Protection

by Linda Rettstatt

  The five hour flight in the private jet seemed much longer. All he could think of was the tremor in Shannon’s voice when she asked if he was coming back. He couldn’t say when, but he knew beyond any doubt he would be back. His first order of business in New York was to meet with the Bishop and set in motion his dispensation from the solemn promises he had made as a priest. The last few days had given him the clarity he needed. The God he wasn’t sure was listening had answered his prayer.

  *

  The Bishop sat behind his desk, looking much older than he had two years earlier. The investigation had taken its toll on him as well. “I can’t say I’m surprised by your request, Steven, but I would like to know why now?”

  The name still seemed foreign to Jake. He’d become a different person in the past two years. “I’ve had time to examine my reasons for becoming a priest. I find that what I thought to be a calling may have been in error.”

  The Bishop lifted his eyebrows. “You’re telling me God made a mistake?”

  “No. I’m saying I made the mistake. Though I’m not exactly sure it was a mistake. It was right at the time, but now….”

  “What about now?” The Bishop leaned forward. “What has changed?”

  Jake’s mouth went dry. “I’m not the person I was two years ago.”

  “You do remember that a man who promises himself to the priesthood is considered, in the eyes of the Church, to be a priest forever.”

  Perspiration dampened his collar. This wasn’t as simple as he had hoped. The Bishop wasn’t making it difficult, but being honest. “Yes, I know. I’m telling you that I cannot fulfill those promises and I’m asking to be released of my commitment to do so.”

  The Bishop sat back in his chair and stared hard at him. “Are you having doubts about returning to active priestly duty because you’re not sure how your brother priests will treat you after the trial is over?”

  “It has nothing to do with that. There’s… I’ve met someone. A woman.”

  “Ah. I see. And this woman knows you’re a priest?”

  Jake shook his head. “I haven’t told her. I couldn’t tell her anything because of being in the program.” Jake stood and paced. “I’m trying to do the right thing here, but I realize no matter what I choose, I let someone down.” He turned and faced the Bishop. “I won’t let her down. I ask that you get my papers ready to sign and release me from my commitment to the Diocese.”

  Jake walked out of the Bishop’s office and nodded to the Marshal who was assigned to stay with him until after the trial. As they strode toward the waiting car, he reached up and tugged the white tab from his collar, shoving it into his jacket pocket. He’d only spent twenty-four hours locked in his cabin, wrestling with himself and with God before Caleb showed up to capture Lou Crowley. But in that time, he knew what he was to do, and he knew God was fine with it. He didn’t much care if the Bishop approved or not.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Shannon emerged from the Swinsons’ to see a woman standing at the top of the steps at her door. “May I help you?”

  “There you are. It’s me, Angie. Dawn’s daughter?” She came down the steps. “I just stopped by to see how you and Bailey are getting along?”

  “We’re okay. Why?” She caught the tone of suspicion in her voice too late.

  “Jake called to say he’d be away for a while. He asked if I’d stop by.”

  “You can tell him we’re fine and he no longer has to worry about us.” She stepped past Angie and headed toward the door. Then realizing she’d been rude and none of this was Angie’s fault, she stopped and turned. “You want to come in? I made iced tea and there’s chocolate cake.”

  Angie grinned. “Chocolate cake? I’m right behind you.”

  With Bailey in the playpen, Shannon set two glasses out for tea and then cut slices of the rich chocolate cake. “Here you go. Do you want sugar for the tea?”

  “I think there’s enough sugar in the cake. This will be fine, thanks.”

  Once Shannon sat down, Angie cast a steady gaze at her. “Jake’s a good guy. He wasn’t checking up on you. You’re new to town and he wanted you to have someone you can call if you need anything.”

  “You and Jake are good friends, then?” she asked.

  “Friends, yes. Nothing more, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  Shannon felt heat spread into her face. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”

  Angie tasted the cake and closed her eyes, moaning softly. “Oh, this is good. Did you make this from scratch?”

  “My mother’s recipe.”

