Page 16 of True Valor
This was ridiculous.Julie, once again, movedin the middle of the night to sleep on the floor beside the couch.If he took the bed and gave her the couch, though, she’d likelycrawl into the bed with him.That definitely was not a good idea.He wasn’t sure she was even awake when she came to him.Now, sheslept soundly.
Nic wasn’t so lucky.
Chapter Five
It had been two days since the snow-playdisaster.And they were into day four of this surreal rescuemission.They’d skied yesterday, getting off the bunny slopes byafternoon.
At every turn, Nic asked Julie a question.What were her hobbies?Favorite ice cream?Did she like this movieor that TV show?When she answered with more than a blankexpression, he applauded and reminded her how far she’d come.
Nic considered today’s agenda as he flippedeggs in the pan.Maybe a little more skiing, maybe somesightseeing.He wasn’t sure yet.
The phone interrupted his thoughts.He movedthe pan off the heat and ran to answer it.
“Nic, it’s Mickey.Is Julie in the room?”Hisvoice was strained.
“Yes.”
“Listen up.I’m faxing some information tothe hotel.It’ll be waiting for you in a little while.Don’t readit when she’s around.I sent it to Cruz, too.He wants to help ifhe can.”
“Okay.”
“It’s bad, Nic.I’ll see what else I can findout, and let you know.”
“Okay, thanks.”By the time he hung up, hehad a knot in his gut.
Julie was puttering around in the kitchen.“I’m pouring us coffee.How do you like it?”
Nic walked to the kitchen doorway.“You don’tdrink coffee.”
“I thought I might start.”
The eggs were ruined.So was his mood.But hehad to act like nothing was up.So he cracked more eggs and startedover.How could he get to the lobby?What excuse could he giveJulie?
Ten minutes later, Nic jabbed his remainingegg, watching the yolk seep toward his toast.
“Something wrong?”Julie asked, snapping himfrom his thoughts.
“No.”Nic tried to smile.
“O-kay.”She shrugged and went back toeating.
He knew she didn’t believe him, but hecouldn’t tell her what he was thinking.He couldn’t tell her thathe was concerned that she might be in danger.He couldn’t tell herthat he wasn’t completely sureshewasn’t dangerous.Hecouldn’t tell her that what she’d been through might be better offnot remembered.
Nor could he think of anything else tosay.
So, when Julie insisted on doing the dishesand the front desk called saying he had a fax, he just shrugged andtold her he’d be back in a few minutes.
Nic wasn’t prepared for what the two pagesheld.One was a copy of a newspaper article from theSusanvilleRecord, the other a note from Mickey.
What they told him sucked the breath from hislungs and he lowered himself onto the couch in the lobby, head inhands.
Julie Galloway.Her name was JulieGalloway.
The article said that, on the twenty-third,Julie’s father murdered her mother and sister.Then committedsuicide.There was no mention of Julie being there at the time.
Mickey had jotted notes on the second sheet.Scrawled across the bottom, “Watch your back, Boyo.There’ssomething hinky here.”
Nic’s heart lurched for her.Now what?
