Page 43 of Last Chance

“It’s disturbing. Let’s go back to the shop, and I’ll talk to you about the box. In a few minutes, the leader of the bomb squad will talk to you and your employees.”

“Perhaps the box was delivered to my shop by mistake.”

Sawyer couldn’t help himself. He cupped her nape. “I don’t think so.” After brushing her cheek with his thumb, Sawyer shut her door and circled the hood to climb behind the wheel. He drove to the back of the shop and parked beside Jesse.

Sawyer exited the vehicle and scanned the area along with Jesse before helping the women to the pavement and inside the shop.

As soon as they were inside with the door closed, Janie rounded on Sawyer. “Tell me what’s going on.”

He clasped her hand and led her to one stool, keeping possession of her hand. “The box contained a doll.”

“A doll?”

“It’s dressed exactly like you were on the day of the hijacking. Same color hair and hairstyle. No question that it’s supposed to represent you.”

“Maybe it’s a gift from a customer or a friend,” Jada suggested.

“No.” Sawyer squeezed Janie’s hand. “It’s not.” Putting off telling her wouldn’t soften the blow. Just needed to tell it straight out and deal with the fallout. “The doll has a knife plunged to the hilt in its chest.”

Blood drained from her face. “I need to see it.”

“Janie….”

“Please, Sawyer. Not seeing the doll makes my imagination fill in the gaps, and it’s not pretty.”

“The real thing isn’t, either,” he warned.

“Please,” she murmured.

Sawyer didn’t blame her. He’d want to see the evidence himself if he was in her place. Grabbing his phone, he brought up the picture and showed it to her.

Janie gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth as she paled even further.

Jesse was on his feet in an instant. “Head down. Do you have a refrigerator in here, Jada?”

The woman pointed to a room next to the prep room.

The medic left only to return in seconds with a cold pack that he laid on the back of Janie’s neck. “Deep breaths, Janie. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”

She did as he ordered. Soon, her color had returned and Sawyer helped her sit up again. “Okay now?” he asked.

She nodded. “Sorry. I didn’t expect to react like that. I feel like a wuss.”

“You’re not. That isn’t a common sight, especially when the doll is meant as a threat.”

“Still, I feel stupid. I’m sorry, Sawyer. I should have trusted you and not insisted on seeing the doll for myself.”

He cupped her chin with his palm. “Stop,” he murmured. “If I was the target, I’d insist on seeing the evidence for myself.”

“Bet you wouldn’t have almost passed out,” she muttered.

“You’d be wrong. There have been plenty of times when I’ve reacted much the same while on the job.” The sight of his first dead body came to mind. He’d barely made it outside before he’d upchucked. They had all been green once. Now, he and his teammates were jaded. They’d seen and dealt with too much to remain innocent of the worst mankind could do to fellow members of humanity.

A quick, hard knock sounded on the door. Jesse palmed his weapon as Sawyer moved to stand in front of Janie, his own weapon in hand.

Jesse opened the door a crack, then swung it wide to admit Harmon and one of his team members.

The bomb squad leader focused on Sawyer, who stepped to Janie’s side and holstered his weapon. The teammate looked hard at him. Let him look. His job was to protect Janie. End of story.

---