“Yes.”
“God, I wish we could have gotten some more practice in. Listen, there are plenty of bullets and I put one in the chamber. A Glock doesn’t have a mechanical safety. If you pull the trigger, it will fire, so be careful. Keep the silencer off; you want people to come running when you start firing. You don’t have to do anything for the next bullet to load, just keep pulling the trigger.”
“Okay. Pull the trigger. Keep firing.”
“And Anna, when you shoot a gun because you’re in danger for your life, you shoot to kill. Hold it steady, aim for the chest, and keep your eye on the target. Do you understand? Use all of the bullets if you have to.”
I swallow hard and realize my hands are shaking. “Okay.” I didn’t tell him I stood over Mateo’s body and couldn’t pull the trigger.
“I love you, Anna. More than you know. You gotta come back to me, okay? We’ll figure the rest of it out later, but you have to come back to me.”
“I love you, too. That’s why I had to do this. I can’t risk you getting hurt or dying. That’s the only reason I lied was to keep you safe. I hope you know that.”
“I’m scared to death to get off the phone with you,” he whispers.
“Me, too. But I don’t want to use up too much battery. I’m going to power off the phone but I’ll call you in the morning.”
“You promise?”
“Yes, I promise. I love you.”
Then I end the call. And cry myself to sleep.
A slamming door has me jumping up in the bed. It’s still dark out but I can tell it won’t be long before the sun starts to rise. I tiptoe to the French door and crack it open. It’s cool out, and windy. The plants in the courtyard are doing a rhythmic dance back and forth.
I catch a glimpse of Thomas walking across the courtyard toward a small wooden door in the corner. He opens it but doesn’t move away. By his hand gestures I can tell he’s talking to someone.
I move out on the balcony for a better look. The person on the other side of the door steps through the opening but I can’t make out any details.
Then I hear a door open and close below me. It’s Tyler, heading to Thomas and the unknown person. The other person moves deeper in the shadows while Thomas meets Tyler halfway across the courtyard. He passes a cell phone to Thomas and I hear a one-sided phone call in muffled tones, but can’t make out the exact words. Tyler takes the phone back once Thomas is finished.
Thomas leans in close, talking quietly to Tyler. Tyler nods then heads to where the car is parked and I hear it crank.
I don’t know what time it is but it’s got to be close to dawn. Where is he going?
Thomas waits until the car is gone before he moves back to the door. Whoever is there waiting, Thomas doesn’t want Tyler to see him.
I move down the balcony but keep my back to the wall. Thomas finally moves aside and lets the other person step inside, light from the courtyard falling across his face. My knees go weak the second I see him. He’s got a scarf wrapped around his neck but I know what’s underneath it.
Cross tattoos.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
Don’t forget who is a friend and who is a foe….
New rule by Anna Boyd:
They’re all foe. Don’t trust anyone. There are no exceptions to this rule.
my God, I was so stupid.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
They stop walking close to where I’m hiding on the balcony above them, then I hear faint steps coming up the outside stairs.
As quickly and quietly as I can, I shut the door and dive into the bed, faking sleep. I sense a shadow move across my window and it takes everything in me to relax my body.
