That’s what he’d seen...hopelessness.
“You think my life’s going to be fine,” Jo said behind him. She’d left the other side of the trailer and he hadn’t heard her round the corner. “Another marshal will take me into custody, whisk me off, protect me, give me a new identity. You want me to fall in love, have a family and lie every single day about who I am. Perhaps putting them in danger, looking over my shoulder, waiting for a stinking Rainbow Man to come and take them all from me.”
That wasn’t what he wanted. He couldn’t turn and face her. The thought of never seeing her again had him paralyzed. Through the side-view mirror he could see her hugging her middle, tears streaking her beautiful cheeks.
“I refuse to lie to the people I love, Levi. I simply can’t do it. So yes, taking a walk home from school or swinging my kids in the park...it’s just a dream that will never happen.”
The urge to turn and pull her into his arms was so great he stuck his hands in his jeans pockets to stop himself. He felt a sharp stab. Not just figuratively. The physical ache was there, working its way from his closed throat which had cut off the words of comfort already in his head.
He couldn’t tell her it would be different. Experience told him she was right.
“Let’s get through the rest of this mess,” she cried. “I’m willing to pay whatever the price to find my parents’ murderer.”
The pain moved lower, deeper. Alarm. Fright.
“Whatever dreams I had are gone. Thanks for the reality check.” She took a couple of steps backward, made eye contact in the mirror as if she’d known all along he’d been watching her there, turned and walked away.
Panic. She was gone. He couldn’t do it...Let her go.
He had to or she’d never be safe.
She’ll never be happy. She just told you she wouldn’t.
What other choice was there? He had a life protecting others. Or could choose a life where she didn’t have to lie again. First they had to find a murderer.
* * *
A LIFE WITHOUT Levi. A life without love versus a life without lies.
Who was she? Jolene Atkins or Emaline Frasier?
Some people might be thrilled starting over and leaving everything behind. Not her. She didn’t care what her name was or where she would live, or even what she did for a living. That wasn’t the point.
Her life had been decided by the Marshals Service and her father. What she knew. When she knew. Or even how much she knew. All carefully weighed decisions so she’d never understand the complete truth. She hated waiting to discover what her fate would be. When would she take the driver’s seat of her own life?
If she wanted to control her fate, then it was time to take responsibility.
The life she wanted began now.
Her hand had been on the open motor home door while the thoughts spun through her head. Instead of entering the confined space again, she walked to the park’s office to call a cab, setting an idea into motion that she wouldn’t be able to stop.
No turning back.
Her actions may be interpreted as too stupid to live but there wasn’t another choice. If she did come through to the other side, Levi would certainly kill her. This crazy cat-and-mouse game would be done. Over. Finished.
Jo assumed George Lanning was a good FBI Agent. He may actually be able to find a connection or a lead. But whoever this mysterious client was, they’d had twenty years to hide any evidence. Twenty years to become even more powerful.
Whoever they were, they’d killed both her parents to cover up their secret.
The fastest way to find her mother’s client was to let them find her. When they did, she’d end it. She had to end this. No more sacrifices to keep her safe.
No more running.
Levi would never agree.
Then Levi couldn’t know until it was too late.
Chapter Fifteen
Jolene couldn’t leave without a goodbye. She’d given herself plenty of time to get away from Levi. The cab would be at the office in half an hour. One last meal, one last moment of pretending to be happy.
One last opportunity to change her mind.
No, she was in control.
She would have been frozen from the cold if she’d been sitting outside as long as Levi. Dinner wasn’t anything spectacular but it was on the table when she called him inside.
“I think we should talk, Jo.” He sat with a defeated plop. “George called.”
“Eat.” She joined him. Don’t lose your resolve. “Did he come up with a short list of potential people?”
“He did, but more importantly, he’s got a place you can stay while I check these people out.”
“And if I don’t want to hide?” She choked down a bite of the spaghetti.
“It’s not hiding. It’s saving your life. We’ll be stirring up God knows what and—”
“And you can’t do your job if I’m around. Got it. Eat.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You’ve made it very easy to understand.” He was sending her away. FBI or Marshals Service, he was sending her away. “So this is goodbye. When will they be here?”
His way meant it was unlikely she’d ever see him again. Especially if he was successful and found the evidence implicating one of her mother’s clients. Twenty-five minutes until her cab arrived. Her way was dangerous, but in her limited experience, worth the risk.
“George is picking you up at eight.” He poked his fork into the noodles, not putting any between his lips. “It’s not goodbye. I need to know you’re safe, dammit. This wasn’t an easy decision.”
“Of course it wasn’t.” She ate, not tasting anything. She forced the calories down, finishing her plate. If her plan was successful, they’d see each other later. “But then, I wouldn’t know because you made it without me. Excuse me, I’m going to pack my toothbrush.”
“Jo...” he called as if she had no right to her feelings. He snagged her arm, tilting his head at the last minute to look at her. “It’s for the best.”
“I know you believe that.” She looked at his hand and he released her. “There’s something you should know.”