  “I’d give her a blue ribbon for this one.” She took a sip of tea. “What are you doing Saturday night?”

  “Me? Uh, nothing special. I’ll be here with Bailey.”

  “Good. I’m going to Seattle with two friends for dinner and a movie. I get one Saturday a month off from Rusty’s. Come with us.”

  Shannon glanced toward Bailey. “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can. My mom’s the designated babysitter. I already asked if she could handle one more and she said yes. She thinks your daughter is adorable, which she is. Come on. It’s our monthly girls’ night out. We’ll be home by eleven.”

  “Did Jake put you up to this?”

  “No. I thought of it all by myself. It’ll be fun. And Bailey will be fine. She already knows my mom.”

  Shannon considered the invitation. If she was going to live in this town, she needed to start making friends. And if Angie was a friend of Jake’s, she must be okay. “Thank you, I’d love to come along.”

  Angie scraped the last of the icing from her plate then set down her fork. “Fantastic. I’ll pick you up around four and we’ll stop by my mom’s to drop off the baby.”

  “I can meet you at Dawn’s. I have Abe’s car for my use.”

  “Okay. See you then. And thanks for the cake.”

  Shannon reached into the cabinet for aluminum foil. “Wait, take a piece with you. Otherwise I’ll eat all this by myself.”

  Angie grinned. “Can’t have that.”

  Shannon watched the woman get into her SUV and pull from the driveway. Maybe this was a step toward making a life for herself and Bailey here in Snoqualmie. Although it irritated her that Jake called Angie to check in on her like she needed looking after. If he was so worried, why had he taken off? And what was with the ‘I love you’? That had thrown her off balance. She knew she had feelings for Jake, but she had no clue exactly what they were. And how was she supposed to figure it out on her own, with no Jake? She didn’t even know where he’d gone or for how long. And she thought she had secrets.

  The dishes clattered as she set them in the sink. The last thing she needed was another man in her life giving her nothing but grief, confusion and false promises. She had a place to live, a job of sorts, and enough money for the time being. She and Bailey would be fine. Now if she only had the backbone to stand up to Corinne Hastings. Maybe her starting point needed to be Mark. She would get a disposable phone the next time she went shopping and call him, tell him to get his wife off her trail or else. Or else what? She’d expose them to the world? The woman who had knowingly slept with a married man and gotten pregnant versus the beloved Governor of Missouri whose husband had cheated on her?

  What if Mark played the innocent, grieving father who never got to see his child? They could make her into the villain so easily. They could take Bailey away from her. After all, she was the one who ran with the baby. And there were Mark and Corinne—a couple who could give a child everything, or so it would appear. Still, she had to know where Mark stood in regard to the baby.

  The following afternoon, Shannon checked on Helen and asked Abe if she could use the car for a few hours.

  “Be my guest. You don’t have to ask.” The old man waved her off. “It’s a nice day for a drive. The rain finally let up.”

  “Is there anything you or Helen need? I’m driving down to the Wal-Mart in Covington.”

 
“Not a thing. You have a nice afternoon.”

  “Thanks.”

  She went into her bedroom closet and dug under the stack of boxes to retrieve cash from her briefcase. She knew she should put that money in the bank, but she was still nervous about being tracked down.

  Burying the briefcase once again, she gathered up Bailey and the diaper bag. She opened the car windows and drove slowly, enjoying the feeling of freedom. In the Wal-Mart, she first used an antiseptic hand wipe to clean the infant carrier in the shopping cart. Then she settled Bailey in the carrier and leisurely browsed the store, smiling when a few women stopped to comment on the baby.

  After choosing two new outfits of clothing for Bailey, she shopped for something new to wear on Saturday night. It was only a girls’ night out, but she wanted to feel new. Her last stop was in the electronics department where she purchased an AT&T disposable phone using her new ‘official’ identity as Shannon Chase to set up the account.

