Page 53 of Resolutions

“What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.” Evelyn asks, her face full of concern. I explain what I'd just remembered. “Well, that's not comforting at all. You he talked to, them he took.”

The weight of responsibility settles over me. How many women didn't get the chance to run and hide like I did? How could I live with myself if I don't try to stop him? This is a nightmare and I just want to wake up from it.

A soft padding sound draws my attention as Moses re-emerges from the bedroom. He hustles back over to Evelyn.

“Did you need more loving?” She scoops him up, nuzzling his fur. “We were worried whoever had you had Moses.”

“He's why I went back to that first motel. Until today, he's been my only friend,” Moses purrs, rubbing his face against her cheek. “Moses, enough! Don't be rude.”

“Let him be. He's missed his family.” She strokes his back as he settles in her lap. “I remember when Cameron found him. All fluff and paws. He was so excited he'd found this little cutie.”

I laugh. “I couldn't figure out why he was so excited.” The memory fills me with happiness. “That Sunday dinner when he made me sit on the footstool with my eyes closed... then he held Moses so close to my face I couldn't even focus. Poor Cameron thought I didn't like his gift when I had to back away.”

“And now look at you.” She scratches under Moses' chin as he arches in delight. “I'm so glad you had him with you. And don't worry, Cameron will come around. Once he sees this and it's explained to him.”

“I hope so. I honestly hope so. I miss him so much.”

Her face grows serious again. “So, Melanie. Are you ready to take the next step? Ready to take back your life and stop Michael from hurting anyone else?”

Put that way, there's really only one answer. “Yes. But where do we start? No offense, but neither of us has the computer skills Michael does. And if we want to bust him, that's where we have to get the proof.”

She straightens in her chair, that familiar determined gleam in her eye. “Do you trust me?”

Chapter 27

Melanie

“Yes, why do you ask?” My nerves suddenly jangle. The mere thought of confrontation makes my throat constrict. “I can't just walk up to Michael and challenge him face to face. I can't.” Real panic edges into my voice.

“No, dear, nothing like that.” Evelyn's tone is soothing, but there's steel underneath. “What we need is a professional. Someone who knows how to handle men like Michael. Someone who can bring them to justice and make them pay. Someone with experience in this world.”

“A professional? Who are you talking about?”

“I mean someone who specializes in dealing with the worst kind of criminals. We need Law-”

“No!” I jump up, scattering papers as terror grips me. “I can't go to the police! They'll question him, he'll know it was me, and then...” My hands shake as I try to gather the evidence. “This wasa mistake. I shouldn't have told you. Please, please just forget everything.” I frantically shove papers into the folder.

Strong hands grip my wrists. Through my tears, I see Evelyn's determined face.

“Melanie! Enough, now get hold of yourself. These fits of panic aren't helping.” Her mom-voice cuts through my hysteria. “If you'd let me finish, you'd know I'm not talking about the police. Now sit down and listen.”

I sink back into my chair, forcing myself to breathe normally. The papers remain scattered across the table like evidence of my shattered life.

“I'm sorry,” I whisper. “Please continue.”

“Listen to me carefully. You. Are. Not. Alone. Anymore. Whether things work out with Cameron or not, I'm here. I will never leave you to face this by yourself, and I would never suggest confronting Michael without proper protection. Do you understand?”

I nod, still trembling slightly. “I understand. It's just hard.”

“I know, but you have to learn to be strong. Like you said, we can't find out what we need to know. We have to bring someone else in. But you must control these panic attacks and see that to win, we need a team. Now, Law is the man I want us to meet. He grew up here in Whispering Pines, graduated with Carson's class. He moved to New York years ago and built quite a reputation for hunting down men like Michael. He owns Bear's Bonds and Bounty now. In fact,” her eyes twinkle, “he's the one who helped me find you. Do you know Miss Cora?”

“Yes, I believe so. She has short pixie white hair, always dresses in bright colors, lots of spunk?”

“That sums up Cora perfectly. Yes, that's her. Law is her son.”

“She named her son Law?”

“Wallace - that's his given name, but he hated it. Started going by law when he moved east. Fitting, really, given his line of work.”

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