He turned to her, hands rubbing up and down his jeans. It was so hard not to push him against the bench seat and kiss him until he made love to her. But it was difficult enough to stick to her plan just being in the same room with him. If she touched him, would she be able to walk out the door?
You’re in control. He can’t make life-changing decisions for you.
“What?” he asked.
“I want to thank you for saving my life, Levi.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to talk about that later.”
“We may not.” The desire to stay with him or even wait for him at wherever he wanted to send her, made her hesitate. Stay strong. “I’ve appreciated everything you’ve done even if I didn’t always seem grateful.”
“Jo, I’m the reason you’re in this mess. I’m the reason you’ve nearly been killed and if I’d been doing my job—”
“Which I hope you get back. I know how important it is to you.”
He stood. “You really are saying goodbye.” He took her hands, indicating he wanted to pull her into an embrace, but she stood firm, remaining an arm’s length away. “This is only temporary.”
“You never know what’ll happen.” She shook off his touch again, unsure if she’d be able to hide her emotion another fifteen minutes.
“I should have gotten you to safety from the beginning. If I had I wouldn’t have been suspended. Don’t you see, Jo? This is the only way to find the murderer.”
“I agree.” This is the only way.
Unable to face him anymore, she ran across the small space to the bedroom, hoping he’d wait for Agent Lanning outside. A few minutes later and she felt the motor home shift and listened for the door to close. She peeked out the window and watched him cross to the table he’d been sitting on before.
“I know you’re goin
g to be mad, Levi. But it’s time for this damsel in distress to take charge. I just hope you find my clues and can rescue me one last time.”
* * *
LEVI ENTERED THE motor home with a bit of apprehension. He’d struggled with the decision to send her with Lanning. The last thing he wanted was to be separated after finally admitting to himself how much he cared. Putting her safety into someone else’s hands went against his makeup. It’s what he did—protect people.
In this case, it was the right thing to do. He would think clearer knowing she wasn’t in danger. But the look of hurt and betrayal on Jo’s face had changed his mind—twice. He’d had the cell in his hand both times dialing Lanning to call it off. Each time he walked himself through almost losing her on the train, remembering the dead woman who looked like Jo.
“Jo?”
She’d be safe with Lanning’s friends.
“I thought you said she was ready to go.” Lanning had followed.
“She’s gone. Must have left out the driver’s door, but there’s nowhere for her to go.”
“Man, I think you got that wrong. There’s an entire city of places out there for her. What are you doing?”
“Calling the stupid burner she has.”
The ring was screaming through the silence as they waited for someone to pick up.
Lanning followed the noise back to the passenger seat. “She’s gone.”
“She’ll be back.” She had to be back.
“Not according to this.” Lanning held a piece of notebook paper. “‘Glad you found this, Marshal,’” Lanning read aloud. “‘I’ve set my own plan in motion which involves your FBI friends tracking my location through my cell. For your convenience I’ve activated the GPS.’ That’s one smart girlfriend you’ve got Cooper.”
“Smart? She knows how the men tracked her in St. Louis. She’s just told the murderer where she’s at. Is there any more? Like what she actually has planned?”
Levi let Lanning continue as he looked in the cabinet where they’d stored his duffel and the dog statues.
“‘I meant what I said this afternoon,’” Lanning read, “‘I’m willing to do whatever it takes to find my mother’s client. This is the fastest way. Don’t be late.’”
“She took the pup. The statue that matched this.” He held the carved dog that Joseph had given him. “Let’s go.”
“She’s using herself as bait?” Lanning asked. “Why didn’t she just tell us where she was headed?”
“She wants the murderer to find her first. We can’t let that happen.” He had his hand on the door, pulling it open when Lanning slammed it shut.
“Hold on. She wants you to turn on your cell and expect a call.”
“We aren’t waiting here for those vultures to demand the evidence.”
“No. We’re not. But I need to make a call, find out where we need to go, alert my team. We don’t know what direction she went. Think this through.” Lanning shoved him back to the bench seat. “Look over the short list. See if anything rings a bell. There are some powerful people with a lot to lose.”
“I blame myself. I should have talked this through with her, got her to see it my way.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. You know the drill, man. We can’t second-guess everything before now. Gotta focus.”
Levi didn’t respond. Lanning dialed his cell, alerting the FBI and requesting the Bureau to pinpoint Jo’s cell.
“Plano. Yeah. Got it. I want a unit there ASAP.” Lanning put his cell in his shirt pocket and opened the door. “What are you waiting on? She used her credit card this afternoon to check into a hotel.”
“That’s impossible. She was here with me the entire time.”
“Obviously not the entire time,” Lanning said. “You can beat yourself up in the truck. It’s possible Frasier’s client already knows where she’s at.” He headed out the door, letting it slam behind him.
Stunned. At a loss for words. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. Out of every scenario he’d gone through this afternoon, he hadn’t thought of this. He’d never considered that Jo might actually die.
