Witness in the Dark (Love Under Fire #1)(82)

“I didn’t have a lot of time.” Once Garrett had been given permission to sign on as long-distance protection, he’d just wanted to get into position as quickly as possible.

“You know she already has plenty of protection.”

Garrett nodded, having seen the sharpshooters in place around the Bird Cage. “She can’t have enough, if you ask me.”

“I certainly wouldn’t turn anyone away.” Thorne peered through the spotting scope set up in front of the window. It was trained in on Sam’s bedroom. “Although I am worried for both of you.”

“I would never let anything happen to her,” Garrett assured him.

“Short of breaking her heart, you mean.” Thorne’s brow rose. “She’s still hurting. I can tell. At first I thought she didn’t know how to deal with a father returning from the dead, but I see now, it’s your fault.”

Way to cut out his heart. “What should I do?” Garrett asked. “Tell me how to fix it, and I will. Anything.”

“Stop sending her gifts, to start with.”

“I made a promise. I didn’t want to let her down.”

The lawn chair squeaked as Thorne sat. “I can’t help but think you and I are both letting her down.”

Garrett didn’t agree. At least not about Thorne. “She’s always wanted a father. I know the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I think she’s happy to have you in her life.”

“Maybe. But it’s still so awkward between us.” Thorne ran a hand through his graying hair. “I guess it will get better. I hope so.”

“You’re both new at this.” Garrett paused before asking a very important question. “Are you going to be able to see her after she goes into WITSEC?”

Thorne straightened in his chair and nodded. “I made arrangements. I couldn’t bear to walk out of her life again after just getting her back.”

Garrett nodded, happy that she would still have her family—as small as it might be.

“Good. But how do I walk away?” Garrett asked, feeling desperate for some way to end his pain. “How do I move on?”

“You’re asking the wrong person.” Thorne said wryly. “I never moved on. But good luck to you.” He stood and left the apartment as quietly as he’d entered.

When Garrett got back to his seat, Sam had entered her bedroom. He positioned himself at his telescope and watched as she stepped closer to the window. She looked right at him.

She touched the necklace around her neck and said, “Thank you.”

The smart thing would have been to let it go. The better thing would have been to pack up his few things and leave. Go take that vacation Thorne had forced on him. Instead he picked up his phone and sent her a text.

You’re welcome. Go to sleep.

She smiled and closed her eyes. He felt a burn in his heart at the sight of her smile. A smile he hadn’t seen in three long months.

How was he supposed to just walk away? Soon she would be ripped from his life anyway. He wouldn’t know where she was or if she was happy. Wouldn’t it be better just to do it now?

Let her go.

Move on.





Chapter Sixty-Eight


Sam picked at her breakfast the next morning and wiggled into her bulletproof vest, her nerves jangling.

Hugh had warned her that the defense could drag out the cross-examination for days, to wear her down. But she was ready. All her sacrifice came down to this.

She took a deep breath and walked into the court room, prepared for the worst.

“The defense calls Samantha Hutchinson to the stand.” Howe’s attorney announced.

She got up and went to the box.

“Ms. Hutchinson, the court reminds you that you are still under oath,” the judge said sternly.

“Yes.” She took her seat.

Howe had three men sitting at the defense table with him, each wearing an expensive suit. The first one got up and managed to ask Sam questions to bring out that she was an only child of a single alcoholic mother whose father was never in the picture.

She wondered how many only children or single mothers were sitting on the jury.

That lawyer took his seat and the next one got up. He went back to the basics. Her name, age, and where she grew up, making Chicago sound like a despicable place to live.

He asked how long she’d been in the drama club and whether she’d aspired to be an actress.

“I guess when I was little I might have wanted to be an actress, like all little girls. Actress, astronaut, president of the United States, princess.” She couldn’t resist that last one. She saw Angel flinch slightly.

“But you have acted in the past, correct?”

“Yes.”

“You have pretended to be someone you’re not.”

“I believe that’s what actors do.”

“In fact, Ms. Hutchinson, isn’t it true that you faked your own death and have misrepresented yourself across state lines with fraudulent identification?”

“Uh, no. That was the U.S. Marshal Service,” she said, astounded at their nerve. “And if they hadn’t, the defendant’s hired assassins would have killed me by now.” She didn’t bother to hide her disdain. She glared at Congressman Howe.

“Assassins? Who are you referring to, exactly?” the lawyer questioned.