As she unbolted the door to step back out, Theo Ballard blocked her way, pressing a hand to her belly to push her back inside. He followed her in and slid the bolt.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Harvey wanted you to know that a gun was supposedly found in his apartment. That weapon fired the bullets that killed Ramsey, Ret and Jarrod, and also the bullet that was fired into Dustin after he was tortured and hanged. Harvey didn’t own a gun. He didn’t touch that gun. Also, the suitcase Jarrod was found in did belong to him. It was taken out of his room.” Ballard slid the bolt and ducked out of the bathroom before she could say a word.
Rory stared after him in shock. There were no cameras in the back. Brad couldn’t afford them. She didn’t know how to respond to what Ballard had just told her. How would Harvey know that kind of information? Was that why the detectives had shown up in force at the apartments to question her and her friends again? She guessed they couldn’t tell them about the gun or the suitcase. They had said Harvey was a person of interest.
She went to the break room feeling slightly sick. Now she really couldn’t breathe properly. If Harvey was telling the truth, someone was really framing Harvey for the death of the detective. Was she going to be next? Was Lydia? She doubted it. That wouldn’t be a logical conclusion. Lydia had a child. If they took Harvey up on his offer of a safe house, would they be playing into his hands by being set up to take the fall?
Red? Tell me why you’re so distressed. You were laughing and having a good time just minutes ago, and now you’re extremely upset.
She took a breath and pulled out her inhaler, trying to think. It was always difficult when she wasn’t getting enough oxygen.Give me a minute.
She felt Gideon’s connection to her, but he didn’t try to push his way into her mind, and she appreciated that. She needed to make her own decisions. She needed a little time to sort things out. Using her inhaler bought her time.
Gideon was patient. He didn’t hurry her, and he didn’t ask her again. His calm and belief in her were her deciding factors. When she felt she could breathe again, she relayed what had happened, from the visit from the detectives to Theo Ballard’s revelations.
Harvey gave me a card with a number on it to call if I felt we were in trouble. It only has a number, nothing else. He said someone would answer and text us a route to a safe house. They would run interference so no one could follow us. The house would be set up for all of us, including the children, for however long we needed it. He said he didn’t like that he’d dragged us into his mess. At that time, he told me he knew he was going to be framed and he didn’t have a gun. He hadn’t fired at the cop. None of them had. He certainly hadn’t killed his partners. That’s what he told me, and I believe him. I’m worried I’m being framed with him.
She was grateful Gideon didn’t make a snap judgment. He turned the information over in his mind.
We can keep your crew safe here or at one of our places. We’re a security company, and it would be nearly impossible to infiltrate.
The cops might use a search warrant.
They would have to know where you are. You would disappear. We would take only those who would want to come. You would have to persuade your friends to come with us.
It was tempting, but Janice would be afraid of losing contracts. Sally was afraid of losing customers. Pam might stay and work with Janice. Cindy would go to her parents. She’d be safe there. Lydia might be persuaded. Would Rory go? No. She’d be afraid of harming Gideon and his friends. He’d convinced her she was dangerous to them. She didn’t think she was to others, but she wasafraid she was to the GhostWalkers. She didn’t know what the difference was, but she knew there was one.
That’s a good offer. Thank you for that. If we need it, I’ll see if I can persuade them.
But you won’t come.
I’ve thought a lot about what you said. The ticking time bomb and everything in my head. I’m not taking chances with you or your friends. I still have to figure that out. I will. It’s just that all of this is getting in the way.
She felt his hesitation, and her stomach tightened into knots.Don’t say anything about your friends helping me. I can’t bear to think about them knowing my secrets. I just can’t face them. I’m dealing with too much right now, Gideon. Let me take care of whatever this is with my friends at the apartments, then I’ll think about whether to go or stay and face everyone.
She didn’t want to hurt him, and she knew she had. She hadn’t meant it that way. She was being honest with him.
I’m not trying to persuade you one way or the other, Red. I just want you to know they don’t judge. They want to help you. They consider you one of us. Family. Because you’re mine. Because you’re a GhostWalker.
You have to stop talking.He did have to stop. He couldn’t say another word. Already, she felt sick all over again. Shattered. Despondent. Maybe she always would whenever she thought about being a GhostWalker. Or when she thought back on what he’d done—telling the others her darkest secret. Sheneverwould give him up to anyone. For any reason.
To save my life? To save Lydia’s life? Or Ellen’s?
Her heart clenched hard in her chest. Her stomach did another sickly spasm. She didn’t want to think about that. Exchanging Gideon’s secrets for Ellen and Lydia? Or his life? That wasn’t a fair request. She wasn’t going to put herself in that position. Was that being a coward? Yes, of course it was. She didn’t care. She wasn’t going there in her mind. Not now, maybe never.
I need to get back to work. It’s crazy busy and my boss is covering for me.
She drank water and stretched before making her way slowly back to the bar.
Red. I want to see you tonight. After work.
She should shut that down before it was too late and she was pulled back in.
I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I can’t make snap decisions, Gideon. When I see you, it’s too difficult to think straight. I had a fantasy of who you were. That’s not your fault and I’m not blaming you. I’m really not. It’s just that I let you in.
So far in when no one else had ever gotten there. She wanted him back, but then who was she wanting back? The Gideon she’d fantasized over? Or the one she knew him to be? Which was real? She had to know before she took another chance.
How can you know if you don’t spend time with me?
