Ana tugs her bag tighter on her shoulder, but she nods again.
A man with a checked shirt and a mountain man beard climbs down from the driver’s seat.
“This is Ramsey,” Carmen says, “he’s a teddy bear, I promise.”
The teddy bear grunts.
“He rescued a blind kitten and named it Ariel,” Carmen whispers.
Ramsey crosses his arms over a broad chest. “It’s a good name,” he mutters.
Ana and Carmen just look at him.
Ramsey glances at me for help but I thumb my nose to cover my smirk.
He huffs. “Next time, Jack can drive.”
“Or you guys could just leave me to do my job like I normally do,” Carmen quips.
“Not happening, Sunshine,” Ramsey growls.
Carmen rolls her eyes. “Are you okay to go with Ramsey?” she asks Ana. “He’ll get you settled and I’ll be there in a minute to talk you through everything.”
Ana hesitates and turns back to me. “Claren…” she starts.
“Won’t live to hurt another person,” I promise.
Ana’s shoulders loosen. “Thank you,” she whispers.
Ramsey leads her around to the back of the truck, leaving me with Carmen.
“Any problems getting here?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
Carmen peers up at me. “You were supposed to be in the Caymen Islands.”
I rock back on my heels. “About that… any chance you can get me some new documents.”
“Where for?”
I tell her and Carmen pokes her tongue into her cheek. “You know there’s extradition there. If you get caught, I can’t help you.”
“I know.” I run my thumb over my lilac painted nails.
The barest hint of a smile appears on Carmen’s lips before she shuts it down. “Send me the details.”
I dip my chin and say my farewells to Carmen. She hops back inside the truck, and I watch the pink ice cream van drive away.
Ana will be safe with Carmen and her crew, now I just need to make sure Hazel is safe too.
28
DEAD BODY VIRGIN
Hazel
As far asI can tell, Lachlan is Flynn if you take away the sense of humor and add a butt load of responsibility and seriousness.
