Page 62 of Special Agent Isabella

“Demi’s gone.”

ChapterForty-Nine

Demi didn’t have the heart to wake up Bella and Tanner before she returned to the center. Seeing them together had brought tears to her eyes and a bolt of happiness to nourish her sad soul.

Instead, she snuck out, being sure not to make a sound. Once she reached the early-morning street, she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe her plan had a chance to succeed. She headed in the direction she needed to go and caught a bus that would get her there sooner.

Surprised and very pleased to find her rooms at the center empty, she scurried around gathering everything she’d need on her travels.

Noticing her suitcase was a lot lighter than she’d expected, she had to admit that many of the things she possessed didn’t seem to be important enough for what she had in mind for her future.

Taking a moment, she perched on the end of the bed looking at all the half-empty drawers and wiped away the tears. She’d had such visions for this place. Some had come true. Helping those youngsters on the streets to have shelter, warmth, and an unquestioning welcome had given her peace of mind. Until it didn’t.

The very things that had made her happy were to be taken away. What disturbed her was how quickly it could happen. Not because of anything she’d done wrong. The bigshots wouldn’t listen to her pleas of honor and need. All they cared about was money, and she had no ammunition left or desire to fight them anymore.

Thankfully, the people she’d left this place to… a place she’d bought with questionable funds to begin with, would have the power to get what they wanted from the deal. That thought sent a little blip of happiness to lighten her mood.

Swiping at her cheeks, she smiled at the thought of their forthcoming power struggle and was glad she wouldn’t be around. All that angst and nit-picking drove her crazy.

Instead, she looked forward to her first glimpse of the mountains from her dreams. The paradise she was fleeing to… Alaska, the land of new beginnings.

She slipped the deed to the center into a brown envelope and addressed it to the woman she’d been dealing with. Everything had been signed, now sealed, and once mailed, would be delivered.

Taking another few minutes, she wrote notes to all the people who meant enough to her to earn a personal goodbye. Of course, the longest one was for Bella and Tanner, a joint note written to them both. After what she’d witnessed earlier, she knew it to be appropriate. Seeing them wrapped in each other’s arms, like two puppies curled together in complete trust, her heart soared with joy.

The image had floored her at first. Then knowledge of just how right it looked and how long she’d prayed they’d find each other made it like a dream come true. God, Bella had driven her crazy over the years with her petty fights with the man Demi loved like a brother.

Now, their world had settled into place, and she knew they’d be happy. Hadn’t she always known they were meant for each other? She’d had a sneaking suspicion that Tanner had recognized his attraction a long time ago. They just needed Bella to fall under his spell too. Satisfaction filtered through a heart filled with affection for her best friends… her family. They were in a good place.

Last thing she did was to search for the packet of documents she’d received so long ago. Her grandfather had left her everything he owned, his little piece of paradise in the land of new beginnings.

Taking up her backpack, she glanced back at the space she’d called home and knew in her heart it had only been a waystation. As had Alan. Though he’d meant a great deal to her, they had only begun to know each other. That door had slammed shut before it ever opened wide. Heartsore, because a wonderful young man with a good soul had died, she said a prayer for him and closed off that pain.

Hearing the center begin to awaken, and not wanting to go through any drawn-out explanations or goodbyes after already writing them in her messages, she grabbed her suitcase and tiptoed out of the place, leaving for the last time.

First, a stop at the mailbox, and then a walk to the bus station. All her life, she’d had a destination in her dreams. The perfect moment had come for her to find that special place.

Alaska… a cabin, solitude, and a new beginning.

ChapterFifty

In the wee hours of the morning, once the police had cleared out, Nan and Collin worked hard at closing off the front of the governor’s mansion. They’d erected sheets of plywood over the broken windows and then locked off that part of the house from the rest. A guard had been posted to be sure there’d be no more silly business in the area outside now that it had become a crime scene.

Nan wiped her hands together once they were finished with their repairs. “Thank the good Lord, there’ll be no more rallies or gatherings allowed. The police have formed a barrier to protect us from that nonsense. It’s been like a prison for all of us having those people milling around and screaming whatever vile nonsense they think is their right to say.”

“First amendment, me dearie.”

“Bull plop. No one has the right to besmirch and lie their - their arses off about others, pretending it’s their right. What’s the world coming to?”

Collin chuckled, humor missing from his sad eyes. “You ask me that every day, and me answer is still the same.”

Nan shook her head, misery written across her expression. “I have to believe that even though some people have taken the wrong path and become lost in their conspiracy nonsense, they will eventually find their way back. And that sanity will rule once again. Otherwise, the world is doomed.”

“Ach! Your heart’s bigger’n your head. It’ll be another generation afore people come to their senses and that’s only if our generation teaches them the golden rule me mam taught us youngsters. ‘Do unto others’.”

Nan’s approval showed in her gentle pat on his arm before they headed to the kitchen. “I’ll put on the kettle, old man, and you can tell me about the saint from the earlier century who brought you into the world.”

He followed her, his teasing voice gravelly. “Ach, you do like poking the tiger, silly woman. I’ll have ye know that with age comes wisdom.”

---