If only shed waited for her lawyer-maybe he could have shielded her, whisked her out of the courthouse another way. But after Miss Ada had paid her bail and shed been told she was free to go, all shed been able to think about was escape. Like an animal let loose from a trap, shed bolted blindly, her only thought to runas far as possible away from here!
But now it appeared shed escaped from the trap only to stumble into the midst of a pack of ravening wolves. The heat from their bodies was suffocating as they crowded around her, pushing, jostling, grabbing, thrustingtheir words, their questions, their shouts all running together in a chorus of hungry-sounding yips and howls, deafening to her ears and terrifying to her soul. Oh God-not now. Please not now-I hate remembering.
It was hot that day. The Florida humidity made my clothes stick to me, but I felt cold clear through to my bones, cold as I do right now. I trembled with the cold as the microphones stabbed at me and the lights from the television cameras blinded my eyes. The questions came from everywhere at once, a jumble of noise, but here and there one jumped out at me
Miss Lavigne, how does it feel to be the woman who brought down the biggest drug and arms cartel in the western hemisphere?
Mary! Mary Owen-did Jason Holbrook attack you?
Do you expect the DelRey family to seek revenge because of your testimony?
Miss Owen! Will you be pleading self-defense?
Are you afraid for your life, Miss Lavigne?
I ducked my head and tried to hide my face with my hands then, too. And just when I felt the panic closing in, there were the marshals, one on each side of me, and their linked arms made a shield of safety across my back.
Panic. Oh God, please
Thenmiraculously, just as on that distant day, she felt a strong arm slip across her back, and a hard sinewy body come close against her side. Only one body, but it had the same solid strength. And, as on that day, it made her feel warmand safe.
She knew at once who it was. Something in her, some instinct she didnt wonder at or question, seemed to know his smellclean clothes and leatheraftershave and peppermints. Before she could even look up at him, she heard the voice that was already familiar to her, the growly, easygoing drawl that carried the unmistakable ring of authority.
Okay, folksgonna ask you to step aside and let her pass. Theres nothing for you here. I believe Senator Holbrook is plannin on makin a statement, though, if you all would care to hang around for another minute or two. Now if youll excuse usthats itmove asidethank you kindly preciate it
And all the while, that strong arm across her back was guiding Mary through the gap in the crowd that seemed to open magically before her, and the shouting, demanding voices receded gradually, fading to a distant babble, like a flock of grackles moving away through a forest.
When she was able to breathe again, and speak without gasping, she looked up into the impassive face of her rescuer and murmured, That waskind of you.
No problem. The sheriffs voice was a softer growl now, pitched just for her, and lightalmost cheerful. Id hate for you to get trampled on before you get your day in court.
They were in the clear, hurrying along the walkway that meandered across the courthouse grounds between newly planted beds of snapdragons and sweet-smelling stocks. She was surprised at how cold it had become; it had been such a lovely warm spring day on Saturday, the day shed been arrested. But while shed been locked away the weather had changed, the way it can in Montana in the springtime, and today a mean little wind was swirling through the forests of satellite dishes that had sprouted from the sparse spring grass, bringing with it the smell of the snow that was already dusting the slopes of the Bitterroots.
Thank you, she said, gulping a breath. Ill be fine. I dont think theyre going to follow me anymore, not right now. You really dont need to come with me any farther.
Oh, I think I do, the sheriff drawled. Youre pretty shaky.
She couldnt argue with that-she was shaking, but only because she was cold, she told herself. The lawyer, Mr. Klein, hadnt thought to bring her a sweater when hed brought clothes for her to wear to the arraignment.
Arraignment. Another shudder rippled through her, and because the sheriff was so close to her, once again he couldnt help but feel it. Shed been too panic-stricken to notice before, but her skin tingled oddly where he touched her-oddly, because it wasnt an unpleasant sensation. She had to remind herself this was the sheriff, the man whod arrested her, the man who believed her capable of shooting someone in cold blood.
She could feel his eyes resting on her, their expression lost in the shadows beneath the brim of his hat. They dont miss much, those eyes.
New panic seized her, a gut-level sense of danger that made her muscles clench and spasm with the overwhelming need to flee.
Im in dangergot to run, got to hide, got to save myselfMust get away from him How can I? Cant make him suspicious Oh God Ive got to get away!
