“Jamie’s call will be on Zoom,” Austin explained, dragging her back to the moment. “Let me walk you through the internet security stuff.”
She nodded, ready to get out of this room—away from the photo that reminded her of all she had lost. In the office he had created, he showed her the login information and prepared the laptop for receiving the incoming call.
“You’re ready,” he said. “So you know, I added new dead bolts to both doors just in case. You’ll find keys for those on that keychain I gave you. I charged the battery in Lulu’s car. Got the oil changed, tires checked and filled the gas tank, so you have wheels.”
“All of this is a tremendous help, Austin.” All of it was overwhelming. She struggled to hold back the tears.
He waved her off. “It was nothing.”
She knew that her brother was taking a couple of summer classes in addition to working full-time. This had to have been abig chunk out of his income, and she had no way to pay him back just now.
“I am going to pay you back,” she argued. “Eventually.”
“No way.” He shook his head emphatically. “You took care of me in a million ways growing up. This is the least I could do for you now.”
Rather than argue further with him, she said, “You should head back to Nashville.” She didn’t want him driving back at night. It was silly, but she was old-fashioned that way. Her aunt had drilled a lot of old-fashioned ideas into their heads.
“I thought I would stay with you for a few days,” he argued. “You shouldn’t be alone.”
Rory grabbed her brother and hugged him again. “I love you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
He hugged her just as tightly. “We will fix this,” he promised. “We have the opportunity now.”
Rory drew back and smiled. “I know.”
She said this just for him, because the truth was, there was no fixing this. No matter that she had this unexpected opportunity. Still, she would take it and the time out of that prison. But she didn’t dare get her hopes up about staying out of that place.
“As much as I appreciate the offer, you need to go,” she said firmly. “This is my battle, my tragedy. I am so thankful for your support, but I do not want it to become your battle again. You’ve done more than enough. The rest is up to me. Do you understand?”
He held her gaze a moment, his shining with the emotions tugging at him. “I do, but I still want to be here for you.”
“You can be hereforme,” she said, “without beinghere. Okay?”
He exhaled a big breath. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. Now get back to your life. You’re only a phone call away.”
He smiled and nodded. “All right.”
When he’d driven away, she closed and locked the door, the dead bolt as well. She wandered back into the kitchen for the water she’d forgotten. The chilled bottles of water in the fridge made her smile. He really had thought of everything. Then she went to the desk in Austin’s old room and sat down to wait for the call from Jamie Colby.
She was home…even if only for a little while.
Even though she was expecting the sound, she jumped when the alert for the incoming call echoed in the room.
She squared her shoulders and accepted it. “Hello, this is Aurora Harris.”
The blue-eyed, blond-haired woman who had visited her in prison smiled. “Rory, it’s so good to see you at home.”
Rory swallowed to wet her dry throat. “Thank you. It’s good to be home.” She decided not to mention the awful message that had been waiting for her on the door.
“Chance Rader is en route to your location as we speak. He landed in Huntsville a few minutes ago. He should be there in the next hour and a half or so.”
Rory nodded. “I look forward to meeting him in person.” They had spoken by phone when Jamie visited her at the prison. He had been finishing up an assignment and couldn’t come that day.
“He is one of our very best investigators,” Jamie assured her again. “As I explained to you before, everyone here at the agency will do all possible to help as well. Our research department is at Rader’s disposal as are all our resources. You will have the very best working to find the facts.”
“I appreciate your help more than you can imagine.”
