Yet she couldn’t completely surrender, because that would mean losing herself.
As Jake held her, he caught the thought. He wanted to comfort her, yet he couldn’t help feeling a similar resistance to the link that had formed between them. Maybe the resistance was stronger for him than it was for her. He’d been on his own since he was fifteen. Sharing his thoughts and feelings with anyone was entirely new. And it put him on edge.
It’s okay to want some privacy, she whispered in his mind.
Are you sure?
Go on.
Slowly, he eased away.
“I’d better call my office.” He was grateful for the excuse. “Maybe Patrick can tell me something new.”
“You mean, like they caught the killer, and we’re off the hook? That would be good, but won’t the police be tracing calls?”
“To be safe, I’ll buy a prepaid phone, then throw it away after I check in.”
“Good idea.”
“We’d better drive to another town, make the call, and get out of there.”
“How long can we keep paying for rooms–and leaving after a few hours?”
“For a while.” He laughed. “If they’re not luxury suites.”
They left the motel room they’d checked into so recentlyand drove for about thirty miles until they came to a commercial area with a drugstore chain.
After pulling into a parking space, Jake turned to Rachel. “Do you need anything?”
“Secret agent gear.”
He laughed. “Okay. You make a quick run throughthatdepartment. I’ll get the phone.”
As they separated, Jake felt a twinge of anxiety. He needed to get off on his own, but as soon as Rachel disappeared down an aisle, he wanted to rush after her.
Instead, he went to the front counter and bought a phone. She was gone for several minutes, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other while he waited for her, annoyed with himself for allowing anxiety to consume him. For years he’d taken care of no one but himself. Now he felt responsible for someone else, and it was hard to get used to.
When she finally appeared again, he struggled to keep his expression neutral.
She held up a head scarf and a pair of glasses. “Sorry I didn’t think of these earlier.”
“You have them now.”
She went through a checkout line while he waited.
Out in the car, he activated the phone and punched in the number of his office.
Patrick answered, sounding tentative.
“It’s me,” Jake said.
“The cops have been all over the place. I’m afraid they’ve made sort of a mess.”
“I’ll bet.” He dragged in a breath and let it out. “I’m going to be lying low until I figure out how to clear my name.”
“You and Rachel Gregory. Is she with you?”
”Let’s not talk any longer than we have to.”
