Page 16 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

“To my car,” he said calmly, lifting the carrier higher. One black, beady eye stared out at him through the mesh, black hair curling over his forehead like an eighties rock star.

“A fucking guinea pig?” Rick grumbled.

“Put my things down! If you want to charge me, fine! Paulette will throw me in a cell, and you can see if they will extradite me back to California for grand theft auto, but until then, you’re not going to bully me into a death sentence!”

Rick stopped, spinning around on her. “You’re telling me this is better? Running for the rest of your life and hoping no one recognizes you?”

Kaylee took a step toward him, holding her arms out. “Beats the alternative of sitting in a car with you for thirteen hours as I contemplate how Ansel is going off me!”

“Stop it, both of you!” Paulette glanced toward the street, and Rick realized a couple teens were recording them. Kaylee paled, and he met her wide, frightened gaze, her fear seizing his gut like a sucker punch.

Rick set her bags down gently, jogging toward the teens with his hands out, telling himself this was about protecting his witness and not because he hated seeing her so terrified.

He stopped in front of them, nodding his chin toward the cell. “I’m going to need you to delete that video.”

“No way!” the kid in the hat protested. “I know my rights, and you’re harassing Kaylee! The world is going to know about it!”

Rick put his hands up, keeping his voice calm. “It seems like you care a lot about her. If that’s the case, don’t post the video.”

“Why not?” the other kid asked, his fluffy hair nearly covering his eyes, resembling a llama.

“Because posting the video will put her in danger.”

The kid with the hat had his phone up as if it were a shield. “How will it put her in danger?”

“I can’t give you specifics, but I’m not lying to you.”

“Is she, like, in witness protection?” Fluffy Hair persisted.

“Again, I can’t tell you anything else.” Reaching into his back pocket for his wallet, he opened it up and pulled out two fifties, holding them up for the kids to see. “Please, delete the video.”

The kid flipped his phone down and pulled up his camera roll. Rick released a breath when he saw the video was gone. “I did.”

Rick slapped the money into his hand. “Thanks for your cooperation, guys.”

“Sure.” They passed by him in front of Kaylee’s house and hollered in unison. “Bye, Kaylee.”

She gave them a weak wave, and Rick returned to her and Paulette, noticing how pale Kaylee was.

“Did they delete it?” she whispered.

He nodded. “Do you see why it’s so important to come with me? You aren’t safe here.”

Paulette cleared her throat. “I take offense to that. We are more than capable of protecting Kaylee.”

“Not against these men. They are ruthless, cold-blooded murderers. They won’t hesitate to bulldoze through everyone in this town to get to her.”

“Can I go back inside, Paulette?” Kaylee asked, twisting her hands in front of her.

“Sure, sweetheart,” Paulette said gently as if she were comforting a child. “But stay put, all right? Whatever else, I don’t want to have to put you in handcuffs for an extradition order.”

“I understand.” She sounded so defeated, Rick almost choked on his guilt.

What do you have to feel guilty about? She’s the one refusing to do the right thing.

And he wasn’t wrong about this town. They needed to be someplace where invisibility and anonymity were possible. Not in freaking Stars Hollow!

Rick realized his inner thoughts kept returning to his comfort show and decided he needed to expand his viewing queue.