Page 81 of Small Town Hunter

“I’m not leaving until I can talk to somebody. As in theReverend,” Trina declares imperiously. She crosses over to me. “Get Reverend Wilson down here immediately.”

“The honorable Reverend is golfing!”

“At Houston Sunny Acres? I can wait,” says Trina firmly.

“Well maybe this is for the best,” the jailer sneers. “I got both of you right here together. The Reverend will talk the super into raisin’ my pay. Maybe you just did me a favor.”

“You’re welcome,” says Trina. “Please, may I have some water?”

I’m not the only one her sweet charm works on. The man brings a lukewarm bottle out, and Trina gives me my first sip of water in hours.

“Thank you,” I tell her.

“You lookterrible, Crash.”

“I’m fine.”

Gently she touches my cheek and takes a look at the damage on the back of my head. “Whathappened?”

“Wild animal,” I summarize.

“Who put those stitches in your head?” She feels my forehead with a cool, soft hand. “You’re hot as blazes!”

I grab her arm as she starts digging in the duffel bag. “Get out of here.”

She shrugs me off. “I can’t leave you here like this.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You won’t,” she hisses. “The only way you survive is if I make a deal with Reverend Wilson.”

She’s assuming he won’t kill us both. I saw the man point a loaded gun at her, and I don’t like those odds.

“Don’t argue,” I growl.

“You’re never going to believe this,” she says, ignoring me. “It was Jada who told me where you were.Jada Gambino.”

“Where is that bitch?” Crocodile pipes up irritably from his cell. “She was supposed to come get me out of here.”

“I don’t know, er, Mister Crocodile,” Trina apologizes. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

“She had better be or she’s working a double shift tomorrow,” Crocodile says grumpily.

Trina turns back to me. “Jada also told me you were looking for a redheaded man.” Her eyes meet mine. “Like the one who just left.”

I don’t say anything. Doesn’t matter, anyway. McCall is gone. Maybe I should have taken his deal. Not for my sake, but Trina’s. I could have used his help getting out of here. Then I could get Trina to safety.

Nevermind that I can barely keep my eyes open much less stand upright. I blink at her beautiful face through feverish delirium. She’s braver than I thought.

“What did you want with that man, Crash? And don’t tell me to leave again because the answer is no.”

“Can’t tell you.”

“Yes,you can,” she snaps. “I hitchhiked all the way back here to rescue your butt, and the least you can do is tell me the truth!”

“You want the truth?”

“Yes!” She says, rifling through the duffel bag. “Who is he?”

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