Deadly Testimony (Safeguard #2)(18)

Despite the strain of walking, not running, the past several blocks, Kyle smiled as he accepted the offered trilby. Isabelle was being absolutely serious. Perhaps she didn’t realize how ridiculous her demand sounded out of context, but he had to admire her focus. And he’d be more than happy to hand over the impromptu wig.

To her credit, she’d gotten him out of the building and quietly murmured instructions as she directed him into the crowded chaos of Pike Place Market. He thought she’d wanted him dead when she’d insisted he walk. They’d become lost in the press of people and come out on the other end of the market. Without her, he’d have bolted most likely.

“Why didn’t we run?” He’d been wondering the entire nerve-racking journey. Hadn’t asked because they were out in the open and the look in her eyes had threatened dire consequences if he stopped to ask questions.

They’d just entered a coffee shop tucked just below street level on First Street and she’d herded him toward the restroom. It seemed to be a recurring theme today.

“Quickest way to draw attention on a crowded street is to move at speed in the opposite direction of everyone else.” Isabelle answered him in a matter-of-fact tone, pitched low for only his ears. “So we walked. We went with the flow for a half block before breaking away in our own direction. Now change before anyone checks you out long enough to remember you the way you look now.”

The café was only half-full. The other patrons were lingering unhurriedly over cups of coffee or espresso, reading or chatting quietly with a companion. No one was near enough to overhear them and none had given them a second glance.

Of course, Seattle was full of unusual personalities. He rather doubted anyone would find him interesting enough to remember. But she was the expert.

“Are we staying here long?”

She glowered at him, clearly irritated. He only waited. He’d followed her directions to the letter earlier, without question. This was a lull in their movement and he needed a break from unquestioning obedience. Otherwise, he’d be too tempted to make a bad decision later when it might matter more.

Or at least, that was the way he rationalized it to himself. Isabelle very likely had her own opinion on his current dallying. He struggled for a moment, on the edge of apologizing and going to do as she’d said. She was keeping him alive for God’s sake.

And she acted like she wanted him to remain that way. There was no resentment, no dirty look, no grimace at anything they’d had to do so far. She hadn’t treated him like a job or a paycheck. She’d acted with immediate urgency, like she valued his life. Outside his actual family, she might be a first.

Before he could apologize, she ground out an answer to his question. “Awhile. I want to log on via a private proxy server and decide on our next move. They’ll be searching the streets in a wider search pattern by now and it’d be better to be out of easy sight until we know exactly where we’re headed.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. He could use the time to regain his balance. Then maybe he could get his more ridiculous impulses under control and quit giving her a hard time. “The coffee flight, then.”

“What?” If possible her glower grew deeper and a spark of temper flared up in her gaze.

She was too much fun to tease.

He lifted a chin to indicate the menu behind the coffee bar. “I’ll take the coffee flight while we wait. It’ll calm my nerves.”

Okay, maybe not quit entirely. But he’d try to keep his teasing in reasonable parameters if he had something else to occupy his attention.

“Take your time in the restroom. I’ll keep an eye on anyone coming in from here.” She was already turning away from him, her gaze sweeping the café.

The men’s restroom was clean and compact. He opted to head into a stall to make the changes she’d requested rather than have an awkward moment if someone walked in to see him changing his outfit. It took only a few minutes but he paused to wash his hands and splash his face with water. Now that they weren’t on the move, his hands had begun to shake with delayed reaction.

There’d been shots fired on part of his security detail. That was all he’d learned so far. And it’d been Isabelle who’d acted quickly, calmly, and gotten him out of the area. He’d been right to hire her.

What if he hadn’t?

Any number of possibilities blossomed in his mind but the recurring image in every scenario had him dead. Shot full of holes. There were no second chances unless a person managed to stay alive.

He needed a second chance, not for himself but for people who would be depending on him. Soon.

He stared at himself in the mirror. A part of his brain still narcissistic enough to care noted he was looking somewhat haggard. Dark circles were forming under his eyes. Coffee would help. A full night’s sleep would help more. But he hadn’t had one since he’d cut his deal and gone into protective custody.

The events of today only served to convince him there was something completely irregular about this trial. Perhaps Isabelle Scott would have insight he hadn’t considered yet. She’d certainly exceeded anything anyone else had accomplished so far when it came to his situation.

He found her physicality extremely attractive and he was about to see if she proved to be equally remarkable in terms of intelligence. The anticipation was enough to gain control of his earlier panic for the moment.