In Seconds

13

A motorcycle sat parked against the side of Vivian’s house. Myles spotted it as soon as he started over with Jake and Mia. While the kids ran in to talk to their mother, he stood outside wondering where the hell that bike had come from. It’d obviously seen a lot of miles. And it was far too big for a woman…?.

Before long, Jake appeared at the door to the little antechamber that led to Vivian’s kitchen. “Hey, you coming?”

“Looks like you have company.” Myles motioned to the bike.

He grinned. “My uncle Rex. You gotta meet him.”

Myles had heard about an uncle Virgil. Just this morning. Now there was an uncle Rex? Vivian had more family than he’d thought. Yet she’d gone two years without an out-of-town visitor. Why hadn’t either of these brothers come to see her?

“Sheriff King?” Jake prodded when he didn’t move.

Despite his curiosity regarding Vivian’s family and her past, Myles felt oddly reluctant to go inside. But he climbed the stairs and followed her son into the kitchen, and there he saw a wiry man about his own height and age sporting a little too much razor stubble to be making a fashion statement. Dressed in a torn T-shirt with the sleeves cut out, some holey jeans and unlaced boots, he was leaning up against the counter and laughing with Mia, who was hugging his leg. When he saw Myles, his eyes narrowed. And that was when Myles knew—this was no family relation.

Vivian had said she’d only slept with two men in her life—her ex-husband and a steady boyfriend. This wasn’t the ex; that was plain. Myles didn’t want to believe it was the boyfriend, either. Not after last night. But the way Vivian refused to meet his eyes suggested otherwise.

Trying to squelch the jealousy that sprang up, Myles forced a congenial smile as Jake ushered him across the room.

“Uncle Rex, this is Sheriff King.”

Determined to be polite, Myles extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Rex glanced at Vivian before responding with a halfhearted shake. “Same here.”

“The sheriff helped me gut my fish,” Jake announced as if Myles had just done something incredible.

Rex considered Vivian’s son. “The law helps with that sort of thing these days, does it?”

“The law?” Mia wrinkled her nose in confusion.

Jake tried to explain that a sheriff was “the law.” He caught on to a lot more than most nine-year-olds. But no one else bothered to clarify. From what Myles could see, Vivian was too uncomfortable having him and Rex in the same room to allow herself to be distracted—another indication that Uncle Rex held special, and most likely romantic, significance in her life.

“Least I could do, for a neighbor,” Myles replied with a shrug.

Rex poured himself some coffee. “Nice of you to take the time. Especially since I hear you’re in the middle of a big murder case.”

The underlying accusation—that he should be at work—caused Myles to bristle. Vivian reacted, too, by attempting to defend him.

“He has his investigators on it,” she said, but Myles kept his focus on Rex.

“You know what they say. You want something done, give it to a busy person.”

“They say that, do they?” Rex blew off some of the steam rising from his coffee before risking a sip.

Myles let his gaze range over the other man, all the way down to his untied boots. He didn’t care who this guy was. He wasn’t intimidated by him and he wanted “Uncle Rex” to know it. “Maybe only among the working segment of the population.”

Rex surprised him with an outright laugh. “That so? Guess I know how I missed it, then.”

“What do you do?” Myles asked.

Lifting his cup in a taunting salute, he sobered but a faint smile remained. “Whatever I want, Sheriff.”

“I figure whatever you’ve been doing must’ve been important. Otherwise, I’m sure you would’ve shown up long before now, given the fact that Vivian could use a hand around here.”

That mocking smile finally disappeared. “You know, I’m not particularly fond of anyone who wears a uniform. You might’ve noticed.”

“Oh, yes, I’ve noticed. And I’m guessing it comes from past experience.” He turned to go, but Jake grabbed his hand.

“Wait! You’re leaving?”

“I’ve got to get to work, buddy.”

“But you’re coming to dinner tonight? So we can cook the fish? You said you would.”

One glance at the stone-faced Rex and embarrassed Vivian, and Myles decided he should’ve listened to his better judgment yesterday. Whatever he’d felt when he was with Vivian last night…he must’ve been confused or looking for an escape from the tedium that’d become his life. Vivian was beautiful; there was no question about that. And there was something about her that stirred him on a very deep level. But he wasn’t about to get involved in some kind of love triangle. If Vivian wanted this guy, who was obviously not a productive member of society, she could have him.

