TWELVE
Breathing in the freshscent of autumn, Whitney smiled. It was a refreshing break to be outside with nature. Memories resurfaced – those she couldn’t control. After her mother divorced Joe, Whitney had tried to forget her love for painting and for riding horses. She tried to lock away the past because it hurt too much to remember. But being on the ranch had opened her heart and mind. And now she didn’t want to leave.
The chirping of her cell phone snapped her to reality. Grumbling, she jumped off the tire swing. She fished the phone out of her pocket and glanced at caller ID. Inwardly, she groaned. What was Captain Bott calling to chew her out about this time?
“Agent Lawson,” she replied automatically, and then cringed, remember what he’d said the last time she called herself anagent.
“Can I assume,” he began in a strong voice, “that you and the billionaire are in hiding now?”
“Yes, captain. We are.”
“Good, because the senator is going to be extra upset now.”
She held her breath, wondering what had happened that she didn’t know about.
“We just got word,” her boss continued, “that the senator’s attempt to push the trial back was denied. Trial will be in two weeks.”
Relief swept over her, knowing that she only had two more weeks to be in hiding, and yet she knew as well as any agent, that the senator’s henchmen would be diligently searching for Zack now.
Not good.
“I’ll be extra cautious, sir,” she said.
“You’d better. I don’t want one of my agents dead. And I definitely don’t want the prosecution’s only witness dead, as well.”
“Agreed, sir.”
“Where did you finally end up hiding?”
“A ranch in Maine. I know the owner.” She didn’t want to give too much information away, only because the captain would find another reason to snap at her. “And I made Greyson change his appearance. Looking at him now, you wouldn’t know immediately that he was the billionaire.”
“Good job, Lawson. Now, as long as the two of you can stay low for two more weeks, we’ll be able to keep him safe from the senator’s long criminal reach. I swear, that crooked politician has spies all over.”
“I’ll do all I can to keep Zack Greyson safe, sir.”
“I’ll call you the closer we get to the trial to give you more details.”
“Thanks. I’ll await your call.”
She hung up and slid the phone back in her pocket. With a prayer in her heart, she hoped the senator’s reach didn’t come all the way to Greenston, Maine.
Leaning against the tree, she closed her eyes and sighed. Mixed emotions rushed through her. Part of her was excited that she only had to wait two more weeks, and the other part of her didn’t want this glorious vacation to end. Zack was a different person out here. Either that, orshewas the different person. It didn’t matter because whatever was going on, her heart was light, and she felt happy – an emotion she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Suddenly, an eerie feeling came over her, stirring the hairs on the back of her neck. She reached for her Glock... only to remember she’d left it in her room. Her heartbeat quickened as her mind whirled with how she would be able to handle things without her gun if the situation became dangerous. She focused on the sounds around her. Deep breaths were coming toward her. Quickly.
