Page 33 of In Hiding

“Keep going.”

“What if it’s the shrink?”

Jake sipped from his mug of coffee, grateful for the heat warming his palms. In the week since the accident, the temperature had plummeted. Some days, it barely stayed above freezing, but he enjoyed it more than he could have imagined. The chilly air kept him awake when out in the garden and though his fingers ached in the cold, the open fires soon restored normality.

“Then you take a break. For now, keep working.”

Will sighed petulantly. “I hate math.”

Me too, kid, me too.

Jake pushed away from the counter and gave him a stern look as he passed by. He ignored the mumbled curse as he left the rear of the great Andersen House and continued to sip his coffee as he made his way to the front door.

Who would’ve thought he’d have to play babysitter when he agreed to the job? He sure hadn’t but he didn’t complain. Will wasn’t exactly a baby and though he liked to argue with Jake’s authority about almost everything, he generally did as he was told. Even if he sometimes grumbled ungratefully and stormed up the stairs to shut himself away in his bedroom.

Jake pulled open the front door, surprised to find not one but two visitors. They chatted casually as they waited, both smiling when he appeared. Behind them, two vehicles sat in the driveway. Either he’d missed the sound of one pulling up, or they’d arrived at the same time.

Wilson, he knew, but the tiny woman beside him was new. Her long blond hair had been fashioned into a braid that hung over her shoulder and her piercing blue eyes looked him over from head to toe without shame. He guessed her to be a touch over five feet but there was no denying her strength.

“Hello.”

She chuckled and held out a hand. “I’m Kate Jackson. Sarah asked me to come by to talk to William?”

“You’re the sh, er, counsellor?”

She laughed. “Yes. I would be the shrink. Is now a bad time?”

He glanced at Wilson though for his part, the cop simply smiled and waited. “Will’s just finishing his homework. Can I offer you a coffee or something?”

“Thanks, but I’m fine as I am.”

“Well then.” He stepped back to let her in. “Come in out of the cold. He shouldn’t be too long.”

She entered and swept by him, glancing around to get the layout of the place. “I’ll just wait in the front room, if that’s okay?”

He nodded and watched her disappear through the doorway. When he turned back to Wilson, he found the cop looking quite amused. Deciding their conversation needed to be held outside, Jake exited the house and pulled the door shut behind him.

“What? No coffee for me?”

Jake rolled his eyes. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Sergeant?”

Chuckling, Wilson forced his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “We should discuss your check ins.”

The hairs on Jake’s neck bristled. “I haven’t missed one yet.”

“Relax, Jake. This isn’t about what you can do for me, but what I will do for you.”

His eyes narrowed, not liking the sound of that. “I don’t want any special treatment.” And he didn’t want to have to owe any favors.

“And you’ll get none. The only difference is, under the current circumstances, I’m willing to come to you. Saves you making a trip into town every three days and lets me out of my cage.”

Wrapping both hands around the warm mug, he found it odd that the cop would bend the rules for him. He was still mostly a stranger to these people. If anything, it should make Wilson want to keep a closer eye on Jake. Did that explain the home visits? Or had Sarah asked for a favor?

The instant the thought occurred Jake tossed the suspicion away. Though it was feasible, he doubted it explained Wilson’s presence.

“That’s very kind of you, but until Sarah is home, I’ll be popping in to town to take Will in to see her. I’ll be sure to coordinate my movements to allow me to drop by the station.”

Wilson shrugged. “Just trying to help.”

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