Page 16 of Wanted
She turned and grabbed the soap. She rolled it between her hands and began scrubbing her body fiercely. “I knew he’d use it against me,” she said past the lump in her throat.
She worked her hair into a lather. Now that he’d found her Achilles heel, he was going to keep poking at it until it gave way.
Even realizing his intentions, she didn’t know how long she’d be able to resist. The pull she felt for him was strong, and she was so very tired. It would be so easy to give up… to stop fighting him. At least she’d find some pleasure and happiness before he locked the door and threw away the key.
“No,” she cried out. She turned off the water abruptly and whipped back the shower curtain. She wasn’t going to make it that easy for him.
Her skin turned pink as she rubbed it briskly with a towel. She wrapped herself in her robe and went to find her laptop. He’d changed his tactics—so would she. “You need a strategy,” she said as she massaged her aching temples.
She couldn’t keep running blindly. He was too close. She had to find a new set of wheels and put some direction behind her moves. She wouldn’t feel safe until she’d put more distance between them.
With determination steeling her spine, she connected to the motel’s Wi-Fi and pulled up a map of the state. Looking at her options, she realized that Longmont was within an hour’s drive. It was a town of over seventy thousand people. She could easily sell her car there. An idea came to mind, and she called up another website. “Aha,” she said when she found what she needed. “Go Greyhound.”
He’d be expecting her to get another car. If she hopped on a bus instead, she might be able to lose him, at least for a while. She hadn’t used a bus before.
It was a plan, at least. A weak plan, probably, but her brain was still fuzzy. It would have to do.
She started to shut down her computer, but the temptation to check her email was too strong. She hadn’t spoken to anyone in over two days, even though Reno had tried texting her. She’d heard thebingscoming from her phone, but she hadn’t bothered to even look. But he wasn’t the only person who sent her messages. Her family also knew they could get in touch with her there. The need for contact with someone—anyone—was like air to her, and she began the rigmarole of logging into her account.
When she typed in her password, though, she immediately saw that there weren’t any messages from her family. Her inbox, however, was filled with messages from Special Agent Jeff Reno.
She jerked her hand away from the mouse. “You snake.”
He had balls.
She squirmed uncomfortably on the chair. That maybe wasn’t the best reference she could have used.
She knew she should sign off and close down, but curiosity got the best of her. She began scrolling through the messages. The more she read, the more upset she got. Apparently, Mr. Fed wanted to know where she was and if she was okay.
He was acting like he cared.
Her chair tumbled over when she abruptly stood. “Don’t you dare do this to me.”
She couldn’t take mind games. His messages sounded so honest, so concerned.
Before she could do something she’d regret, she logged out of her email. With shaking hands, she shut down her laptop and yanked the power cord out of the wall.
She needed to get moving. Now. She’d planned to stay the night here, but she couldn’t waste that much time. He was closing in from every angle. Hurrying, she dried her hair, got dressed, and packed up her belongings. She looked longingly at the bed, but she couldn’t risk it. She’d have to sleep on the bus.
* * *
Reno unlocked the motel room door and stepped inside. He knew within seconds that Dani had been there. He could sense her. Slowly, he wandered around the room. According to the manager, a woman matching her description had checked in yesterday afternoon—only to leave less than an hour later.
Why hadn’t she stayed? Why waste good money like that?
She was behaving erratically, and it made him uneasy. He’d pushed her too hard. Now, she was scrambling around acting on impulse. It wasn’t like her.
If only he’d been able to keep his hands off her.
“Yeah, right,” he muttered. He’d come to terms with what had happened between them.
It was clear that she hadn’t.
He put his hand flat on the bathroom door, and it swung open with a creak. His gaze went immediately to the sink. Had she dyed her hair? The salesman at the used-car lot had described her as a brunette. He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. She’d be just as sultry with dark hair, but he was kind of attached to her soft blonde tresses. He’d never forget the way they had spilled over her shoulders when he’d taken her hair clip.
“Come on, now,” he told himself as he pushed away from the door. He needed to get it together.
The car. It was what had brought him here. He’d just about thought he’d lost her when the VIN popped up on a trace. He’d had the foresight to write it down when he’d trapped her car up next to that tree. She’d sold the junker at a used lot in Longmont, and he’d backtracked her movements to this motel through the license plate. He’d thought he might find a clue as to her whereabouts here, but looking around the room, he could see that was hopeless.
