Shelly looked at him then, her eyes flat and hopeless.
“Because he’s a cop.”
Everything clicked into place. The sabotage. The confidence that he could hurt her and get away with it. Dex Morrison was betting his badge would protect him.
Ben pulled out his phone. “Change of plans. We’re not going to the PD.”
“Where—”
“There’s a place called Watchdog Security in Lyons. They have safehouses for situations exactly like this. I’m taking you there tonight.”
“I don’t have money for?—”
“You don’t need it.” Ben was already texting Kyle McGuire. “These are good people, Shelly. They’ll keep you safe while you figure out your next steps.”
His phone buzzed almost immediately.
Bring her in. I’ll have a safehouse ready. I’ll also call George.
Ben showed Shelly the text. “See? You’re not alone anymore.”
“Who’s George?”
“George is the sergeant for Lyons PD and a good friend. He’ll know how to handle Dex.”
She read it again, her lips trembling. “Why are you helping me?”
“Because you need help.” Ben said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. Because it was. “And because men like Dex Morrison count on women being too scared to ask for it. We’re going to prove him wrong.”
Shelly’s lips trembled, but this time when she cried, it sounded like relief.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Is Triple-A really coming, or was that to get me back on the road?”
“No, they’re really coming…Wait, I think that’s them,” she said, looking in the passenger side mirror. Sure enough, a tow truck was coming over a rise in the road.
“Then you talk to them while I get your things into the truck, then we’ll get you to safety.”
Shelly nodded as the tow truck passed them and pulled off in front of her Civic. “Thank you again.”
“Don’t mention it.”
They got out of the truck and Shelly approached the tow truck. The driver took one look at her smeared mascara and gave Ben the stink eye.
“You all right, miss?” he asked, never taking his eyes off Ben, which Ben thought was just fine given the circumstances.
“I am now.” Shelly turned to look at Ben. “This man’s an angel for stopping to help.”
Ben felt his cheeks redden. “I w-wouldn’t go that far.”
“Well, you are,”
“Th-thank you.” He cleared his throat. “You give him your info while I load up your bags.”
Embarrassed, he opened the trunk and took out two large duffel bags while Shelly gave the driver her information. He carried them to the truck while the driver tilted the flatbed then hooked a winch cable to the front of the Civic. Ben was walkingback toward Shelly when a cop car came over the ridge and slowed down.
Shelly froze.
