Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Autumn’s breath gusted from her mouth. “Let him in,” she told Sam. Sam looked at her suspiciously, but she tipped her chin. “The first day I came to live with Bill, he took me out to dinner in town and told me I should order whatever I wanted. I ordered Boston cream doughnuts. Only people who’ve known me since I was fourteen know that. Plus,” she added, “if the guy on the other side of the door wanted to harm us, would he really be waiting for us to open this rickety door instead of merely kicking it in?” She’d whispered all that, and Sam squinted as he listened. She implored him with her eyes. They’d just been wrestling with what came next, and now this man was here—this agent—sent by someone she trusted more than almost anyone in the world. And he was offering them help through the door as if he’d shown up in answer to their call.
He glanced to the rickety door and then back to her, his shoulders lowering, apparently conceding at least that point.
“We need help, Sam. Maybe he can offer some.”
“And if he can’t?”
“He leaves, and then we do too.”
His eyes moved over her face, and something resolute came into his expression. She saw his muscles loosen, and then he stuffed his weapon in the back waistband of his jeans and walked to the door.
When he opened it, a good-looking older man stood on the other side, his mostly gray hair cut short, wearing jeans and a fleece-lined canvas jacket. His eyes went to Sam, his expression registering no surprise, as though he’d expected to see the very large, white-haired man standing next to Autumn.
“I’m only here to offer help. I’m not a threat, I promise. I know you both were at Deercroft that day, and I know you’re both innocent,” the agent said.
Next to her, Sam was very still. And she had no doubt that should it become necessary, he would use the weapon in his waistband or fight this man. But though she had no idea who this agent was or how he’d found them, her gut told her he wasn’t a threat. At least not physically. And at least not yet. She looked past him. He’d come alone.
“How…how did you find us?” Autumn asked.
“I located you after watching hours of street camera footage. I retraced your steps to your social worker. She was able to give me your name.”
Fear continued to creep through her system. Would this agent ask them to come with him? What was Sam going to do? He’d made it clear to her he would not be taken into custody. I’ve done illegal things.
“May I please come in?” the agent asked. “I’d like to explain more about who I am and the agency I work for. And I think we can all help each other quite a bit.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Mark rubbed his hands together, the warmth of the fire easing the cold from his bones. He looked across at where Autumn and the man she’d introduced as simply Sam sat staring at him cautiously.
How familiar this was. Yet how apprehensive he still felt. He’d experienced a buzz of excitement driving here, knowing he was likely about to meet one of them. But he never knew how one of them was going to react. Or behave. Or…accept.
Sam. His name was Sam. And he was tall and big and muscular just like all of them were. Only Sam’s looks had surprised him. While most of them shared the same linebacker build—at least thus far—Sam was different. His hair was an unlikely shade of white, while his skin was tan and his eyes almost black. His coloring was very unusual to say the least. Something had been done to him, and though curiosity drummed within, so did dread. Mark almost didn’t want to guess at what had been used to achieve such a thing or the justification behind it.
“First, I want you to know, I’m not here to arrest you, detain you, or anything of the sort. I’m hoping for your cooperation because I’m looking for the truth, but I’m also here to offer you the help I believe you need.”
“Help us?” Autumn asked. Sam simply stared.
“Yes. I’m prepared to give you temporary housing and any protection you might need while we sort all this out.”
“Even though we didn’t come forward after the shooting?” Autumn glanced at Sam. She was obviously choosing her words carefully, though Mark sensed she was more concerned about him.
Autumn leaned infinitesimally closer to Sam. Mark wondered if she even knew she’d done it. And it eased his worry, because from what he knew of this girl, she was rational, and she was beloved. It had to mean she had more than a modicum of good judgment. And she’d obviously deemed this man worthy of her affection, if not more.