  In the parking lot, she removed Bailey from the cart and placed her in the car seat, followed by their purchases. She sat in the car staring at the phone and her hands shook. When she punched in Mark’s personal cell number, she half expected a message telling her the phone was no longer in service. Instead, he answered on the third ring. “Hello.”

  “Mark?”

  “Yes. Who is this?”

  “It’s Heather.”

  A pause, then he said, “Hold on.”

  She could hear him talking to someone, then a door closed. “Where the hell are you?”

  “I don’t think that’s something I want to reveal. And don’t think you can trace this call, because you can’t.”

  “Corinne is really pissed that you took off with the baby and her ten grand. What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking that your wife has no rights to my baby and that I’m not sure what she might do to get her. Why would she want Ba…Amanda anyway?” Shannon closed her eyes and gritted her teeth at the near slip.

  “Because she wants to rub this in my face for eternity. I told you to take care of it.”

  Anger coursed through her. “It is your child. How can you be so heartless?”

  “No, she’s your child. Believe me, finding you and that baby is not in my plan. But Corinne will not give up, especially since you took the money and ran.”

  “I had to. I had no way of providing for the baby once I got fired. And we both know who had a hand in that.” She drew in a deep breath. “I only called to see where you stand in all this. I want you to have an attorney draw up papers giving me full custody of Amanda. I want you to give up any rights to her.”

  “Trust me, I’d love nothing more. But what do you think will happen once Corinne knows I’ve done that?”

  “I don’t care. You clearly don’t want to be associated with this baby. So let her go. Let us go.”

  He let out an exasperated exhale. “I can’t do that.”

  “Then we have nothing more to discuss.”

  “Heather, wait….”

  She ended the call. Then she rummaged in her wallet and removed a slip of paper, dialing Brooke’s office number. “Hi, it’s me.”

  “Hey, this is a surprise.”

  “I figured your office phone would be safe and I’m using a non-traceable disposable. I just called Mark.”

  “You what? Are you crazy?”

  Shannon expected the response and grinned. “No. I had to know what his part is in this search to find me and get to the baby. The last thing he wants is for us to be found. This is all Corinne’s doing. Her best revenge on Mark’s wandering would be to force his child into his life.”

  “Oh, sweetie. What are you going to do?”

  “Stay here for as long as I can. Maybe that bitch will give up eventually.”

  “I hope so.”

  “How’s my mom?”

  “She’s doing okay. She stayed in Uniontown with your aunt. I have the phone number if you need it.”

  Shannon reached into her purse to find a pen and scratched the number down on the Wal-Mart receipt. “Thanks.” She paused. “I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. Maybe when you’re sure the trail’s gone cold, I can come out there for a visit?”

  “I’d love that. I don’t know that I’ll ever feel safe. I was hoping to get some insight while I spoke with Mark about how to end this, but he won’t go up against Corinne. I actually entertained calling her and trying to make a deal.”

  “Now I know you’ve lost your mind. Hey, what about that guy who came to your rescue?”

  “He’s gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “He just left town and I don’t know if or when he’s coming back.” Her voice cracked despite her efforts at control.

  “Uh-oh. You fell for him, huh?”

  “No. He was a good friend. That’s all.”

  “That’s not all. I can hear it in your voice. Oh, shoot, hold on.” Brooke returned. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Customers waiting. Call me again?”

  “I will, I promise. Thanks for everything.”

  “Any time. Bye.”

  The third call was the hardest, but hearing her mother’s voice was worth the heartache. “I swear we’re both fine, Mom. I’m glad you’re staying with Aunt Rita.”

  “I am, too. I may stay here until you’re ready to go back home.”

  “I’m not sure that’s going to happen, Mom. I might remain here.”

  “Why can’t you tell me where you are?”

  Shannon took a heavy breath. “I will soon. The less you know, the better off you are for now. I’m so sorry about all of this.” Tears spilled down her cheeks in hot tracks.

  “Honey, it’s okay. It’ll all work out. Maybe you should come here to Aunt Rita’s, too. You’d like it here.”

