Christmas Justice (Carder Texas Connections #7)(63)
She gasped. Her shaky hand covered her mouth.
“How do you know? Did you...?”
“No. Of course not.” She’d been taught not to believe anyone but Charlie. He had no idea how she would react now. He’d have to keep a close eye on her during the ride. “I know this is a lot to digest.”
She sat there tight-lipped, looking as though she’d bolt if given the chance.
“This is real. You’re in danger. I’m here to help.”
Her angry glare trained on him. “Prove he’s dead.”
“Can’t. Not tonight, anyway.”
“Why? Shouldn’t there be a news report? A U.S. Marshal dying should make the headlines.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Then explain it to me slowly.” She clenched her jaw muscles. Impatience and fear radiated from her narrow-eyed glare.
With her wavy brown hair pulled off her face in a ponytail, she could pass for a coed. Her lips were full, sexy. Not that they were his business. “He was found in his bed. A bullet through his brain. The agency is keeping his death under wraps.”
“Oh, God. He was a nice man.”
Nick bit out a derisive snort. “Good guys don’t get in bed with the enemy.”
“Are you saying what I think you are?” she asked incredulously.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t believe you. He brought me here. Set me up with this job. He would not help them.”
He arched his brow. “Because he did a few nice things for you, he can’t possibly turn into one of them?”
She stared at the road in front of them. If she bit down any harder on her bottom lip, she might chew right through it. “Don’t twist my words. I know he was a family man. He cared about his work. I knew him better than you did. He wouldn’t turn on me. Not now. Not after two years. Besides, what would he have to gain in hurting me?”
“Malcolm Grimes has been broken out of jail and someone on the inside helped. Your handler showed up at the prison two days before he escaped.”
Her tight grip on her nerves shattered. Just like when a rubber band broke, Nick could almost see the pieces of rubber splintering in all directions. Her eyes closed. Her fingers pressed to her temples. Her body visibly shook. “He’s out? Just like that?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Her eyes snapped open and her gaze locked on to him. “How can you let that happen? Now he’s free to come after me?” Her voice shook with terror.
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Let me get this straight. Grimes is out, and you automatically suspect Charlie? Wouldn’t he be alive right now if he’d helped?”
“Not if he crossed Grimes. He was executed in his own bed. Someone was making a statement.”
Weariness crept over her face as she gripped the phone, closed her eyes again and rocked back in her seat. “The first thing Grimes does after killing Charlie is come after me? Why? Wouldn’t he figure you’d be waiting for him?”
“Your file’s missing from Charlie’s place.”
She drummed her index finger on the cell.
“I’m supposed to tell you ‘Pandora.’”
The tension in her face eased slightly even though she didn’t speak. Her movement smoothed, timed with her calmer breaths. She stopped tapping on the cell. The safe word resonated. “Any idea why my boss chose Pandora as your safe word?”
“Yeah.”
“Care to fill me in?” It wasn’t as if he was asking for her Social Security number.
“Not really.” A solemn expression settled on her almond-shaped face. “The bakery. Did they blow it up because of me?”
“Most likely.”
“That was all Claire had to support her baby and now it’s gone. Why didn’t they just shoot me straight out?”
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Good question. My guess is they were trying to ensure there’d be no mistakes. Easier to just blow up a building with you in it. Also has the added benefit of looking like it was an accident. It’s tidier. Leaves less of a trail.”
“So, it’s over. Just like that. I walk away from everything I know one more time because of these jerks. I’m on the move again?”
He nodded.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said fiercely.
“I know.”
“Is this what I can expect the rest of my life? Because some guys want to murder and maim me?” She drummed her hands on the dash. Her tension was on the rise again.
“It shouldn’t happen to good people.”
“Save the speech. I’ve heard it before. ‘Nice folks deserve better than this, but we have to do what we can to protect you. It’s not your fault. Sometimes the system doesn’t work.’”
“It’s true.”
She pressed her lips together. “Yeah? Well, your system sucks.”
He could appreciate her anger. When his youngest sister was kidnapped and beaten by a crazed ex-boyfriend, Nick had hunted the teen down and nearly ended up in prison himself. His mom intervened while his grandmother called 911 to stop him from meting out his own justice. Sadie’s haunted expression reminded him of his kid sister.