Page 79 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
Alex pulled into a dollar-store parking lot. “Stay here. If someone is already watching us, your waddle isn’t very convincing.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Alex dashed into the store as the first clap of thunder sounded.
* * *
Kimberly stood in a puddle in the middle of the kitchen. It wasn’t as big as she expected from the movies. She grabbed a wad of takeout napkins and dropped them onto the puddle, then used her foot to mop it up. It was time to make the call. Kimberly scrolled to Mrs. Capps’s number.
“Hi. It’s Kimberly. My water broke.”
* * *
Alex watched Elle waddle into the post office from the parking lot of the law office across the street. They’d set her phone to record, and Alex watched his phone as she entered the empty lobby and opened the mailbox. A thick manila envelope lay inside. Elle pulled it out. “It’s the only thing in here.” Her quiet announcement sounded in his earpiece.
A door creaked.
“Mrs. Thompson, hand over the envelope.”
Alex didn’t wait to see what happened next but sprang out of his truck. He could still hear the sounds through his earpiece.
“No!”
Ooooomph!
Crash
Thump.
Alex entered the post office and found a man facedown on the floor, Elle’s knee against his back. She pointed at the door to the supposedly closed service area. “I didn’t see anyone else.”
Alex ran to the door. Only the security light shone. No one else seemed to be around. He returned to Elle and the man struggling to free himself. “Where is your partner?”
“Where is yours?”
Elle bent the man’s arm behind him. “Mr. Alexander asked you a question.”
The man laughed. “He knew you wouldn’t bring the real Mrs. Thompson out here—too risky.”
Alex lifted the man’s head by his hair. “Where is your partner?”
“With yours.”
Crap!
“Dial 911!” commanded Elle.
“What is your emergency?” a woman’s voice came over Elle’s speakerphone.
“I was attacked in the Main Street post office!”
“Are you still there, ma’am?”
“Yes.” Abbie’s self-defense class had paid off. “I’m sitting on him now.” Elle waved at Alex and mouthed, “Go!”
Alex ran for his truck, wishing it had wings.
* * *
