Page 2 of Big Daddy Sheriff

“Ms. Mills, is everything alright?”

“I think someone is…” She took a closer look, then closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile turning her lips upward. “It’s a cop.”

“Yes. I’ve asked a unit to stop by your place. Do you have somewhere you can go?”

Alyssa opened her eyes to see the black and white patrol SUV now idling in front of the driveway, just a few feet away. Two officers sat inside. One offered a short but friendly wave.

“I need to go somewhere?” she asked.

Her brain was still struggling to make sense of all this.

“Obviously, I can’t make you. But I would, if I were you and I had the means. We can’t do around-the-clock protection. You know how backlogged the police are.”

Alyssa nodded, though the detective obviously couldn’t see the gesture.

“Why did the D.A. drop the charges?” she asked.

It didn’t really matter.What’s done is done,she noted silently. But she still had a right to know.

“A technicality on evidence. Ms. Foster’s attorneys did some legal acrobatics. But we aren’t done. The prosecutors want to regroup and move forward, but it will take a while. Until then… well, Ms. Foster was released from prison this morning.”

“She’s free? Right now?”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s why I suggest you go somewhere and lay low. Do you have some place?—”

“Yes,” Alyssa said quickly.

With her free hand, she gave the two patrolmen in the SUV a wave. They both returned the gesture.

“Will the officers stay here while I pack?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’ll even give you an escort to city limits.”

Alyssa hurried back up the inclined driveway, moving so fast she was practically huffing by the time she bounded onto her front porch and unlocked the door.

“Thank you for the call.”

“Will you testify when the time comes?”

“Uh… yeah. Sure.”

“Good. I can reach you on this number?”

“Sure.”

Alyssa thought of telling the detective where she was going. She trusted her. But the less people knew, the better.

“Thank you,” Willingham said. “Stay safe. Call me anytime if you need me.”

“I will,” Alyssa said.

Though it wouldn’t do any good,she thought, once the call had ended.

She grabbed a rolling suitcase from the closet, spread it open on her bed, and hastily began to fill it.

Detective Willingham means well, but she won’t have any jurisdiction where I’m going.

Because I’m getting out of Arkansas. I’m going to Oklahoma.

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