“Lansky’s my attorney,” Cole supplied.“It was his idea to have me go into hiding until I could reproduce the evidence that would prove I was the inventor.”
“But the check you came into the bank with was issued from Indiana.”
“That was another of Lansky’s ideas.He insisted I use the phony name and had the funds available from Indiana as a precautionary method.”
“Against Jennings,” Lesley muttered to herself.
“Right.”
“But Jennings knows you’re here if today is any indication.”
“He knows,” Cole reiterated.
“Then why didn’t he...”
“Finish me off?”Cole completed the horrible thought for her.“I don’t know.There was ample opportunity.”
“They were looking for the report or whatever it was you gave Lansky?”
“It’s the only thing they could be after, with one exception.”
“What?”Lesley asked with a puzzled frown.
Cole straightened, his demeanor distant.“Me.”
Lesley bit into the soft flesh in her inner cheek to keep from crying out.She couldn’t bear to lose Cole.If Jennings were to hurt Cole, a part of herself would shrivel up and die with him.
“Now do you understand why it’s so important for you to leave?It won’t be long, I promise.”
“Cole,” she pleaded.“I don’t want to go.You know I’d go crazy every minute of every day wondering what was happening to you.”
“This isn’t your battle,” he returned forcefully.
“But I’m making it mine.We’re in this together,” she argued with him on a breathless note.If it wasn’t safe here, they could leave, find someplace that was.
“Lesley.”He came to kneel in front of her, taking her soft hands in his and raising them to his mouth.“Thank you.But I can’t put you in any danger.”
“But I’ll be with you.”
“That’s the worst place you could be.”
“I’ll go crazy not knowing—”
“Only until after Thanksgiving.If I haven’t heard anything by then, you can come back.”He was coaxing and gentle, and Lesley doubted that there was anything she could refuse him.
“I don’t like this.”
“I know you don’t, and to be honest, I’m not that excited about it either.There’s a certain amount of comfort having you around.”
“It’s my four karate lessons, right?”
“Right,” he chuckled, and kissed her briefly on her cheek.“Come on, I’ll help you pack.”
Lesley pulled the suitcase out from her closet.Ironically, it was one she had replaced only a half hour earlier.Cole sat on the foot of her bed as she filled the small case.
“I’m only taking enough clothes for two days.”
“That should be enough time.”
