Jake wrapped his arms around her tighter. “I believe you, Rachael.”
“The…body…was wrapped up in one of our rugs tied with clothesline. He took the heavier end. I sort of carry-dragged my end around to the front of the car. Nothing in the world is as heavy as that body was.”
“I believe that, too.”
“He went back and got two shovels and we dug. After a while, he shut off the headlights, probably afraid the battery would die, and we kept on digging in the moonlight while the cicadas sang.” Rachael shivered.
“The sky got light and Daddy decided we’d dug deep enough. We dragged the rug to the hole and rolled it in. Then we buried it. We got back in the car as the sun came up. And that’s when he told me what we’d done. That we’d just buried a man. I’d helped him, so he said if I ever told anyone, I’d go to jail. Or worse. That he made me do it so that I couldn’t leave him…because he…loved me. Then he took me to Betty’s Diner and we had breakfast.”
Rachael felt Jake shudder. “Breakfast? Right after that?”
“We were still covered in dirt, Jake. Imagine that. The two of us filthy, sitting in a booth by the window, him shoving chicken-fried steak with gravy into his mouth, and me staring at my toast. The place was packed. Farmers, factory workers. The sheriff even stopped in for coffee. Everybody saw us, saw the dirt on our faces, our clothes. Covered with it. And no one said a word.”
“He wanted to drive it home for you. How helpless you were.”
Rachael nodded. “Yeah. And how powerful he was.”
“Angel,” Jake whispered.
“The nightmares…I tried to go to the sheriff a couple days after, but you can imagine how that went. He threatened me, an eight-year-old girl. For years I’ve hidden the secret, afraid of what would happen if I told anyone else.”
She turned over in Jake’s arms so she could see his face. She felt unburdened and yet trapped again. Rachael wouldn’t be free until she knew what was in Jake’s heart and what he had planned for her. “I need to know right now, Jake, what’s going to happen to me? To us, if there even is an us anymore.” She sighed. “If there ever was.”
Jake breathed a kiss over her lips. “You were a child, Rachael. You can’t be held responsible for what your father made you do. You said so yourself – you didn’t know what was happening. And then you tried to do the right thing, but how could a little girl ever stand against a grown man? A corrupt cop? Damn. I’m in awe of your bravery even then. Especially then. The world was against you, and you still tried to do the right thing.”
Jake brushed his lips across her forehead. “There is an us as far as I’m concerned, Angel. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re safe and protected. I know lawyers, good ones. You aren’t going to see a day of jail.”
Rachael bit her lower lip. “I’m not a naïve little girl anymore. I know some of the things he’s done since. I’m afraid he’ll implicate me. And I’ve put your job in jeopardy, maybe even your freedom, I don’t know. FBI agents aren’t supposed to sleep with the bad guys.”
Jake took her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. Even in the half-light, she could see his love shining in them. “Rachael. You are not one of the bad guys. You were a victim, but not for much longer. I’m going to defend you, protect you. We’ll get through this together.”
“But your career—”
“I’m leaving the FBI.”
Rachael sat up. “What?”
“That dog out there? Believe it or not, he’s part of my future. Toby’s on loan from a security company called Watchdog Security. It’s run by Camden’s old SEAL buddy. He’s offering us both a job after this.”
“‘This’ meaning me?”
“‘This’ meaning putting your old man away where he belongs and setting you free to live out your dreams.” Jake pulled Rachael back down into his arms. He took her hand and kissed the palm. “I can only hope your dreams include this crazy guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of song lyrics who loves you with all his heart and soul.”
Relief filled Rachael. Jake loved her, wanted to protect her. He’d find a way.
She kissed him. “I wouldn’t dream of any other.”
Twenty-Seven
The next morning, Jake woke to the smell of sausage and coffee. Rachael stirred in his arms and made a small, sad sound. Jake stroked her back until she settled again. He slipped out of bed and tucked the covers around her. After they’d talked some more, she’d slept troubled and restless all night and he figured she needed to sleep in. He put on his shirt and quietly left the bedroom.
Camden watched Tina play with Toby while Elena flipped the last pancake onto a stack and carried the plate to the kitchen table. She gave Jake a tired smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Good morning,” she said. “Rachael?”
“Is sleeping in. We were up late talking.”
Elena’s eyebrow quirked before her expression smoothed out again. She looked at her daughter and Jake’s partner. “Breakfast is ready. Wash your hands, Tina, please.”
Instead, the girl wiped them off on Toby’s back, earning her a laugh from everyone.
