Page 11 of The Making of Marnie Jones

Maybe they still considered her a newcomer in town, even after four years, but, more likely, she sent out signals that precluded giving solace. “Why didn’t you fly back to Toronto?”

He hesitated, seemed to wage an internal battle, then finally, took a deep breath and spoke. “I planned to. I had my laptop out to book the ticket, but Wolf called. They’ve put Olivia on a fourteen-day psychiatric hold because of her attempted suicide. They’re not letting anyone in to see her for now, not even family.”

“Still, surely it’d be better to be in Toronto. What’s keeping you here?” She suspected the answer but wanted to hear it from him.

“You.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not giving up on convincing you to come back to Toronto with me.”

“You have no idea what you’re asking.” All he saw was a woman who’d survived seven years of captivity and therefore could help his niece who’d endured a similar horror. If he recognized her pain, he didn’t show it. Yet he didn’t seem insensitive. In fact, she’d have pegged him as the opposite. She picked up her sub, eyed it warily, then set it back down. Her appetite had fled.

“So talk to me.”

His tone beseeched, and it spoke to her.

“If you don’t think I understand, then make me. Explain to me how you can turn away from a young woman who needs your help.”

She stood smoothly, fighting down the flash of anger that heated her cheeks. “You promised that you wouldn’t do that, Jake. You promised you wouldn’t push.” When he began to rise, she held up her hand. “Finish your lunch.”

“What about you?” He pointed to her half-eaten meal.

“I’ve lost my appetite.” She fought a wave of nausea. “Don’t follow me—just leave me alone. Please.” Her voice was a broken whisper. “Don’t come around again. Go back to Toronto and help your niece, because I sure can’t.” She turned and walked out.

She trudged back to work, thinking about her decision to move here four years ago. Aside from the fact this place was about as far from Toronto as she could get while still living in Canada, Mission City was a good place to hide out. No one except Seth knew about her past. Here, she had anonymity, which was impossible in Canada’s largest city. Living in obscurity in Toronto ought to have been easy, but everyone there seemed to know Laura Derks. Or at least they assumed they did. In the end, running was her only option.

Loriana was chatting with Miss Edna when Marnie returned, but she atypically hurried the treasured patron along. She was respectful and tactful, but also firmly showed the elderly woman to the door.

Curiosity piqued, Marnie waited for Loriana to return to the circulation desk. When her boss pointed to the back room, she followed.

“What do you know about Jake McGrath?”

Marnie raised her eyebrows. “Not much.” With unsteady hands, she hung her bag on the coat rack. “I only met him yesterday.”

“But you googled him, right?”

Swallowing a sudden lump in her throat, Marnie shook her head. It’d never occurred to her to do something like that. How stupid was that? Some stranger showed up on her doorstep, and she didn’t question how he’d found her? Upon hearing Olivia’s name, she’d dropped some of her defenses. Now she was going to pay for that.

“Well, I did.” Loriana’s gaze sharpened. “I knew I’d seen him somewhere before, and I couldn’t figure out where, but now I realize I’ve seen him on television.” She pointed to the older-model computer in the storeroom's corner. “You might be interested in what I found.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t quite work.

Now Marnie was not just unsettled, concern overwhelmed her. “What is it?”

Loriana hedged. “It might be nothing, and you might not care, but I suspect you will. You’ve never talked to me about your past, and I’ve respected that, but I’ve always wondered.” She cleared her throat, and her beautiful eyes were full of compassion. “Know you can talk to me, okay?”

Marnie’s boss left her alone. She swallowed the lump in her throat and tamped down the panic banding across her chest. Ok, she was only putting off the inevitable. Sighing, she dropped into the chair and read.

Anger flooded through her, and she became a volcano ready to explode.

Chapter five

Jakeglancedathiswatch for the third time in as many minutes. Marnie’s lunch break was in about five minutes, but he wanted to make sure he arrived just in time. Although he was confident of her boss’s reaction to him, he knew Marnie wouldn’t be as accepting of his presence. Still, he couldn’t walk away.Olivia. He was doing this for his niece, and although her situation had become less urgent now he knew her whereabouts, it was no less dire.

Suicide.His niece had attempted to kill herself. Once again, he’d failed her.

Showtime.He left the warmth of outdoors and headed into the library.

Loriana was speaking to a woman who pushed a baby stroller back and forth, but broke off when she saw him. She placed her hand on the woman’s arm. “Deanne, can you excuse me? I need to speak to someone.”

The attractive woman turned the stroller and headed out.

Shit.

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