“It was the plan. Until they needed to be identified to you and Chaney there was no need for me to acknowledge their presence,” Liberty explained. “It was safer that way.”
“That sounds like they’ve been around longer than today?”
Liberty shrugged. “Maybe. They could have been getting a feel for our activities to help them do their jobs.”
Justus rolled her eyes. “At least now Chaney is separated from us. She’ll be safer this way. It’ll be harder for whoever is out there to get at both of us at once if we are apart.”
Liberty tilted her head. “Wait. Are you saying your argument with her was all an act to get her away? To keep her safe?”
“Yeah. I can’t be responsible for something else happening to her. Her parents already hate me because of the abduction. If she were hurt before trial while we were together they’d never forgive me,” Justus said. “At least now I know she’ll betaken care ofby Rawlins even if she hates me.”
Liberty pulled her into an embrace, but Justus couldn’t relax, she was still too upset.
“Kid, you never cease to amaze me,” Liberty said. “But I don’t get how you can be okay for Chaney to go off with Rawlins if you aren’t okay with Rafferty coming with us?”
Justus pulled away. “That’s my issue to overcome.”
CHAPTER 2
Rafferty followedLiberty and Justus from the law office to the restaurant where they picked up food at curbside before going back to their rental house. He did the same, followed them back to the house, and parked two houses down in a cul-de-sac where he could keep a good watch on their place while not being spotted. Then he reported in using Zoom on his laptop to Hank Patterson and his boss Kenneally.
“Have you made contact?” Hank asked.
“Did we ever,” Rafferty said, and proceeded to describe entering the elevator with Rawlins after waiting for hours for the deposition to end and for the girls to get on and about how the two men had threatened them. “It was after that when we finally introduced ourselves.”
“Throwing acid,” Hank said, scowling. “What bastards. Where are the two of you now?”
“Rawlins is with Chaney Daniels.”
“And you?” Kenneally asked.
Rafferty sighed. “I’m on stakeout outside of the Killion’s rental. Justus refused to allow me to protect her. Claimed if she needed protecting, Nolte could do it.”
“But he’s in Fool’s Gold and you’re there,” Hank said.
“Exactly,” Rafferty agreed. “She also started a fight with Chaney and I’m not sure if they will make up easily. It was like watching Mr. Hyde transform into Dr. Jekyll. One minute they were thick as thieves and the next she was turning on her friend. She may have been putting on an act, but I’m not sure. I need to keep watching her to figure it out.”
“And Liberty? How is she handling this change of events?” Hank asked.
“She’s trying to rein in Justus,” Rafferty said. “And she didn’t like that I was willing to walk away after Justus refused to let me in the house. But I’m not truly gone. I’m only out of sight. The girl isn’t getting rid of me that easily.”
“That’s my boy,” Kenneally praised. “She may have issues from her abduction she needs to work through.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Rafferty agreed. “Especially after being threatened with acid being thrown in her face if they testified. Also, Justus was spouting off she didn’t want to be held hostage in her own home. I think several triggers were pressed for her today. I’m hoping, that with Liberty’s support, she’ll settle down and see things differently.”
“Your assessment sounds strong,” Hank said. “Keep us informed as things go along. And if she keeps pushing back, let me know. I’ll contact Dr. Saunders and suggest she work that into her sessions with Justus. We can’t have her trauma put her in danger if she needs you with her for her own good.”
“Will do.”
Rafferty ended the call and settled in for a long wait. He wondered how Rawlins was getting along, but he didn’t want to reach out if his brother was having problems connecting with Chaney. Neither did he want to disturb them if he was making progress. He knew he’d hear from him in good time.
He settled in to watch and wait, knowing that there was a one percent chance that something would happen today. Buton the off chance that he was 99 percent wrong, he opened up his takeout bag and began eating recalling the moment Justus entered the elevator his gut had tightened like he’d been sucker punched. And he’d tried to remember if he was right that his assignment was the blonde and not the brunette. Because he’d heard Rawlins let out a rush of air when he’d spotted Chaney.
Deep down he feared he and his twin were in danger on this assignment. Kenneally had warned them when they signed on with the Lone Wolfe Agency that falling in love on the job was a hazard.
“You’ll think you are immune to it until you meet the woman you are assigned to protect and think she’s perfect,” Kenneally said.
In his mind, he’d scoffed at the idea of it ever happening to him, and then those elevator doors opened, and he’d seen Justus Killion. And he’d felt in that instance that he might be in trouble. But just because she was beautiful didn’t mean he had to lose his head. He could keep his distance and remember that she was his assignment. Couldn’t he?
