Frigid Affair(46)

Christopher flailed in my arms, screaming for his daddy to hold him. He didn’t understand why these men were taking his father away. “This is a mistake. You can’t do this.”

“We’re taking him down the station. You’re welcome to come down and contact a lawyer if you feel the need.”

Jensen stared at me, his eyes filling with pain and anguish. I didn’t know what to do. My heart was steady beating out of my chest as I watched him being escorted to the back of the police SUV.

Warm tears fell down my cheeks, while I contemplated how I should handle this. My future was being taken away from me, and without a solid lead on the men responsible, it was possible Jensen would be charged and sent to prison without the chance of being released.

This was a catastrophe and entirely my fault.





Chapter 20


The snow was too deep for me to get to the top of the mountain and dig out my truck. Besides it taking entirely too long, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to make it down the steep trails without getting stuck.

I headed into the garage where two vehicles sat. One was Jensen’s truck, and the other was the one that Bob and Eve kept to use when they visited.

I grabbed the keys off the holder and rushed toward Jensen’s vehicle, turning the ignition to see if it would start up. Then I looked around for something I could use as a makeshift car seat. Mine was still frozen inside of my truck, covered in a few feet of blown snow at the top of the mountain. The carport I’d had built didn’t keep it as clean as I would have hoped. After a few blistering storms I couldn’t even see it.

I took the seat that hooked to the kitchen table for Christopher and put it in the middle of the back. Once I had him fastened, I brought the belt through it and checked to make sure it was secure. It was important to keep him safe, no matter how slow I had to drive.

Bob and Eve’s house was right off the main road. As long as I could use the tracks the cops had made, I’d be able to make it to the police station in about forty minutes.

By the time we were both in the vehicle and the garage door was opening, the truck had heated. I ran back in the house and grabbed us both coats, and then Christopher’s diaper bag. When he peed in the cloth he had to be changed immediately or else he’d get a rash. While I was in town I’d pick up some disposables to hold us over until this situation was managed.



As much as I wanted to floor it, I knew I had to be careful. I clenched the steering wheel and started the long journey down the mountain to save the father of my child.

While he cried in the back, I remained focused. I didn’t know how we were going to get through this. As soon as I came to the first gas station I stopped and dug through the diaper bag, pulling out my cell phone that hadn’t been used in weeks. I closed my eyes and prayed it would still be charge when I powered it on.

I didn’t waste time checking to see how much time I’d have to talk. I quickly scrolled and found the number to their Florida house, holding it up to my ear and praying they’d pick up.

“Hello?”

“Bob, it’s Amantha.”

“Have the police come yet?”

“That’s why I’m calling. You’ve got it all wrong. Jensen didn’t rob you. He stumbled upon the fire and saved me. He didn’t even know those men.”

“Is that the story he told you? We’ve been on the phone with the authorities all day. Did you know Jensen was from Pennsylvania? Were you aware his wife died on the same day as your parents?”

“Yes. Not at first, but yes, I know.”

“The police say he dropped off the face of the earth for four years, only to resurface in the exact spot you were. They think he turned to a life of crime in order to get to you. He’s conning you, dear. We had to contact them. Eve knew you were in danger.”

“I’m not. Jensen isn’t that man. You have it all wrong. Please. You have to help me. He’s the father of my son. He didn’t steal from you or set your house on fire to cover it up. He’d never do that.”

“Amantha, Jensen was a fireman. He knows exactly how to start a fire to hide any evidence. You can’t really think he’s innocent. Too many things make sense.”

I cried, staring into the truck at the little boy who’d never understand why his daddy couldn’t come home. “No. It’s not true. He wasn’t with those men,” I argued.

“I’ve been talking to Eve. We’re going to send you money for two tickets to Florida. Come and stay with us until we know he’s out of our lives. We’ll help you in any way we can.”

Was this man seriously not listening to me? How was I supposed to convince them? “You are pressing charges against an innocent man.”

“Amantha, the police had pegged him for a dozen other crimes with the same ammo.”

“Bob, you can believe what you want, but I know Jensen isn’t responsible. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m sorry, but I’m hanging up now. I’ll make sure to leave your house as we left it once I can figure out how to free him. I appreciate you offering to help me, but you might have ruined my chance at happiness. I have to go try to save the man I love, before he gets locked up for crimes he had nothing to do with.”

I hung up the phone and immediately got back on my way. There was still a lot of miles to cover before I got to Anchorage.