Page 111 of In the Air Tonight

I take a few sips and put down the glass. “I should go back to New York. They won’t know how to find me there.”

“Is that what you want to do?”

“No, it’s not, but I won’t bring this nonsense to your home.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle, and I’d much rather have you here with me where I can keep you safe than off by yourself in the big city.”

“Who will keep you safe if they come for me?”

“I can take care of myself and you.”

Houston’s SUV comes into the yard and skids to a stop. He’s looking at the thing on my stoop when we emerge from Jack’s house. “Animal control is coming to clean this up.”

I cross my arms, wishing the trembling would stop. “Ryder is indicted because of my testimony and this lands on my stoop the next day. That’s not a coincidence, is it?”

“Probably not.”

“So people already know it was me who came forward?”

“I haven’t seen that reported anywhere, but you know how word gets around.”

I also know there’s someone else who saw what I did, who’d know exactly who the eyewitness is. Who else could it be? “You should talk to Sienna Elliott.” After this, I have no reason to protect her.

“Is that right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll do that. I’ve stepped up patrols on the street, but I’m not sure how much of a deterrent that’ll be. We only have three officers on duty at any given time.”

“I’ll hire private security,” Jack says.

“No. I’ll leave. I’ll go somewhere else.”

He puts an arm around me. “You’re safer with me than you’d be alone.”

“I can’t put you in danger.”

“Don’t worry about me. I want to be there for you.”

Houston gives us a curious look. “It’s like that, is it?”

“It is,” Jack says with a warm smile for me. “And I have you to thank.”

“I’m glad for you guys, but please be careful.”

“We will be,” Jack says.

“This is the rough part, Blaise. We talked about this. When word gets out that you’re the witness, people will pressure you to recant. People you love will pressure you.”

“That won’t matter. I won’t recant.” Nothing could convince me to do that, even threats to my safety.

Jack squeezes my shoulder in a show of support.

“Stay strong,” Houston says as he heads back to his SUV. “Animal control will be here shortly.”

After he drives off, Jack takes my hand to lead me inside. He pours me a cup of coffee and puts the cream on the counter.

“Thanks.”

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