re still arresting people. I’m not trying to scare you. Just make you aware...kind of like the water today.”
“This place is so big that you could have your own wing if you wanted,” she said.
The relief he was feeling was real.
“But being that far away from each other kind of defeats the purpose of a bodyguard,” he said.
She frowned. “Then at least move upstairs into a bedroom suite where you’d be more comfortable.”
“Then you’re down and I’m up. Stop trying to organize me. I’m fine. Do I stay, or do you want me to go?”
“Fine. Stay,” she said, and picked up a fortune cookie and broke it apart.
She put a piece of the cookie in her mouth and crunched as she read the fortune she’d pulled out.
Charlie could tell by the expression on her face that the fortune surprised her.
“What does it say?” he asked.
“I don’t believe in fortunes coming true.”
“That’s not what I asked,” he said.
She tossed it toward him.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“I’ll clean up,” he said, as she strode out of the room. Then he picked up the fortune, curious as to what it was that had set her off.
You are on a journey of discovery. Be ready to embrace the joy.
He laid it aside and then broke his cookie open to see what his fortune said.
What was always before you, you will see anew.
He thought about it a minute, then got up and began throwing away the refuse from their meal.
As soon as he was finished, he checked the security alarm, only to find she’d already set it. Then he began turning off lights and turning on night-lights as he went.
He was walking down the hall toward his room when Wyrick emerged from her room wearing pink leggings and a white flannel shirt with pink flamingos on it.
The whole outfit took him aback. She looked like somebody’s teenage kid. Not the fierce warrior from the press conference, and she obviously didn’t see him in the shadows as she headed toward the elevator.
“Hey, where are you going?” he called out.
“Up,” she said, and kept walking.
“Do you need help?”
She punched the button to open the car, then turned around.
“Charlie. If I know how to go up, then I can find my way down.”
The snarky tone in her voice grated on his last nerve.
“Last time you came down, you were on fire and bleeding. Try to do better,” he said, and went into his room, letting the door slam just a little to punctuate the retort.
Then the elevator door opened and she stepped into the car.
“Smart-ass,” she mumbled, and pressed the Up arrow.
If he was going to stay, then she was moving herself upstairs, which would force him to follow.
Stupid man.
All she wanted was for him to be comfortable.
While downstairs, Charlie was going through the motions of making up his bed on the sofa.
Hardheaded woman.
All he wanted was for her to be safe.
* * *
ISBN-13: 9781488070815
Blind Faith
Copyright © 2020 by Sharon Sala
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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