“Actually, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. I’ve got a busy day ahead of me and I’ll probably have to work late.” He mussed Jake’s hair, hoping a bit of affection would soften any disappointment. “But I’m sure Uncle Rex will be happy to help out.”

It was small consolation that Jake didn’t seem enthusiastic about the substitution. “I don’t think he cooks,” he said with a frown. “He doesn’t even eat much.”

Myles wanted to say that drug addicts rarely do but bit his tongue.

“Anyone can fry a fish,” Rex muttered, and Myles accepted that as the end of it.

Without acknowledging Vivian, he offered Jake and Mia a quick goodbye and left. Then he sat in his car for several seconds before starting it, wondering why he felt sick.

Vivian cradled her head in her hands. “That went well,” she groaned.

Rex continued to nurse his coffee. “What is he to you?”

Jake dragged his precious cooler to the fridge. “I told you, he’s our neighbor.”

“Friendly guy.”

Vivian couldn’t resist the urge to defend Myles. “You started it.”

“So? I didn’t like the look of him.” Rex watched her with heavy-lidded eyes. He was sexy—she had to give him that, even when she was angry with him. The pretty face that’d earned him his nickname was so appealing, so arresting. It didn’t matter that he was haggard and spent after doing God knows what to himself for the past few weeks, months, years. He was as much a danger to her peace and well-being as The Crew. She couldn’t love someone who was so broken. She was too broken herself.

“It was the look of him that made you so unfriendly?”

“Maybe it was the way he looked at you.”

Distracted from his catch, Jake’s attention shifted between them as if he was watching a Ping-Pong match. No doubt he could feel the undercurrent, and Vivian didn’t want that. She lifted one hand. “Let’s just…let it go.”

Rex opened his mouth to argue, seemed to realize he had no right, and finished his coffee instead. But she could tell he understood that Myles was a bit more than the average neighbor. And he wasn’t happy about it. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the situation, either. Especially because, when she was with Rex, the comfort of the familiar engulfed her, made her want to slide down the mountain she’d climbed, right into his open arms.

Hoping to dispel the sudden gloom that hung over her, Vivian stood and tried to infuse her voice with some enthusiasm. “Who wants pancakes for breakfast?”

“The sheriff already made us pancakes.” Jake moved his fish into the fridge before taking his cooler outside to empty out the water and ice.

During his absence, Mia twirled around in the middle of the floor. “He made my pancake look like Mickey Mouse.”

“He’s a regular father figure,” Rex drawled.

The phone rang, giving Vivian an excuse not to respond. But once she picked up, she wasn’t sure this conversation was going to be any easier than the confrontation she’d avoided. It was Virgil. And he started by saying he had bad news.

“What kind of bad news?” she asked.

Hearing this, Rex came forward. She could feel him, standing directly behind her.

“Ink broke out of prison a week ago.”

Vivian felt as if the floor had just dropped out from under her. Ink was the man she feared more than any other; it was his face that appeared in her nightmares and woke her in a cold sweat. “Out of Corcoran? How?”

“Out of the California Men’s Colony. The details are sketchy but I was told they cut through the fence around the yard.”

She blinked, battling a sudden welling of tears. “I’ve never heard of the California Men’s Colony.”

“It only goes up to level three. It’s known as the country-club prison because of all the programs they’ve got down there.”

Lowering her voice, she turned away from the children and right into Rex’s chest. She thought he might put his arms around her, but he didn’t. “Ink’s a murderer! Why would they move him to a cushy place like that?”

“Because of his handicap. He wasn’t deemed a threat. He can’t get around like he used to. He came across as withdrawn, penitent, always in pain. And he didn’t seem to be active in The Crew anymore. Word has it he’s become a bit disenchanted with the brothers.”

“That could be good news, couldn’t it?” she asked. “If he’s disenchanted, why would he carry out their business?”

“I’m not sure he considers us ‘their’ business. For him, it’s personal. He hates all three of us. Rex most of all, but he’ll take the easy prey first, if he can.”

She closed her eyes. Since Rex hadn’t returned to the society of his former friends, she’d decided she was fine. That she had no reason to fear. She’d wanted to believe it so badly. And now this. What did it mean? Was Ink using his time out of prison to enjoy all the things he’d missed?

Or was he coming after her?

Suddenly Horse’s words, as shared by Rex, took on a whole new meaning. Something was up inside the gang. What was it, exactly?

“How’d you find out about Ink?” she asked her brother.

“I called Jones.”

