That was all I needed.
She was still between the seats, frozen with fear.
“It’s okay,” I said softly. “You’re safe. But we need to go. Now.”
“Go where?” she asked, her voice shaking.
It occurred to me that she might come easier if she thought she was doing what she was supposed to do. “Back to the house,” I said, praying she was kept in a house.
She seemed to relax slightly. “What happened to Buddy?”
“He’s indisposed,” I said. “I’ve been sent to bring you back.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know you.”
“I know. I’m new—from another house. There wasn’t time for me to meet all the girls. But we really need to go.”
“But we just started,” she whispered, tears spilling again. “I haven’t hit my minimum yet.”
The trucker shoved his door open, and I slid sideways before it knocked me off the running board. “I’m not getting in the middle of this.” Then he turned back to her. “Get out!”
I’d jumped to the ground. I was about to climb back up, but the girl scrambled over him and nearly fell out of the cab, face-first onto the pavement. I caught her with my free hand and held her arm until she found her footing.
She pulled free and rushed to the front of the truck, eyeing the Buick, then froze when she saw James sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Where’s Buddy?” she asked, shaking like a leaf.
“I told you. He’s indisposed. We need to go. Now.”
She pivoted to look up at me, terror in her eyes. “Are the police really comin’?”
I suspected her fear of law enforcement would get her moving. “Yeah. Which is why we need to go. But not with that guy in Buddy’s car. You’re supposed to come with me.”
Her gaze dropped to the gun in my hand. When she nodded, I struggled to hide my relief. I led her to the row behind the truck, moving fast. Thankfully, she kept up.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” she said, crying again as we made it to the lane and walked quickly toward my car. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
“You won’t be in trouble,” I promised. “I was sent to get you. We just need to hurry.”
When we reached the car, she automatically reached for the handle of the back door. I suspected she always rode in the back, staying out of sight.
I slid behind the wheel, slipped my gun back into its holster, and started the engine. Seconds later, James pulled the white Buick up beside me, facing the opposite direction so the driver’s side windows lined up. We rolled down our windows at the same time.
“Good thinkin’ with the distraction,” he said.
“Thought I’d speed things along,” I said, keeping my voice down.
His gaze flicked to the backseat window, then back to me with a questioning look.
“We’re good,” I said. “I told her Buddy is indisposed.”
He gave a slow nod of understanding. “Be careful.”
“You too,” I managed, pushing down my nerves. Things had gone well up until this point. I had to trust they’d keep going that way.
He gave me a grim smile, then rolled up his window and drove off.
Chapter 22
