Page 89 of Hidden Depths

“You didn’t tell me it would kick like that. I was already a mess. After that, the only other thing I could think of to do was jump into the water. I climbed through the mangroves before running for my life. I don’t know how he didn’t catch me.”

He took a second to process, then said, “I’m proud of you.”

“You shouldn’t be. It was all God. There’s no other explanation.”

“Still, that would have been…A lot of people would have clammed up. Most people give in. But not you.”

“I just can’t believe you’re alive. You don’t know how happy I am to be talking with you right now.”

“We can celebrate later. Right now I have a very pressing concern.”

“What?”

He nodded down at her outfit. “That.”

“I climbed though mangroves and swam across an inlet before walking for hours. I was a covered in mud and who knows what else. I went to my house first to get cleaned up.”

Tom put a hand up to stop her. “You what? That was the last thing you should have done.”

She bit down on her lip. “It didn’t matter. They burned it. All that was left was a shell when I got there.”

“It was probably for the best. They would have had someone watching, and you wouldn’t be here right now. But that doesn’t explain the clothes. Did you steal them from a second-hand store bin or something?”

“The only other place I knew to go to was the church. I found Margaret there, and she took me home and let me borrow some of her stuff.” She plucked at the shirt. “She picked it out. Not me. And I’ve ruined it. I tore it when I went through the fence.”

“I don’t think she’ll mind considering the circumstances.” He smiled an impish grin. “But it’s a nice outfit she gave you.”

“Are you making fun of me when I almost died?”

“Not at all. You look…different. I didn’t know it was you back at the shed, which means Balthazar or Dodd or anyone else looking for you won’t recognize you either.”

“That’s why Margaret picked it out. But where do we go from here? I’m hoping you have a better plan than I have.”

“You’rehopingI have a better one?”

“I won’t know until you tell me.”

“You never like my plans. And yes, I do have one. Peter’s sending down his friend. Once she’s here, it might be a good idea if you stay with Margaret and Frank while we do what we need to.”

“They’re not at home anymore. I made them leave for a friend’s house.”

“Please tell me this friend is in Key West.”

“No. I wanted them off the island. I didn’t want to risk anything happening to them. I don’t know what Dodd or Balthazar know about me, and if they made the connection…”

“I see your point. It was a smart move, all things considered. Is there anyone else you can stay with?”

“No. I won’t risk anyone else’s lives. I’m here now. I can help.”

“We’ve had this argument.”

“No. Everything’s changed now.”

“How so? From where I’m standing, it’s the same except that you’re stuck here because Dodd’s watching the road out.”

“Exactly. God closed the door for me to leave. You can’t deny that.”

“Fine. I won’t. But just because God might want you here doesn’t mean He wants you putting yourself in any more danger.”

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