He could have lived with himself if he’d sent her away to keep her safe. Survive. Hell, the possibility of actually breaking the rules and finding her in the WITSEC program sometime in the future had even entered his mind.
But not her dead. He wouldn’t let that happen. He still held the dog Joseph had given him. He hated to destroy it, but there wasn’t time for an X-ray. Grabbing a steak knife from the drawer, he began sawing at the head.
He used his frustration to hack. The anger he felt blocked his ability to reason logically and use his training. How could the woman he love leave him and put herself at risk?
Love? Yeah, my timing sucks.
The possibility of losing Jo and never telling her, well...
“Not happening.”
“Um, Cooper?” Lanning stuck his head inside, looking as headless as the small statue in his hands. “Crafts?”
“There must have been a seam where Atkins reattached the head. He gave this to Jo. We were having it X-rayed tomorrow.” He looked inside the hollow body and removed a slip of paper. “I’m going to need to talk with your best researcher.”
“’Bout time you caught a break.”
“Nobody but your guy and the two of us knows these. We’re not taking any chances. It’s the only leverage we’ll have to get her back.”
Levi shoved the paper deep in his pocket and followed Lanning to the truck. I love you, Jo, and you better damn well stay alive!
Chapter Sixteen
TEXT MESSAGE: Blocked Sender 8:02 P.M.
The girl will be brought to you at the arranged location. Don’t screw this up.
JOLENE PROPPED THE door to the hotel room open and sat in the chair, waiting, phone in hand, finger ready to record whoever walked inside.
Her plan had seemed so simple when she’d called the taxi. First: reserve the room using her credit card to alert the person tracking her. Second: get to the hotel, turn the cell on to make it even easier to locate her. And third: wait for the murderer to show up. Assuming they still wanted her alive, she’d convince them to take her to the real person in charge before she divulged where the evidence was located. She’d lie about the significance of the matching carved statue and say it was in a Colorado safe deposit box.
“What an idiotic plan,” she whispered to herself. “They’d be better off killing me right here.”
Then leave.
Even though she didn’t share her plan with him, she knew Levi would find her. She watched the door, afraid to move from her spot and be taken by surprise.
What would she do if Levi and his FBI friends showed up before the men chasing her? Convince them this was the only option to flush out the person who ordered the murders. Would they let her stay? She didn’t know who she hoped would arrive first. Levi would surely kill her either way.
“Well, isn’t this an interesting change of events.” Sadie Colter was dressed in slacks and a business shirt, looking professional with her designer coat draped over her arm. “Face-to-face once again. You’ve given us quite a chase, Ms. Frasier.”
The gun pointed straight at Jo let her know exactly whose side her former sitter was on.
“You look surprised. Didn’t you send for me? I believe I even arrived before you. I’ve been watching to see if your fed friends showed up.”
Gone was the bleached blond hair, obnoxious red lipstick and nails. She meandered into the room, looking around, unconcerned about concealing her face. She quietly let the door click shut and flipped the lock. “I’m going to search you to make sure you aren’t wired. Can’t have that ruin all the fun.”
The woman patted her through her clothing, looked at several obvious places around the room and seemed satisfied there weren’t any listening devices. She searched Jo’s coat lying on the bed and found the dog, placing it in her own coat pocket.
“So you cleaned it up. Good job, Emmy.”
> What am I doing? She tapped the record button on the phone still in her hand. “You were my babysitter, LuLu. I recognized you at my old house.”
“You know, I thought you might be catching on towards the end.” She popped her gum, slipping into the Sadie Colter accent and persona. “I told them leaving the house that way was a bit much, kinda sick, you know? I have to say, that psychic bit was hilarious. Well done.”
“You knew who I was the entire time?”
“Oh, honey. They’ve been waiting for you to come back. Your dad was a surprise. I really thought he was dead. But you? Leaving you alive was a mistake.”
“You were there when my mother was murdered?”
“Who do you think unlocked the door? Of course they didn’t know I was there.” Quickly, she stood straight, and gestured with the gun to stand. “You always were a smart child. Too bad your dad sniffed around. I did like him.”
“Did you kill my father, too?”
The horrible woman just raised her thin eyebrows. “We should go. I’m sure your Marshal Cooper will be here shortly. By the way, he’s a cutie to watch—even from a distance. Bet you had some fun exploring every inch of that tall hunk.”
“I came alone. He doesn’t know.” But I hope he’s on his way.
“If that’s the truth, Emmy, honey,” she pouted, “then I’m afraid you don’t have much bargaining power. Put your phone on the table. You won’t be needing it any time soon.”
Jo set the phone on the dresser. She’d called her Emmy. Strange that there wasn’t a glimmer of memory attached to the name.
Should she want to hurt this woman who had confessed to opening the door for the murderers? Did her look implicate her in the murder of her father? Surely they’d still be able to prosecute based on the recorded conversation. It didn’t matter. Finding her mother’s client...the person who ordered LuLu to spy on them. That was her goal.
Dangerous Memories Page 14
