by Tina Donahue
To show her gratitude and build trust between them, Hallie put funds in Patricia’s prison account and told her the good news. “It’s not much, but I’ve heard how much you love those cupcakes the canteen sells. Take your break if you want and get a few.”
Patricia stepped back, eyes narrowed. “Why are you doing this?”
“You mean being decent to you as one woman to another? I’ll admit it’s for selfish reasons.”
“No kidding.” She crossed her arms beneath her ample breasts. “What are you angling for? You’re bi? You want some of me and a guy? Maybe both of us at the same time?”
Sorrow swelled within Hallie. Once, Patricia had been a child, enchanted by the world. Someone had crushed that hope and led her to this existence. “You’re doing a great job here, which makes my work easier. None of the other inmates have connected with Ruth and Ynez as you have. For a little while each day, you bring them out of their dementia, make their lives happy. I simply wanted to repay you for your kindness to them. Accept the funds or don’t. Up to you.”
Hallie returned to her computer. She’d learned from Chase that giving a person space would bring them around. Certainly worked on her with him.
Three days passed before Patricia glanced Hallie’s way. Eventually, she hovered close by.
Hallie finished her notes and looked over. “Something you need to ask?”
“I got this at the canteen with the money you put in.” She held out a jar of rose-scented hand lotion. “Thought Ynez and Ruth might like me to rub it on them. If that’s okay. I mean, it won’t hurt them, will it?”
“Not at all. Could be the scent will remind them of when they were young and getting ready for a date. Maybe the prom.”
Patricia sneered. “I wouldn’t know. Never went to mine.”
“Me either.”
“Yeah, sure. Even with those fucktard glasses, you’re not invisible to guys. I see how Officer Wallace looks at you.”
Hallie would have to tell Chase to be more discreet and then follow her own advice. He kept pointing out how she smiled when she wasn’t aware of doing so. For spies, they were a sorry pair. “Maybe, but he’s not breaking down my door. Neither were the boys in high school. On prom night, I worked my shift at McDonald’s to help my mom put food on the table.”
Patricia gaped. “You’re not rich?”
“I’m still clawing my way up from poor to working class.” Hallie shrugged. “I’ll be paying off student loans until I’m eighty. I’m barely breaking even. Mama tells me I should find a husband, make things easier on myself. The men I’ve hooked up with took what they wanted and disappeared. I don’t need heartache again.”
“No shit. Templar’s the same way.”
Dick. Patricia just said the magic name. Hallie’s pulse jumped. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen how he looks at you. Stay away from him.” She strode to Ynez’s bed.
Hallie wasn’t certain if Patricia had warned or threatened her.
*****
That night on Chase’s sofa, Hallie reported everything to him except for Patricia’s last comment. He wouldn’t know what it meant any better than she did. No sense in worrying him.
He told her how he’d stoked Dick and Edward’s paranoia, pitting them against each other.
She rubbed his flat belly. “Are you hoping they’ll lose their minds and be committed?”
“My dreams aren’t that lofty. I’m grateful their infighting keeps them from another treasure hunt. We’re making progress.”
To Hallie, it seemed they took baby steps. She wanted to run.
Patricia returned to her taciturn nature and resisted even the mildest attempt at kindness or friendship. She saved her love for Ynez and Ruth, slathering them with lotion, combing their hair, making them pretty.
Too many days passed. The mission at a standstill. Hallie considered other inmates she might reach out to, but none were as valuable as Patricia. Maybe using a stronger approach would work.
Hallie waited impatiently for Patricia’s arrival.
She didn’t show on time or after five minutes then ten.
Panicked, Hallie called the bubble.
“Yeah?” Chase.
She spoke softly. “Is everything all right?”
“Nope. Disturbance in the chow hall.”
“What happened?”
“Two inmates got into a fight.”
“Was one of them Patricia? She was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago but didn’t show. Hold on.”
Patricia stormed inside, her mouth swollen, cheek reddened, a hand imprint still visible.
Hallie spoke to Chase. “She just came in. Thanks. Sorry about the extra trouble you’ll have today.”
“Me, too.” He muttered an oath. “We’ll have to see how it goes.”
She knew him well enough now to interpret his cryptic response. If Dick or Edward orchestrated this fight, or rather attack, as they had Barb’s, Chase would have to find a way to keep one or both from assaulting the inmate they’d take to confinement. Messing with their treasure hunts and heads was one thing. Repeatedly stepping in their way could prove dangerous to him.
Worried, Hallie cornered Patricia for answers. Even though they were well away from Shirl and the others, Hallie kept her voice low. “What happened to your face?”
“Nothing.”
“Someone hit you. Who?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It does if it happened in the chow hall. Were you in on the fight?”
“No!” She stepped back and spoke through her teeth. “He wanted me to start it, but I wouldn’t.”
“Who’s he? Officer Wallace?” Hopefully, blaming Chase might get Patricia to open up.
She lowered her face and tightened her arms against her chest.
“Then it is him.”