Jones was their handler, the U.S. marshal who’d helped protect them until they could get moved to Washington, D.C.

“And?”

“They would’ve notified us if they could. They didn’t know how to find us.”

“By design. But…wouldn’t a prison break have been on the news?”

“It’s not big enough to make the national news. From what the marshal told me, they still don’t consider Ink much of a threat.”

Then they didn’t know him the way she did.

“Neither is the guy he busted out with,” Virgil continued.

“What was he in for?”

“Dealing.”

“What’s going on?” Rex murmured.

Vivian raised a finger to tell him to give her a little longer.

“Is something wrong, Mommy?” Mia had stopped dancing and was looking concerned.

She covered the mouthpiece. “No, honey, it’s fine. It’s just…business stuff.”

“The purses?”

“Yeah.”

Rex gave Mia’s ponytail a playful tug. “How about you show me your room? Then Jake can show me his.”

“I don’t wanna show you mine,” Jake said. “It has these stupid bears painted on the wall.”

“You have something against bears?” he teased.

“You should see ’em. They’re for babies!”

“Let’s take a look.” Tossing Mia over one shoulder, Rex prodded Jake to lead the way.

“Hey, put me down!” Mia squealed, even though it was quite apparent that she loved being right where she was.

Their voices dimmed as they passed through the living room. After they were gone, Vivian carried the phone to the table, where she sank into a chair. “It’s not easy to break out of prison. Maybe a level one, but…level three? Where were the C.O.s?”

“In the tower, where they were supposed to be. Some of The Crew created a disturbance while others blocked the closest tower’s line of sight, and Ink and his cell mate slipped out in the confusion.”

“What do you make of the escape?”

“It could be a coincidence that Horse has recently been talking tough, but…”

“You don’t think so.” Neither did she. Not anymore. All that unease she’d been denying, that was intuition, warning her that her life was about to change.

“No. No one’s seen Ink. Unless it was a quick pass-through, he hasn’t shown up in L.A. Rex would’ve heard about it if he had. Rex was just there.”

Virgil didn’t add that Rex was there “partying with old friends,” but Vivian knew what he meant.

“He heard what Horse has been saying, right?” he went on. “Stands to reason he would’ve heard about Ink, too. This is bigger news.”

“Ink scares me.” Vivian would never forget Colorado, how he’d attempted to kill her and her children. How close he’d come to succeeding. To her, he represented everything evil and depraved.

“Rex is with you now. That makes me feel better.”

She lowered her voice. “He can’t stay here, Virgil.”

“Why not?”

Because she didn’t want to fall prey to old habits. They’d gained some distance from the heartbreak that’d taken such a toll on them both. She couldn’t survive a relapse, didn’t want to watch Rex suffer any more, either. “He’s using again.”

“He says he isn’t.”

“Then it’s alcohol. It’s…something. You should see him.”

“It’s only been two weeks since he was here, Laurel.”

“Add two weeks of sleepless nights to that and you might have some idea. He’s lost a lot of weight during the past year, maybe thirty pounds. And he wasn’t heavy to begin with.”

“I know. We need to get him some counseling.”

Judging by his voice, Virgil felt out of his depth—and so did she. No one could change Rex’s life if he wasn’t willing to fight the good fight, and she didn’t get the feeling he’d make that kind of commitment.

Hearing a sudden noise, Vivian glanced up. Rex was standing in the doorway, staring at her with an inscrutable expression. He’d heard some, if not all, of what she’d said about him.

“Okay, well, Rex and I will talk about it,” she said into the phone.

“Keep me posted,” Virgil responded.

“Virgil.” She stopped her brother before he could hang up. “They could be coming after you and Peyton instead, you know.”

“I’ve thought of that.”

“You’re not worried?”

“I’m worried, but like I said, if I know Ink, he’s going to want to kill you first.”

Dimly, she realized how different their conversations must be from those of normal people. “Why?”

“Because his revenge won’t be complete unless I know about it.”

A dial tone sounded in her ear; Virgil was gone.

Although she didn’t look up again, Vivian could feel the weight of Rex’s gaze as she returned the phone to its base. “Where are the kids?”

“Setting up a game I promised to play if they gave me a few minutes to speak with you.”

Feeling guilty that she’d even thought he might’ve let her location slip, she turned to face him. “Ink busted out of prison.”

He didn’t seem all that surprised, and yet she didn’t get the impression he’d already known. “Nice.”

