Page 91 of One Last Promise

“Tillie. Did you see him hurt someone?”

She closed her eyes.

“Killsomeone?”

She swallowed, then slowly nodded. “It happened while I was training for the Iron Maiden. I went in late one night, after I got off work, and I walked in on him in the practice ring, fighting a kid. I think he was seventeen years old. They were sparring, but it had gotten out of hand. The kid was tough and angry and, I don’t know—could be that Rigger just wanted to put him in his place, but . . . I walked in right about the time he got him in a rear naked choke hold and . . . Rigger broke his neck.”

Moose groaned, deep inside his chest.

“I saw it. And Rigger knew I’d seen it. And he told me that if I ever told anyone, he’d do the same to me, but . . . I didn’t care. I walked away, and I was going to tell the cops, but then he paid a visit to Pearl.” She reached up and wiped her cheek. She hadn’t realized she’d been crying. “And that’s when it all went south.”

Suddenly, Moose’s warm hand covered hers, held it.

She turned hers over, threaded her fingers through his. Swallowed. “He came over and beat up Pearl and threatened her and . . . that’s when we left.” There, she’d gotten it out.

His jaw tightened. “Did he hurt you?”

She made a face, then, “Yes. I came in during the attack and I just . . . I lost it. I picked up a tire iron and just . . .”

“I rememberthe tire iron.”

“What?”

“No wonder you attacked me when I came up on you in the parking lot a few months back.”

“Moose, I didn’t?—”

“Hey. Calm down. I get it.”

By the texture of his expression, he did. And that might be worse, because now she was broken, damaged, and crazy in his eyes. . . .

“I really hurt him, I think. And maybe that’s what this is about. He says he wants the money. And Hazel. But I think he just wants to hurt me. Really hurt me.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

His tone cut through her, stiffened her. A fierceness had entered his expression.

“I don’t think you can . . . I mean . . . Ididkidnap Hazel. Sorta.”

“You probably saved her life. And Pearl’s.”

Aw. Now her eyes really glazed. “Pearl already had cancer by then. She lived for two more years after we got to Alaska.”

“Why Alaska?”

“That was Roz’s idea. She was a cop I met at the gym. One of Rigger’s gyms, ironically. I didn’t know where to go, what to do, so I went to her house. Pearl and I were both bleeding, and Hazel was hysterical, and Roz wanted us to press charges, but all I could think was that they’d find out that Pearl had been using, and I was afraid they’d put Hazel in foster care . . . and then somehow, Rigger would get her. . . . I don’t know. I just panicked, I guess. Roz always wanted to live in Alaska, so she fixed us up with a guy named Hecktor who made fake passports. I was afraid that Rigger could track us—I don’t know why. So I drove to Alaska. We’ve been hiding ever since. Roz showed up a few months later and became like a grandma to Hazel.”

“No wonder she fought so hard for you two to get away.”

Tillie nodded, her eyes filling. “Yeah, and I guess she’s the one whotook the money, too.”

“Really?”

“She put it in a safe deposit box, under my name—my fake name—at a nearby bank. The key is at her house, on the lawnmower chain.”

“Smart.”

“She told me that Pearl had put a phone in there, too. I have a feeling I know what’s on it—and it might be enough to exonerate me. Or at least mitigate the kidnapping charge. But how am I supposed to get into a bank? They have cameras, and by now, I’m sure half of Anchorage is looking for me.”

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