Page 23 of Truth (Wicked Empire 2)

Five

Amethyst

“Isit safe for you to fly?” he asked, a few hours after we’d gotten on the plane.

“I guess it doesn’t matter now,” I responded.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything.

I felt a twinge, something far too much like guilt for my liking.

I ignored it.

He was looking out of the window, and after a few beats, I said, “It’s fine. The doctor says I can fly for at least another six weeks or so. Maybe longer,” I said.

It hadn’t looked like he was paying attention, but he turned to me suddenly.

“You’ve been to the doctor?” he asked.

“Of course,” I responded.

“You say that like it’s a given…”

“You think I would be reckless with my baby’s health?”

“Yes, I do,” he said.

“Well, I wasn’t,” I answered, suddenly feeling defensive. “Do you understand that all I’ve done, I did for my baby?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he asked a question of his own. “How did you stay hidden for so long?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I had eyes everywhere looking for women who fit your demographic profile.”

“It’s not important,” I said, leaning back.

To think that I had thought he wouldn’t even try to find me.

He was looking at me expectantly, but I decided to be smart for once.

“I answer your questions, and you answer mine,” I said.

“Fair enough,” he responded, his easy acquiescence telling me that I had probably been played.

“The goal was to avoid detection, so I didn’t establish any ongoing relationships. I just did one-offs at different doctors’ offices, community health centers, that kind of thing.”

“But never the same one twice,” he said.

I nodded.

“Smart,” he said.

“Now my turn,” I said.

He nodded.

“How did you find out?” I asked.

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