Page 91 of Taking Care of the Target

After they made it a considerable distance from the house, Owen grabbed her hand. “Katie…”

“Owen, whatever you’re going to say—”

“No, I’ve waited long enough. You need to hear it, and then you can decide. My grandma told me you’ve been hurt before and I’d have to be patient with you. I’ve tried, and I don’t mind taking things slow, but I like you. I’m just asking you to give me a chance.”

Like Officer Tom Duffy, he might’ve stood a chance before she met Vince.

Tom. I bethe’dknow more about the trial.

Cassie shoved that thought away for later, because Owen just poured his heart out, and she knew it couldn’t have been easy.

The fact of the matter was, she had somehow started over. She’d be much safer if she continued on being Katie Jones, went to college as she worked at Front Range Steakhouse, and dated future vet Owen Hurst, no question about it.

Admittedly, it had crossed her mind a couple of times. What would it be like to drop her obsessive searching, fully embrace being here, and truly move on?

She certainly didn’t relish the thought of going back to a place where she’d be in danger as she waited to testify. Big surprise, being shot at wasn’t fun. But while it would be easier to stay gone in a lot of ways, she wouldn’t let fear of Carlo Rossi and his men scare her away from doing what she knew in her bones she needed to do.

She couldn’t let Vince face it alone, either.

She couldn’t be that girl, even if that girl would be safer.

“Owen, you’re a great guy—”

“Not the great guy speech. I’m a horrible guy, actually. You know those bad boys your parents warn you about? That’s me.”

She laughed, and luckily he smiled, too. “If I wasn’t in love with someone else, you’d be the bad boy I’d go for. The truth is, I’m leaving. Tomorrow I was going to put in my two weeks notice. It’s time for me to move on. Time for me to make things right.”

She knew she should simply leave one day so there’d be fewer questions, but she didn’t want to leave them shorthanded after everything they’d done.

Owen opened his mouth, but Deanne came tearing down the path, drawing their attention. She stopped in front of them and braced her hands on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath.

“You guys can’t go back to the house.” Deanne popped upright. “There are two men looking for you, Katie.”

Cassie glanced toward the Hurst’s home, which was now only a small outline, and panic rose up and bound her lungs. “Describe them,” she said.

Deanne shook her head. “I didn’t see. Maude came into the family room, told us, ‘No one knows Katie, no matter what anyone calls her,’ and then instructed me to make sure you and Owen stay gone until she comes and gets you.”

The image of Maude and Harold being tortured by Carlo’s men popped into Cassie’s head, and she started for the house. Arms came around her waist and pulled her back. For such a scrawny guy, Owen was surprisingly strong.

“You don’t understand,” Cassie said, tugging against him. “You’ve gotta let me go. If they hurt anyone, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Between my dad and my grandparents, they can handle whoever it is.”

“They aren’t people you can just handle.” Cassie wished for her gun, cursing herself for leaving it at home. She wondered how much Owen would hate her if she used an elbow to his nose to make him release her. “We need to…do something. Maybe even call the police. Before it’s too late.”

“Maude was calm,” Deanne said. “I don’t think it’s anyone scary.”

“No, they’re all charm at first.” Cassie looked over her shoulder at Owen. “Please tell me you have a gun in your truck.”

***

Once Harold Hurst came into the room, Jim handed him the picture. “This is Cassandra Dalton, and it’s very important we find her. You guys rode the same Greyhound bus several months ago.”

Mr. Hurst squinted at the picture. He glanced at his wife, and his eyebrows arched.

Jim leaned forward.He remembers her. Wefinallyfound her.

“Wasn’t this that girl you talked to on the bus? And then she asked for directions to… Where was it?” Mr. Hurst turned to Jim. “She was pretty closed off, but my wife talks to everyone, whether they want her to or not.”

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