“Don’t be stupid.” She glared. “He doesn’t have any power here. Dick Templar runs things. He thinks he can come to me any time he wants and I’ll do whatever he asks and then he can forget about me again or treat me like shit. Like I’m too ugly to bother with. Screw that and him. I said no.”
Hallie prayed her eyeglasses recorded this. “He hit you?”
“I didn’t run into a damn wall for fun, did I?”
“Did he force you to attack Barb, too?”
Patricia rubbed her cheek.
“Did he have you plant stuff in Kim’s bed so she’d get confinement?”
“I’m not talking about this.”
Hallie grabbed Patricia’s arm. “If you think he’s going to stop at a slap or a punch, you’re mistaken. You said no this time. What about the next? Do you believe you’re immune to confinement? He’ll have you sent there, and you won’t get out for months. Maybe years. The only way you’ll be safe is if you report what’s going on.”
She yanked her arm free. “And who’s going to protect me? You? That’s a laugh. I’ve survived in here by myself before and I’ll do so in the future. I’m not telling you nothing.”
“Patricia, please. Help yourself.”
“I am, by keeping my mouth shut. I want to get to work. Ruth needs me.” She strode to the woman’s bed.
This couldn’t be the end, merely a minor setback. There had to be a way to reach her and prove things could change. If only Hallie could figure out what it might be.
Torn between her concern for Chase and frustration with Patricia, Hallie slogged through her work. At lunch, Patricia left for the chow hall with the other inmates.
Hallie called Chase’s cell but hung up before the call completed its first ring. Discussing her worries when they were here was nuts. She’d have to wait until tonight at her place. She’d promised him a twelve course meal, Puerto Rican style.
Hopefully, after today’s events, they’d be able to enjoy it.
Patricia returned from lunch, silent and detached, sending out vibes for everyone to keep their distance.
Hallie respected the boundary and left work at the first pos
sible moment. Outside, she called Chase’s cell.
He answered immediately. “Hey. You just leave?”
She opened her car door. “Yeah. You still coming over?”
“Only death would keep me away.”
“Dammit, don’t talk like that.”
“Like what?”
“Drive carefully. Be careful, all right?”
“Sure. See you after my shift’s over.”
She raced through traffic, rushed through the grocery store, cooked faster than she ever had, and finished shortly before his expected arrival.
Chase didn’t show on time or five minutes late. If anything, he was usually early.
Hallie called his cell and got voice mail.
Hoping to see him pull up, she raced out the door to the apartment parking lot.
He’d hunkered down at her car, a bag in his hand, presumably the beer he’d promised to bring.
She trotted to him. “What are you doing out here?”
“Looking at your tire.”
The thing was flat. “I must have picked up a nail on the way home.”
He pointed. “Check out the sidewall. A nail didn’t do that.”
Someone had gouged a hole as big around as her little finger.
Chapter Six
Chase stood. Vehicles in the lot were typical for a working-class neighborhood: older models with dings, those needing paint jobs, clunkers. Nothing wrong with their tires, though.
Hallie’s Ford was at least fifteen-years-old. Jealousy over her having nice wheels hadn’t caused this.
Kids played on a grassy area nearby, too young and distracted by their game to have noticed anything. Although lights provided some security in the carports, shadowed areas gave whoever had done this enough cover to slip away.
“Let’s go inside.” He took her arm and led her to the sidewalk. “Do you have emergency road service?”
“Can’t afford it.”
“I’ll put on your spare for you.”
“I don’t have one. I’ll have to get the car towed to a nearby garage. Just what I didn’t need, that expense and a new tire. Why are you walking so fast?”
He wanted her inside. “Didn’t know I was. Sorry.” He stopped at her door, alert to danger. Nothing was amiss out here.
Inside her small, tidy apartment, too many appetizing scents greeted him: meat, spices, cheese, and onions. “God, that smells great.”
“Tastes even better.” She closed and locked the door. “We’ll be ready to eat in a sec.”
“Wait.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Tell me everything that happened at Zephron today. Don’t leave anything out.”
“Right this sec? Why?” She glanced past him to her patio that faced the lot. “You think the prison has something to do with my tire?”
“Has this ever happened before at your complex? Do you have gang bangers here messing with cars? Or teens who have nothing better to do?”
“No. The people here are nice.”
“The ones at Zephron aren’t. What happened?”
She paled and told him about her conversation with Patricia.
He wasn’t surprised. “Grab enough clothes and whatever else you need. I want you to stay at my place for a few days.”
“What about dinner?”
“I’ll pack it to take with us.” He put the beer on her sofa. “Go on.”
She didn’t budge. “You think Patricia had something to do with this? How could she? Why would she? I’ve been nothing but nice and trying to help her.”
“You pried into her life and asked too many pointed questions. She told you things she shouldn’t and most likely is running scared that you’ll repeat it and mark her as a snitch. In prison, that’s a death sentence. Given the contraband smuggled in there, it’s easy for her to secure a phone. Doing whatever a guard wants would get her access to a friend on the outside to put the fear of God into you about keeping her secrets to yourself.”
“How could she be certain I’d know she was responsible for the tire?”
