Page 60 of Allie's Shelter

“Fine.”

“Have you seen Roberts anywhere?”

“Nope.”

That was a relief. Maybe he was off meeting with his informant and didn’t have time to hassle Allie yet.

“What about Deputy Morris?”

“Haven’t seen him either.”

Ross hated thinking Morris had been paid off by Roberts, but there was something familiar in the way the man at the jail moved. Athletic and cocky. The Clark bar left at both the sniper’s nest and the jail couldn’t be a coincidence either. He had to find the connection.

“Do you know if he likes Clark bars?”

“What?”

“Never mind.” He could confirm that with Mrs. Jackson. “Did you run his financials?”

“Not before she took off… Cochran had the other deputy and the dispatcher to lunch. Allie waited on them.”

Ah, hell. Cochran must have said something about Allie’s alibi. Ross slowed down, his speed coming closer to the legal limit. He was suddenly a lot less eager to face Allie.

“See if you can corner her near her aunt’s house. You done with the security there?”

“Hallelujah. And yes.”

“She won’t be happy.”

“Ya think? If I find out…this is a result of some lover’s tiff…I’m going to shoot you.”

“I might let you.”

The call ended, Ross considered the best way to salvage this mess. It would help if he knew exactly what set her off. Whatever the cause, if he lost Allie over this, he’d never forgive himself.

He was seriously screwed here, but maybe Eva could salvage it with a ‘girls against the idiot guy’ thing and Allie wouldn’t walk out of his life without so much as a goodbye again.

Well, not really again, since someone had manufactured their breakup years ago. Reminded of that detail, and hopeful those answers would earn him a few points with Allie, he picked up the cell phone and made another call.

* * *

Allie was reluctantly impressed at how well Eva kept up with her. Well, sort of kept up with her. She’d run a circuit of Main Street, grateful for the crisp fall air as she turned for the park trail that wound around the lake.

There were dozens of places Bradley might be hiding along the way, and while she was sure Eva wouldn’t believe her, the idea that he might attack crossed her mind more than once. She envisioned a confrontation of epic proportions and in her mind she was brave, strong, and victorious.

She ran, and visualized, and ran harder until she realized she was fed up with all of it. From Bradley’s criminal behavior to hiding in plain sight, she was absolutely through. Factoring in her shameful behavior with Ross… Well, she was ready to put an end to this entire dismal chapter of her life.

Whistleblower or not, today proved the disgrace of a failed career wouldn’t be unbearable if she stayed in Haleswood.

Allie’s quads burned with the effort as she sprinted uphill, doing a little Rocky-style victory dance when she reached her aunt’s deck. Taking in the wonderful afternoon view, seeing Eva trudging up the hill, guilt swamped her. It was a bizarre sensation to be high from the run and still feel ashamed and hopeless. Eva didn’t deserve the impromptu run any more than Allie deserved Ross’s deception.

Jeanne nailed it about the emotional roller coaster of a day.

From the highs of loving Ross and feeling so very loved this morning, to the rather odd reconciliation with nearly everyone in town, to this strange blend of guilt over Eva and fury with Ross. Her life was an amusement park attraction of the scariest order.

Allie waved to Eva, laughing at the rude gesture in reply. She knew she’d earned the woman’s eternal hatred. “Sorry,” she called when Eva was almost to the deck. “There’s water inside.”

“That’s a start.” Eva eyed the stairs warily. “Is there an elevator?”

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