Page 41 of Vanishing Point
“No, I want to go. I want you to know that I want to go.” She swallowed, tears swimming in her blue eyes. She swallowed audibly. “Iwantto be part of your life, Thomas.”
THOMAS HAD TOgo into the station for a few hours the morning of the baby shower, so Vi drove with Mags out to the ranch to catch up with everyone, and to see if Audra had any clothes suitable for a baby shower she could borrow.
Thomas had been a little…overprotective the past few days. Rightfully so, she knew. And maybe it could be frustrating not to be able to go do what she wanted, whenever she wanted. But she also didn’t want to do anything that would put her or Mags in danger.
So every day was carefully planned. Monitored. When she reached the ranch, she texted Thomas that she’d arrived. Then she tried to put the worry aside and focus on an outfit for a baby shower.
Audra took her through her closet since she was the closest in size to Vi, and it was a blessed slice of normal. To try on outfits, have a trio of women weigh in on which one was the best.
In the end, she picked a cute floral skirt and her own plain T-shirt, with some of Franny’s jewelry. She felt cute and casual and…well,nervous.
She didn’t regret saying she’d go. She couldn’t. It was a symbol. It was giving Thomas something when he’d already given herso much. It was important, and she supposed that was why she was so nervous.
This wasn’t just a baby shower. It was a gesture, and she desperately wanted it to go well. She was studying herself in the mirror, Mags playing with Franny and Rosalie on Franny’s bedroom floor when her phone rang.
She grabbed it, looked at the caller and tried not to blanch.
Franny must have seen it, because she got to her feet. “Vi—”
“It’s the postal inspector’s number.” Vi tried to smile, because hey, it wasn’tEric. But it was probably about him. She answered the phone, stepped out of the room, knowing everyone would look after Mags.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Ms. Reynolds. This is Postal Inspector Kay. How are you?”
“I’m…fine.”
“And no doubt stressed that I called you,” she replied, good-naturedly. “But I have good news. I’m really close to being able to put out a warrant for Eric Carter’s arrest. But I have a few follow-up questions I’d like to ask you. Are you home?”
Vi thought her knees might have dissolved. She had to lean against the wall to stay upright. “Arrest?”
“Yes. Tampering with mail is a federal offense, hence my involvement with all this. As long as my case is airtight, he’s going to do some time. So, are you home?”
“Uh, no,” Vi said, her mind whirling. Federal offense. Arrest. Eric. Was thisreal? “Well, yes.” Because the inspector didn’t know she actually lived with Thomas. “Not where we talked initially. I’m at my cousin’s ranch out by Sunrise. It’s a ways from Bent,” she tacked on, remembering the inspector wasn’t from around here.
“I’m not too far from there. There’s a coffee place just off the highway, isn’t there?”
“Yes. Coffee Klatsch.”
“Okay, can I meet you there in fifteen minutes or so? I just have a few questions. Won’t take more than a half hour.”
Vi thought about the timing. She still had two hours before the baby shower. She could do this, get it over with, and maybe know more about the actual potential of Eric being arrested. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Great. See you soon.”
They hung up and Vi returned to the room. Everyone looked up at her with questions in their eyes. Vi wasn’t sure she had any answers. Her brain couldn’t really function beyondarrest.
But the inspector needed some answers first. “Can you guys watch Mags while I run an errand?”
“What kind of errand?” Rosalie demanded.
“I just have to meet with the postal inspector. Answer a few more questions. Real quick at Coffee Klatsch.”
“Let me come with you,” Rosalie said, getting to her feet. “I have some questions forher.”
Vi considered it. She knew Rosalie was running her own investigation. She also knew Rosalie didn’t always know when to be…polite.
“I think it’s best if I do this alone. She said it’ll only take a half hour at most. Guys, she said she’sthisclose to putting out an arrest warrant for Eric.”