“But…he couldn’t find us.”

“Do you really believe that?”

It was what she wanted to believe. That they were safe. That they could continue with what they’d created since the last move. That Pat’s murder was unrelated. “No.”

After crossing to the opposite counter, he refilled his coffee. “There are too many ways to narrow it down.”

“But I’ve been so careful.”

“How careful?”

“Very careful.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “Have you reached out to anyone from your former life?”

She couldn’t quite claim that. “You’re the only one I’ve called from here.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

His hand trembled as he lifted his cup. She wished she hadn’t noticed it. She couldn’t deal with seeing him like this, not in addition to everything else. “Okay…yes. I’ve called others. But—”

“What phone did you use?”

How was he still functioning? She’d never met anyone whose body could take such abuse. She’d bet he hadn’t been lucid since he left New York. “A pay phone. There are several in town.” She preferred to leave it at that, but her guilty conscience dragged out the detail she’d been hoping to ignore. “And…once, just once, I used the phone at the Golden Griddle.”

“What?”

She repeated it, louder, and he scowled. “What’s the Golden Griddle?”

“A restaurant in town. They serve breakfast.”

“Shit.”

“You’re not going to get mad, are you? Because that would be ironic. As a matter of fact, I think that would be about as ironic as anything I’ve ever heard, considering what you’ve done to yourself since we broke up.”

He gave her a look that warned her away from the subject but didn’t respond to that statement. Instead, he asked, “Why that phone?”

“Because it seemed safe. My friend Leah works there. She asked me to help get her car into the shop, but when I showed up to follow her over, she wasn’t quite ready. So I sat in the back while she cleaned. The kids were with a woman who’s become a surrogate grandmother to them, the restaurant was closed and the phone was right there. I liked the privacy, the chance to say something that couldn’t be overheard by Jake and Mia or people on the street. This is such a small town.”

He blew out a sigh and leaned against the counter. “Who’d you call?”

She was embarrassed to admit this. If he’d been Virgil, she couldn’t have brought herself to tell him. Because she’d called the one person she shouldn’t even want to talk to—someone she often claimed she didn’t want to talk to. “My mother.”

When he didn’t say anything, she added, “But if The Crew traces the call, it won’t matter. It’s a restaurant.”

He shook his head. “Babe, a restaurant in Pineview, Montana. Population one thousand or less. If Ink comes here, you don’t think he’ll be able to find you?”

Of course he would. So where were all the justifications she’d used the day she’d called? “As far as he’d know, I was just passing through.”

“Not if you made calls from that restaurant over a period of time.”

“I didn’t! I called only once.”

He stared through the window, at her backyard. Maybe he was noticing Myles’s yard, too, and how they adjoined each other without so much as a fence to separate them. “Actually, I’m betting even the location of the pay phones would be traceable. If you called from this area code in December and then again in…I don’t know…May, that would make anyone believe you’ve settled down.”

She’d thought of that. But she’d been so lonely, so unwilling to lose everything from her past, that she’d convinced herself the chances of The Crew finding out about those calls were too slim to worry about.

“And what did you say to your mother? What does she know?”

“Not much. Anyway, she wouldn’t sell us out. Not again.”

His eyes jerked back to her. “Bullshit.”

“When Virgil went to prison, she was choosing between her brother, who’d been trying to help her, and her son. She feels terrible about what happened.”

“As if that could make up for destroying Virgil’s life! And, to a certain extent, yours.” He sipped his coffee. “You’ve forgiven her?”

Not completely, but she was too busy playing devil’s advocate to explain. “What good would it do to hold a grudge? It’d just isolate me further. People make mistakes, right?”

He lowered his voice. “And they tend to make the same ones over and over.”

There was no point in arguing with that. He was the perfect example.

“So what do we do?”

“Will this grandma figure you mentioned be willing to watch Jake and Mia for a few hours?”

She rubbed her eyes. “What day is it?” She’d lost track of time.

“Friday.”

“She should be. She doesn’t have to work.”

“Give her a call and see. Then we’ll head to a neighboring town and use a pay phone to reach Ellen.”

“Why do we need to go a neighboring town? The entire state has the same area code.”

“In case they can trace the phone, farther would be better. Anything that extends their search parameters will help.”

“And what do we say to my mother once we reach her?”

Straightening, he poured the rest of his coffee down the drain. “We ask if anyone’s contacted her looking for you, and hope to hell she tells the truth.”