Page 5 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
His mouth twitched as he included them in the gesture. Tara was tough, and it was clear she was raising strong, independent girls. “I’m going to keep reading, and then we’ll…get going.”
Not that he knew what his next steps would be yet. He sat back with the letter.
Robbie, the Kellys slashed my tires in front of my townhouse yesterday, and I freaked. Then a man called my cell, said Scotty had taken off with Janice, and that if I knew where he was, I’d better tell them. I said I didn’t and that I was divorcing his sorry ass. He said Mr. Kelly expected me to change my mind about continuing Scotty’s business arrangement with them or they would hurt my babies. They even told me the name and address of their daycare and said accidents happen and children disappear or fall into the Mystic all the time. At the end, he told me not to go to you or the cops because they had people on the inside and would know.
I lost it. All I could think about was getting my girls to safety. But then what? My businesses have obviously been laundering money for the Kellys, and I have their cash. I think they believe Scotty ran off with it. But if and when they find him, they’ll know he doesn’t have it. So I’m turning the money in to you as an officer of the law and telling you Scotty is the criminal here. Not me.
But me and the girls are still in trouble. I knew the Kellys would start looking for us the moment I left town. They’re already looking for Scotty and Janice. I realized I couldn’t get far with two girls their age. Or protect them against Branigan Kelly’s guys.
So I’m asking you to take my girls and protect them with everything you’ve got. But not with the cops. Like family does. Because I won’t bet my girls’ lives that Kelly’s guys were lying about having people on the force.
Robbie tipped his head to the ceiling as tension gathered at the base of his skull. He couldn’t be one hundred percent sure either. The Kellys were legendary for throwing money at people until they caved or, if that didn’t work, threatening their families or setting them up for blackmail. They’d already caught one cop working on the Kelly payroll in the last year. But it would be a pain in the ass to handle this without doing it by the book. He didn’t want to lose his job by going rogue or become a suspect in this fiasco. Shit.
“Want Miss Rosie?”
He glanced over to see Cassidy holding out her bear. Shaking his head, he let out an uneasy breath when her lower lip wobbled. God, was she going to cry? “Nah, she looks pretty happy with you.”
“Mom said to tell you that she trusted you and that she knew it was going to freak you out a little bit to have this adventure with us while she worked things out with the business.” Reagan was suddenly pushing Miss Purrfect off her lap and jumping out of her seat, coming to stand in front of him in the short aisle, gripping his forearm. “Me and Cassidy promised Mom we would be really good and make things easy for you.”
God, that crushed him. He pulled her to his chest. “You two have always been as sweet as angels. That’s not my worry. I’m only worried a little about your mom. Going off on her own adventure like this.” Okay, so now he was stretching the truth too. “But don’t you guys worry. We’re going to get her back here really quick. I’m going to help make that happen. I promise.”
“I sure hope so.” Reagan tunneled into him. “I already miss her.”
“Me too,” Cassidy half wailed, eyes full of those tears he feared as she clutched her bear.
This sucked. All of it. “Let me finish your mom’s letter.”
Reagan pushed away and picked up the cat again. He turned the next page and started reading where he’d left off.
You always say stupid criminals get caught using their own car and their cell phone, so I made other arrangements. I borrowed this car from a client who said I could use it for as long as I need to while I’m getting new tires. He’s a dealer and won’t miss it. Another client just talked about her vacation in the Outer Banks and how family-friendly it is. I figured it would be the perfect cover for you and the girls if you pretend to be a single dad on a final summer vacation with his girls before school starts. I secured a house through my client’s property owners in the Outer Banks. You can pay cash on-site. I told them you were my ex-husband but that I still make reservations for you with the kids because I’m choosier, even though you’re a good father.
A good father? He was supposed to continue this charade? He fell back against the seat. Holy shit. As an officer of the law, he couldn’t take off with these kids and pretend to be their father. Especially across state lines. That could be called kidnapping if someone like their real father chose to make a stink. Jesus. He gritted his teeth and kept reading.
I know you’re going to want to do this like a cop,but you can’t.I believe the Kellys when they say they have people on the inside. I can’t take the chance with my babies, and neither can you. I’m begging you on your mother’s grave to protect them, and I’m telling you that my aunt—your mother—would agree with me.
I’m only asking for two weeks. You’ve always said the first two weeks after any crime-related incident are the most critical in the way things play out. Plus, you always joke about all your unused vacation time. Something will give. Either Scotty will confess everything to the cops when he realizes he can’t outrun the Kellys, which will make it easier for all of us to return to Boston and you to make the case airtight so the inside guys on the police force can’t fuck it up… Or the Kellys will find Scotty and deal with him. Hell, Janice might turn Scotty in to save her skin or because she’ll hate being on the run.
If and when the Kellys realize I’m gone and so is the cash, I can’t imagine how many guys they’re going to send out. They might suspect me, but they’re more likely to think Scotty is behind it.
I’m disappearing too, although it’s going to kill me to be away from my babies, but I know you can do a better job of keeping them safe. Right now, you’re the only person I trust. I know you’ll know what to do with the cash. And because this vacation is going to put you out, I took out some of my savings and stuffed it into the black suitcase for you to use. Don’t get mad. You know we O’Connors pay our way.
Plus, you’ll need to pay everything in cash like you always say is mandatory for people on the run. I did some early shopping since it’s a long drive—directions are in the envelope. Also, there’s a burner phone in the diaper bag. You know you can’t use your regular phone while you’re hiding, so I got new ones for both of us. Even though I want to call my babies and check inevery single day, I won’t. You always say phones are the surest way of getting caught. So when something gives, I’ll call you and we’ll meet up. If it doesn’t—God help us—at the end of two weeks, then we’ll meet and make a new plan.
I’ve written down everything imaginable for you about the girls and put it in this envelope, from their favorite foods to how Cassidy needs to sleep with her feet out of the blanket because they get hot and she starts fussing. I know it’s a lot, and I swear I’ll make it up to you somehow, but Reagan is a good helper, and Cassidy is as sweet a baby as God has ever made and put here on earth.
Take care of my babies for me, Robbie. I’m trusting you with their lives—and mine.
Your loving cousin,
Tara
His heart was like a jackhammer as he stuffed the letter back into the envelope. He fingered the paper, one zinger repeating in his head.I’m telling you that my aunt—your mother—would agree with me.That was like a burr sticking to him.
His chest tightened as he realized what he was going to do—what he had to do. Sitting back, he planted his hands on his knees like he did when he was trying to figure out his next steps on a big case. Closing his eyes, he let the details swirl like dust coughed up from a strong wind off the Bay. He watched them all flash in his mind, fixing his gaze on one and then another, until they all settled to the floor. He could see the pitfalls now, the details that might hurt or injure. He waited for his mind to work out the things he could do now to offset those problems.
The next steps came to him, just as they always did. He was calm on the inside, a signature feeling for him when he was working something out in his mind. Still, when he opened his eyes to find both girls and the cat staring at him, practically holding their breath, pressure returned to his chest.
He could not make a wrong move here.
