Witness on the Run

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“Couldn’t afford college,” he lied. He was offered a few scholarships, but he carried so much anger inside of him he figured he’d put his violent tendencies to good use and fight for his country, maybe exorcise some of his angst.

“Your turn,” he said.

“I can’t remember anything, remember?” She shook her head. “That sounded dumb.”

He wanted to remind her she remembered something about last night, but the goal was to keep her calm, not upset her again by stirring up the memory of the man she called Death Eyes. He’d bring that up later, after she calmed down.

“I think you remember more than you think.” He smiled, hoping to ease her anxiety. Maybe this was a bad idea, but he had to try. For her sake. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue,” she said, raising her eyebrows in shock. “How did I know that?”

“See, you do remember some things. How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Where do you live?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Afraid I’m going to stalk you?”

“No, I saw my address on my driver’s license. That would be cheating.”

“You’ve got integrity. Add that to the list of things you know about yourself. How about, favorite movie?”

“Sound of Music.”

“Book?”

She nibbled her thumbnail and gave it some thought. And for a few seconds she didn’t look so scared. The tension eased in Jake’s shoulders.

“Nope,” she said. “I’m drawing a blank.”

“Well, two out of three is good.” He exited 99 and slowed at the stoplight. He punched the safe house address into his GPS and glanced in the rearview mirror. No cars behind him. He wasn’t followed.

“Try another one,” she said over the monotone voice of the GPS.

“Favorite food.”

“Easy. Donuts from Pike Place Market.”

“Powdered sugar or plain?”

“Powdered, definitely. I could eat those for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

“Not with that figure you can’t.” He shook his head. “Sorry.”

She cracked a slight smile, at least he thought she did.

“Favorite TV show?” Jake continued.

“Castle.”

“Brothers or sisters?”

Her smile faded and she gazed out the side window. The GPS directions echoed in the car between them. “Robin?”

“How much longer to the safe house?”

“Five minutes.”

He’d said something wrong and didn’t even know what. Suddenly he felt the need to do his own background check on Robin to make sure he wouldn’t walk into trouble again. The last thing he wanted was to upset her.

He followed the GPS directions and made a right, drove three blocks and made another right. They pulled up across the street from the address Ethan had given him. A light glowed behind the curtains in the small ranch.

He turned to her. “This is it.”

She glanced at the house. “How long will I be here?”

“I’m not privy to that information. Sorry.”

“Probably until this case is over, huh?” she whispered.

“Let’s get you settled.” Opening his door, he shot a glance one way up the street, then the other. It was nearly three in the morning, and the neighborhood was quiet. He came around the truck and offered his hand to steady Robin as she got out. She took it without hesitation.

“Thanks,” she said.

He closed the door and he cupped her elbow as they crossed the street. She didn’t pull away, and it felt natural to touch her like this.

“I was really lucky tonight,” she said.

“How do you figure?”

She hesitated at the bottom of the porch steps and looked at him with worry in her eyes. “I’d hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been at the Chambers Building.”

“Then don’t think about it. Come on, let’s get you inside.” He continued, glancing right and left across the neighborhood.

They started up the stairs and the door opened. Detective Monroe motioned them up the stairs as he scanned the neighborhood. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Robin stepped onto the porch and hesitated. “I’m not staying anywhere with you.”

“We don’t have time to discuss it. Get in the house.”

“But you handcuffed me.”

“I know. I’m sorry, okay? I’m a jerk.”

“That’s one word for it,” Jake muttered.

Monroe motioned with his fingers. “I’ll apologize more inside, okay?”

Robin looked at Jake for guidance. “Come on.” He guided her in front of him toward the door. Once she crossed the threshold, Monroe blocked him.

“Sorry, Walters. Not you.”

“No. Jake is protecting me,” Robin argued.

Detective Dunn stepped out from the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee. “Yeah, he’s done such a great job so far.”

Jake tried to ignore the guy’s comment, but it hit its mark. She’d been threatened twice while under Jake’s unofficial protection.

“Beck told you to drop her off and leave,” Monroe said to Jake. “That’s what you’re going to do.”

Jake didn’t want to get into a territorial fight with these guys. They were following orders and didn’t like outsiders. He knew how it worked.

He also knew he’d made a promise to Robin.

“This isn’t fair,” Robin said.

“Look, Miss Strand,” Monroe started. “We’re going to protect you. You’re involved in a criminal case and we don’t want to risk screwing it up by involving civilians.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You treated me like a suspect.”

He sighed. “That was inappropriate. I was upset about Detective Edwards. I’m sorry you got the brunt of that. Truly.”

It seemed genuine. Ethan told Jake he trusted these guys, and Jake didn’t want to upset Robin with a turf war between him and the cops.

“He’s right, Robin,” Jake said. “It’s their job to protect you. I have no jurisdiction here.”

“I gave you jurisdiction.” She cocked her chin up in defiance.

“Someone’s got a case of transference,” Detective Dunn said.

She glanced at him with furrowed eyebrows.

“Robin,” Jake said to get her attention.

She refocused on Jake and he looked straight into her eyes.

“Remember what I promised?”

“Yes.”

“I keep my promises.”

Understanding dawned in her eyes. She understood that although he was leaving her at the house with the detectives, he wouldn’t be far. Transference or not, he’d given his word.

“So, we’re good?” Monroe said, looking from Jake to Robin.

“I guess,” she said.

“Good night.” Monroe shut the door in Jake’s face.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Jake walked down the steps to his car. He’d move it in case the cops looked out the window to make sure he’d left. Still, he wanted Robin to see him, to be assured by his presence.

Man, you’re just feeding into her psychosis. Which is what it was, right? Detective Dunn had nailed it: she’d developed a healthy case of transference and was looking up to Jake as her protector.