Page 72 of Deadly Attraction
“Correct.”
She glanced at the TV screen. The rains were a godsend, already helping to tame the fires and the news showed people on the roads, heading back to their houses. On one hand, she still needed a bodyguard and that bodyguard was Mitch. On the other, needing a bodyguard wasn’t something to be happy about. “But they were a good ways away, right? So they’re probably doing what I said, heading to Mexico.”
Mitch interlaced his fingers and wrapped his hands around the back of his neck. He blew out a tired sigh. “You also said it’s not Goodsman’s normal MO. He likes the limelight. He wouldn’t break out of jail and go on the run because then he wouldn’t get the attention he needs.”
The news now showed a picture of the very actor they were discussing. “And yet, heisgetting plenty of attention,” she said, pointing at the screen.
Will reached over and turned up the volume. What sounded like a recorded voicemail was playing as the picture went full screen with Chris’s face—a photo-shoot-perfect smile.“I am here for you, my resistance fighters. I will not stop in my search for justice. Thanks to those who stepped in to lead you in my absence, I’m now free of the prison system the cyborgs built to hold me. I’m once more ready to take up the fight and lead you to victory.”
Will shook his head and snapped off the television. “He’s as wacko as they get.”
For a moment, Emma wondered if Chris Goodsman truly was afflicted with a mental disorder. Maybe she’d been wrong all along.
“Doc?”
Mitch’s voice cut through her reverie. “What?”
“I think it’s time you reconsider the safe house. With the highways clearing out, we can probably get there by lunch time.”
At that moment, they heard a vehicle pulling into the drive. Through the kitchen curtain over the sink, Emma saw the van from the juvenile detention center.
Danika.
The poor girl had come all this way to see Twinkie and keep her mind off the holiday. Emma couldn’t let her down.
“Chris Goodsman may indeed be certifiable,” she admitted as much to herself as the two men in the kitchen with her, “but he’s miles away and I promised Danika time with her horse.”
“Danika is not my biggest concern at the moment,” Mitch argued.
“I respect that, but can’t we give the girl an hour at least? The roads will be even clearer by then, I bet.”
Mitch squeezed his eyes shut and took a long, slow breath, before he opened them, dropping his hands. “I don’t like it.”
“I’m not surprised. I don’t relish it either, but it’s important.”
He gave her an exasperated look. “Will can take care of Danika.”
“Me?” Will said. “I don’t know what to do with that girl.”
He did, but he was too much of a curmudgeon to admit it. Emma didn’t like the way he always referred to Danika asthat girl, but understood it was Will’s way of keeping his distance emotionally. Like their vet, Danika had gotten on Will’s good side months ago but the big dummy was afraid to admit it. He was afraid he’d jinx them.
Emma’s fingers itched for a bag of M&Ms. “Danika can’t be here without me to supervise.”
Mitch looked like he was ready to combust. “Will, would you go get Danika from the van and take her to the horse barn? I’ll get Emma packing and bring her out in a few minutes.”
It was obvious he wanted her alone for a minute so he could talk her out of staying for even an hour. Fat chance of that.
Will shifted his weight between his feet. “Dude, I can’t talk to that girl. She’s…well, mental.”
“Will,” Emma scolded. She shot Mitch a look. “How about if you go get Danika and take her to the horse barn and Will can stay here to guard me? I barely unpacked anything from my bag from the last go-around. All I have to do is throw my toothbrush in and a couple of other things. Once you have Danika in the barn, have her move Twinkie from his stall and start cleaning it. Carla Moses will be with her and can keep an eye on her. While she works on Twinkie’s stall, you can come back for me. I’ll explain to Danika about the change of plans, and you can fill in Officer Moses. We can all work on the barn for an hour and keepthat girlfrom losing her last ounce of sanity on this very emotionally charged day. Seriously, Mitch. She’s borderline suicidal. If she were to commit suicide because I denied her a chance to see Twinkie, I couldn’t live with myself.”
Will looked at the floor. A muscle in Mitch’s jaw worked as he stood stock still, sizing up her determination as well as calculating his own. It was easier to read him after their night together. His defenses were up, but they were less solid, more fluid. He wanted what was best for her safety, but he also wanted to make her happy.
“Please, Mitch,” she said. “Danika needs this, and there will be three of you here, guarding her and me, all of you armed and quite capable of taking on Chris or whoever else might show up.”
Another long pause as he stewed, but her pleading tone must have done the trick.
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” he said to Will, heading for the back door. To Emma, he said, “One hour. That’s it. Then we’re out of here.”
