Page 31 of Run with Me

I openedmy eyes and breathed deeply. The smell of fresh coffee filled my lungs, and when I realized that I wasn’t dreaming about the delicious smell, I shot up in the unusually comfortablebed.

It had been weeks since I had coffee or tea; and days since I’d had anything to eat. Running for my life didn’t exactly allow one to stop at a coffee shop. Besides, as I traveled, I felt like a lost grain of sand in the universe. Manhattan looked scary enough as it was, and it would take me a bit longer than I anticipated to get my bearings. The last thing I wanted was to get lost in a big city. But then again, if I was lost, how would anyone else findme?

The city that never sleeps was definitely a change from the one street town I used to live in. I’d been here for two weeks now, and sleeping over heating ducts in the alleys wasn’t getting any easier.

I pulled the covers off and made the bed. Still wearing my ragged clothes, I tiptoed toward the door. The sound of a brewing argument rose from the kitchen downstairs.

“I can’t believe you, Jack!” the female voice loud-whispered. “Why can’t she stay with Xavier?”

“He’s away for three days. He didn’t clear his apartment.”

“So? Hire amaid.”

“I didn’t say clean, Mary. I said clear.”

Mary must have been his wife. Only stern wives could hold so much power in their voice.

“Argh, I hate that you’re doing this again.”

“It’s what I’m good at, and I think she needshelp.”

“What happened to not bringing work home, huh?”

I moved into the hallway, closer to the railing.

“I have a feeling this will pay off. I don’t know how, but I think she’s worthit.”

“I’m not talking about Xavier. You bringing her here means that you’re going to investigate. You brought work home! We’ve talked about it. You’re not supposed to dothat!”

Investigate?

What did that mean? Wishing I had an empty glass, I pressed my ear against thedoor.

“The only thing Xavier ever does well is mix business with pleasure, and I’m tired of him bringing new women around to our house.”

Xavier.

Someone above must have been looking out for me, to run into him. Before he left me in this bed last night, he told me to trust Jack and Mary. I barely knew him, but he was the first person I’d met since leaving Pace who helped me. If it weren’t for his friend Jack, who had apparently found me in an alley, they’d be pulling a zipper over my face right about now. The thought that Xavier would be gone for the next three days made me sad. And why would Jack want to investigate me? Maybe I should have left last night?

I should definitely leave today. If Ben finds me, I can’t let that lead him to Xavier. I can’t lead him to anyone.

“I love your jealousy, Mary, but you know that you’re the only one for me. You and the baby are the most important treasures in mylife.”

He gently touched his palm to Mary’s lower stomach and I gasped, lowering my hand tomine.

Should I leave?

Reluctantly, I scanned the room for my sandals, but I couldn’t find them. I was pretty sure that my feet were more comfortable than those strappy nothings, but people would look even more strangely at me if I wasn’t wearing any shoes at all, so if I was going to leave this place soon, I needed shoes. Any kind of shoes. I quietly opened the door and tiptoed to the staircase.

“I still don’t like it,” saidMary.

I was on the third step from the top, waiting for the perfect moment to interrupt their conversation. Was there such a moment?

“Just try to tolerate it for three days. Please? Or at least until we figure out a way to help her. I think the girl’s in trouble.”

I cleared my throat and proceeded to walk down the stairs. “Good morning,” I whispered.

“Good morning, Anna. Come, there’s someone here I’d like you tomeet.”

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