Page 154 of To Die For

Then the two started discussing something that might provide an opening both to Devine and Jackson. The focus of the conversation was a certain someone at the government center, and what they were doing there.

Once, King looked over at her. Jackson was staring down at her food and pretending to have trouble with her fork. From the corner of her eye, she could see King’s gaze boring into her. She waitedfor any sign of recognition on the other woman’s features, but then King looked away and continued her conversation.

An hour later Nick paid the bill and left King sitting there. King ordered another glass of wine. After it was brought, the woman thumbed through her phone, perhaps sending texts, emails, or death threats, mused Jackson.

After finishing her wine, King rose to leave.

A few moments later, Jackson sensed a presence next to her table.

King said, “Are you visiting our fair city?”

Jackson peered up at her, trying to discern if the woman had recognized her and was just playing coy.

In her old lady voice, with pauses to snort on the O2line, Jackson said, “Just passing through. I’m on my way to visit my daughter in Idaho. Little place right across the state line. Need to see my new grandbaby.”

“Well, I’m the mayor here, so if there’s anything I can do to make your stay better, you just let me know.”

She slipped a card from her pocket and passed it across to Jackson.

“Honey, I sure appreciate that,” replied Jackson, putting the card away. “And what a cute town you got here.”

“Thank you.”

She watched King flounce out of the place.

Yes,flounceis the right word, thought Jackson.

God help you, Anne, when I’m done with you. But then again not even God will be able to put you back together again.

CHAPTER

70

LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT STORM,”said Devine as he drove along. They were about twenty minutes away from the Odoms’ home in Kittitas.

Odom had her headphones on and didn’t respond. He had seen earlier that she was watching a movie on her phone.

He had alerted Shore and Rose and given them an ETA. Rose promised that a delicious meal would be awaiting them.

Devine had continually checked the traffic behind him and seen nothing unusual. But that told him that there was probably an army of agents tailing them. He was also sure that Danny Glass would have some of his minions around Kittitas, since the man clearly did not trust the feds to do a proper job.

He glanced at Odom and thought about the promise he’d made to her uncle. That he would sacrifice his life to save hers. Devine had done that very thing in combat, taken an oath and exhibited a willingness to sacrifice his life for his country so that his fellow citizens could live free and in peace.

He had shaken Glass’s hand on it, perhaps an old-fashioned touch, but it had meant something to Glass obviously. And it had meant something to Devine as well.

However, this really had nothing to do with Glass. This had to do with a twelve-year-old girl named Betsy Odom to whom life had dealt an unfair hand and who really had no one else to protect her now, other than Devine.

So if it came to it, he would lay down his life for hers, even though he’d known her only a few days.

Even though it feels like years.

Later, they came to a stop in front of the trailer. The door opened and there stood a smiling Nate Shore. He helped with the bags after hugging Odom and shaking Devine’s hand.

Devine whispered to him, “We need to talk about… stuff.”

“Damn right we do,” said Shore, the smile gone.

“Hey, Bets,” exclaimed Rose, who came out of the kitchen wearing a full-length white chef’s apron.

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