Page 45 of The Agent
“We’ll find her someplace safe to stay until she can sort out the situation with Van Houten. He won’t abuse her ever again. I promise.”
She laid her palm on his chest so she could feel the beat of his heart against it. “I believe you one hundred percent.”
He blew out a long exhale. “I didn’t want to mention this tonight, but it’s something you should know. I asked the police chief if Van Houten had filed a missing person report. The answer was no.”
A tendril of dismay wound through her. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“I have to assume he doesn’t want the police involved.”
She wrestled with the implications of that. “Because he’s afraid they’ll find out he abused her? Or because he wants to capture her himself? Or because he’s my stalker?”
His shoulder moved under her cheek in a shrug. “Possibly all three.”
“You’re saying it’s not a good sign.”
“It’s just another piece in the puzzle. But we’re going to forget about it until morning.”
As she lay beside him, his heartbeat slow and steady beneath her palm, gratitude welled up in her chest. Big macho Tully had shared disturbing information with her instead of withholding it and using the excuse that it would worry her. He thought she was strong enough and smart enough to handle it. A few of the cracks in her soul knitted back together.
Chapter 12
Natalie jolted awake to find Tully already out of bed. She had the sense that there had been a noise that awakened her, but all was quiet now. In the dim light, she saw Tully bend to take something out of his overnight bag from where it sat on the floor beside her bed.
“What is it?” she whispered and then jumped when the doorbell chime sounded through her electronic virtual assistant.
“Stay here,” Tully said. She heard the unmistakable sound of a firearm being cocked. He’d gotten his gun out of the bag.
He moved soundlessly to the bedroom door, stepping through and closing it behind him.
Natalie grabbed her phone from the bedside table. It was 4:45 a.m.
Would her stalker ring the doorbell? Had he gone that insane?
She didn’t want to face whoever it was in her nightshirt, so she got out of bed and retrieved her clothes from the chair she’d dropped them on. She had her trousers almost buttoned when she heard a cut-off shriek from downstairs. It sounded feminine.
She fastened and zipped her trousers at high speed before she tiptoed to the door, laying her ear against it. Now she could hear the rumble of Tully’s voice, so she eased the door open and pressed herself against the wall while she sidled to the top of the stairs.
“It’s all right. I’m a friend of Natalie’s,” Tully was saying in a soothing tone. “If you promise not to bolt, I’ll go get her.”
Natalie started down the stairs just as Tully appeared at the foot, his pistol held in one hand by the side of his thigh. “Good,” he said with a nod. “I believe our visitor is Regina Van Houten.”
“Thank God!” Relief rushed through her as she trotted down the stairs. “But why did she come back here? Did Dobs find her?”
Tully shook his head. “I scared the hell out of her, so I don’t know yet. I figured she’d rather talk to you.”
Natalie dashed past him and into the living area. Regina sat on the sectional with her hands between her thighs, her shoulders slumped, staring straight ahead. Her dyed-brown hair was rumpled and she had a yellow stain on her white T-shirt.
“Regina. I’m so glad you’re safe.” The other woman turned to stare dully at her when Natalie sat down next to her. “Would you like something to drink? Maybe some coffee?”
Regina nodded, and Natalie saw Tully already moving toward the kitchen, that scary but reassuring gun still in his hand.
“Are you okay?” Natalie asked gently.
Regina nodded again.
“Did Dobs find you?”
The other woman’s face crumpled and tears poured down her cheeks. “I ran.”