“When the next incident happens, which it will, she’ll figure you’ll put the pieces together and come up with her. You’re not going into Zephron again.”
“What?”
“It’s too dangerous. I shouldn’t have let you get involved in this. Until I nail Dick and Edward, you’ll stay at my place. Someone from the agency will be there with you during my shifts so—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Hallie backed away. “I can’t miss work. I need the money. Even if I didn’t, the inmates count on me to take care of them.”
“I’ll reimburse you for whatever you lose, and there are numerous LPNs and a doctor a phone call away to see to patient needs. They do so when your shifts are over and during your days off.”
“That’s not the point. If I don’t show up, Dick and Edward will figure out what’s going on. We’ll never get them for Kim’s murder or what they’re doing to the other prisoners.”
Chase cupped her face. “I don’t care. You’re more important.”
She eased his hands from her. “I appreciate your concern, but you don’t tell me what to do. I don’t like that.”
He held back an oath. “Fine, I’m asking. Please.”
“No. I’m doing this investigation with or without you.”
“Then I’m staying here. During tomorrow’s shift, I’ll put surveillance in the infirmary so Jacqui can monitor it while you’re there.”
Hallie gestured to her eyeglasses on the cocktail table. “Isn’t that what those are for?”
“They give your view, not someone sneaking behind you with a shiv.”
She looked ill.
“Change your mind?”
“No. I’m not running. What’s going on at Zephron has to stop. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t help the women there.”
Chase wanted to argue. Hell, he wanted to demand. Unfortunately, going alpha would push her away.
She rubbed his arm. “Everything will be all right. Let’s have a nice dinner then see to my car.”
“You’re riding with me or an agency escort until this is over. I’ll ask Athena to assign a female agent. Argue if you want, but I’m not backing down on this. I’m not trying to control you. This is about giving you protection.”
“That may be, but how am I going to explain an Omega Team member taking me to work and picking me up?”
“If anyone asks, say it’s a friend. Tell them your car needs repairs you can’t afford right now. And stay away from Patricia. Don’t bombard her with questions like you did today.”
Hallie flapped her hands. “She was ready to talk.”
“Your tire says otherwise.”
*****
Hallie’s romantic meal turned into a solemn affair. She and Chase ate quietly, no conversation, teasing, or laughter. Hardly what she needed after a lousy day.
He’d said she basically had a target on her back. She should have been terrified.
The thought pissed her off.
Her mother had lived in fear until Hallie’s father split like the coward he was and gave her peace. That wouldn’t be Hallie’s legacy. No matter what happened at her apartment or Zephron, she wouldn’t allow anyone to intimidate her.
“Hallie?”
She looked at Chase. “What?”
“Squeeze my hand any harder and you might break it.”
She hadn’t realized she was or had even grabbed him. “Sorry.” She let go.
“I didn’t say I wanted you to do that.” He kissed her knuckles. “Will you at least reconsider going in tomorrow? I’m only asking for one day.”
“I can’t.”
He released her. “Let me ask you something. If you knew I might be walking into danger, how would you react?”
“I’d beg you not to do it and wouldn’t give up until you caved.” She touched his chest. “Has Dick or Edward tried anything?”
“No. Why are things different for you than they are for me?”
>
“They aren’t.” She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone. “You wouldn’t stop doing your job no matter what I said or did. You’d stand firm. Some might call it being obstinate. Like now.”
“Are we having our first fight?”
She laughed then wanted to cry. “Looks like it. Please, let’s stop. Neither of us is going to get what we want in this. Can’t we kiss and make up?”
Chase hauled her onto his lap. They necked as long-separated lovers did, their carnal hunger intense yet tender.
In the bedroom, he entered her slowly, their gazes locked in silent communication, their bond deepening.
Hallie loved him. Shouldn’t have happened given her history, but she couldn’t turn back at this point or imagine a future without him at her side. She gripped his arms. “I’ll be careful, promise. Nothing bad will happen.”
Anguish swept his features. “It can’t. Not to you.”
To him either. “It won’t. We’ll keep each other safe.”
His smile wasn’t wide enough to make a dimple. “Hang on.”
The most beautiful words in the English language.
They loved long and well, and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
*****
Hallie tried to convince Chase that he was overreacting, but he insisted on keeping her lunch in his locker so no one could mess with it, and escorting her to the infirmary.
At this hour, the night shift streamed out. Except for the patients, she and Chase were the only ones in the room.
While she checked on her charges and kept them occupied, Chase planted his surveillance device in the wall, the hole far above his head to provide a bird’s eye view of the area. Unless someone searched closely, the tiny gadget was unnoticeable in the pitted and cracked drywall Gatekeeper refused to repair.
For once, Hallie was delighted greedy bastards owned the company.
Shirl arrived.
Patricia followed. She spotted Chase and stopped dead. Her face went slack.
Hallie didn’t need Patricia’s confession to know she’d been responsible for the tire. Nor could she be mad at her. A shitty childhood plus too many years inside had convinced Patricia that she couldn’t trust a soul. She’d never believe anyone would come to her aid.