  “I’ll think about it, Mom,” she said, knowing it wouldn’t—couldn’t—be a consideration. “I have to go now. But I’ll call you again soon. I promise.”

  “I love you, sweetheart. Kiss the baby for me.”

  “I will. Love you, too.”

  She ended the call and gave in to the grief, her shoulders shaking. Fumbling in her purse for tissues, she blew her nose and wiped her eyes. The other phone number tucked away in her wallet belonged to Jake’s cell phone. She hastily punched in the numbers. The phone rang twice and, before he could answer, she stopped the call.

  Rolling the phone around in her hand, Shannon wondered if she should dispose of it now and go back inside for another one. It wasn’t supposed to be traceable, but fear raised doubts in her mind. Backing from the parking space, she slowed at the store’s entrance, jumped out and tossed the phone into a trash receptacle, then headed back to Snoqualmie.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  On Saturday, Shannon packed the diaper bag with plenty of diapers, formula and the baby food Bailey had just started to eat. She added two changes of clothing, just in case. “Okay, sweetie. Let’s go.”

  At Dawn’s house, she found Angie’s SUV already parked at the curb. She pulled the Buick into the empty driveway and got out.

  Angie came across the small yard. “Hi. Let me help you. If you’re like me, you packed as if she was going to summer camp.”

  Shannon laughed. “You got it.” She handed off the diaper bag, then removed Bailey and the car seat-slash-carrier. “I’ll take this inside, too.”

  “You can if you want, but I’m sure Mom’s got at least two carriers in there already. This place is Kiddie Central.”

  Inside, the TV blared in the living room where two boys and a girl who looked to be between the ages of six and eight, sat on the floor watching a cartoon. An older boy, maybe ten, sat on the sofa playing with an iPad. Dawn came from the kitchen with a toddler in tow. “Hi, Shannon. And there’s that sweet baby.” She reached out and took Bailey from her.

  “Thanks for doing this. Let me know how much I owe you when we get back.” Shannon set the carrier down.

  Dawn waved a dismissive hand. “You don’
t owe me anything. I have the grandkids here anyway. One Saturday a month, I keep all the kids so the girls can have a night out.”

  Angie pointed. “That one is Sean and the girl is Amy. And this…” She picked up the toddler. “…is Raymond. They’re mine. The other boys are David and Michael—the one with the iPad. They belong to my sister, Melanie, who’s working tonight at the casino.”

  The front door opened and another woman came in herding two twin girls.

  “This is Rachel and her two, Annie and Jessie.”

  The little girls raced past Shannon and fell to the floor in that boneless way children do, knees bent, legs behind them, joining the TV group.

  “Are you sure you want to keep Bailey, too?” Shannon asked Dawn. “Looks like you already have your hands full.”

  “I’m sure. This is better than dinner and a movie for me. Now you girls go and have fun.”

  Shannon leaned in and kissed Bailey on the cheek. But the baby was already mesmerized by the silver and turquoise necklace Dawn wore. “You’ll call if there’s any problem?” Shannon asked, then added, “Oh, but I don’t have a cell phone.”

  “I’ll call Angie if I need you, but I promise we’ll be fine.”

  Angie looped an arm through Shannon’s and turned her toward the door. “Come on. It’s time for the big girls to go out and play.”

  They piled into Angie’s SUV and made a stop to pick up Lisa, another of Angie’s friends. The women were welcoming and didn’t press her with questions right away. When they reached Seattle, Rachel said, “Why don’t we catch a movie first, then eat?”

  Angie groaned. “If we’re going to Quinn’s, we need to get there early or we’ll never get a place to park.”

  “We’ll get a place to park. We’re right near the theater,” Rachel argued.

  “But I’m hungry,” Angie countered.

  “So, get popcorn.” Rachel turned in her seat. “What about you two?”

  Lisa shrugged. “Fine with me.”

  “I’m fine either way,” Shannon said.

  Rachel laughed. “Oh, we have a diplomat in our midst.” She winked at Shannon. “So I’m counting that as a yes. Movie first.”