And againthe same thoughts, same feelings, same panicBut a different time, different place, different images.
I rememberId gone looking for Diego. Something strange was happening or about to happen on the island, there had been so much activity and tension in the house all day, and a kind of indefinable electricity. At the same time I felt a heaviness in my spirit, as if a thunderstorm was brewing.
Because I couldnt find Diego, I went looking for Anita, the housekeeper, to ask her if she knew if the family was planning a trip or a party or some such thing that would account for the unusual frenzy. She was from Diegos native country and didnt speak much English, but I would much rather go to her with my questions than one of the DelReys or their security guards. I was still, to tell the truth, a little afraid of them.
I went to the kitchen. Anita wasnt there, but I heard voices, mens voices, coming from the large storeroom off the kitchen. The storage room was a necessity since the estate was on an island and all food and supplies had to be brought in by boat or helicopter. Maybe, I thought, a new shipment of supplies had just arrived and the men were bringing them in. The door was open and the light was on, but I couldnt see who was inside. Anita must be there, I thought, directing the unloading.
I didnt call out. Why didnt I call out? Thank God I didnt call out.
For some reason I went quietly closertiptoeing. And I saw them-Anita and her husband Eduardo, who took care of the gardens-lying on the floor of the storage room, lying so still I knew they must be either unconscious or dead.
I stood frozen, I remember, my heart banging inside my chest. The rumble of voices in the storage room grew louder, and somehow I was moving, moving like a flash of lightning, not even feeling myself move and yet I was no longer standing in front of the storage-room door but was instead crouched down beside the cooking island with my hands pressed tightly over my mouth to hold back my whimpers of fear.
Three men emerged from the storage room, talking quietly and urgently in Spanish. I recognized the voice of Señor DelRey, Diegos father, the family patriarch. The other two were security guards-I didnt know their names. One of them locked the storage room door-my body jerked when I heard that loud click, and when it did my terror nearly overwhelmed me. What if theyd heard?
But they didnt hear, and they didnt see me. They passed by within three feet of me, still talking, and went out of the kitchen, and it was a long time before I was able to rise from my hiding place, shaking in every part of me, every bone in my body aching, and only one thought in my mind: Ive got to leave this placegot to run
But I was on an island, and there was no place to run to.
But I was on an island, and there was no place to run to.
This townHartsvillesuch a small town. It seemed to her much like an island, in a way. Because once again, there was no place to run.
While Mary was struggling to sort through the chaos of memories in her mind, the sheriff said in a casually friendly way, like a neighbor shed happened to run into shopping, Where are you headed? You dont have a car here. How bout I give you a ride home?
She jerked a look at him that made her frozen neck muscles creak. No-thatsthank you, but I dont need a ride. She didnt try to say more; her shivering was making her teeth chatter, and she couldnt make it stop. Only her mind pleaded: Go away, please, just go away and leave me alone!
The sheriff gave her a sharp look; he wasnt actually touching her anymore, but her chattering teeth were hard to miss. Youre cold, he said. Then quickly, before she could object, he shrugged out of the leather jacket he was wearing and draped it around her shoulders.
His bodys warmth and that strangely familiar smell embraced her, and she felt loneliness and longing rise like thickened honey in her throat. You didnt need to do that, she muttered in a voice choked with it, and with a perverse and inexplicable anger. Im just going to the salon-its right around the corner from here.
Again she felt those inquisitive eyes studying her as he effortlessly matched her quickened stride. Going straight back to work? Thats dedication.
She glanced at him, trying to decide whether he was mocking her or not, but the depression in his cheek that wasnt quite a dimple told her nothing. Of course Id respect my clients appointments, she said evenly. If I had any. But I wouldnt have clients today, anyway. Im closed on Mondays.
So, why go in? People bailed out of jail, my experience is, most of the time they want to head straight hometake a shower, put on their own clotheshave a beer, feed the cat
The cat I live with has plenty of food, a litter box and a kitty door. Plus, he hates me anyway. She turned her face toward him, then lifted her hand to catch at a lock of hair that, jarred loose from its haphazard bun by the movement, chose that moment to unfurl across her cheek like a flag in the wind. What business is it of yours where I go? she demanded then, a freshet of anger making her incautious, and perhaps, illogical-a fact her unwelcome companion lost no time in pointing out.