Page 24 of Clever Deceit

––––––––

I STOOD BACK AND STARED at the bag I'd just finished packing.

Trying to figure out how I felt about the whole thing.

On one hand, I didn't want my mom to leave town. I wanted her here with me so I could keep her safe and take care of her. I wanted her available to give me advice when I needed it. I'd just found her again, and I hated the idea that she was already leaving me.

Then again, she was only going to be gone for a couple of days.

And her leaving town when Tony and Mark were causing trouble and getting way too close to the house wasn't the worst thing. Maybe I was being selfish, wanting her to stay here. Maybe it was safer for her to be somewhere else where they couldn't touch her.

I was sure that latter option was true. But it didn't make it any less true that I didn't particularly want her leaving.

“Everything ready?” my mom asked, wheeling herself into the room.

I turned and watched her as she made her way around, marveling at how good she'd become in the wheelchair. “You look like you've been using one of those things for years,” I said. “You've gotten so fast!”

She made a wry face at me. “Only because I've had to. Believe me, the sooner I can get out of it, the better. That's why this surgery is so important.”

I went and bent down to hug her, giving in to the need for physical comfort. “If you need me for anything while you're gone, I'm only a phone call away. You know that, right? If you need me, I'll jump in the car and drive right to you.”

She pulled back and tipped her head at me. “You worry too much. Are you okay?”

“Just sad that you're leaving when I just got back, I guess.” I dropped onto the bed. “And worried about you going by yourself.”

“I'm not going by myself. My sister's going to be there too. And it's only for a couple of days. But if you want to come visit me...” She pressed her lips together for a moment. “You know, it might not be the worst thing for you to do that. Get out of town for a little bit. You and Warren.”

“Take a vacation together? What are you trying to do, get us to get even more serious?”

She laughed. “Would you blame me if I did? He's a good man. The sort of man you deserve. But that's not what I'm getting at. I just don't think it's safe for you here right now.”

She was right. I agreed with her.

But I also knew that we had a plan, and that Warren's friend Richard was on his way to meet with us today to figure out how we were going to carry it out.

We weren't going to leave town for our own safety. Because by staying, we were going to find a way to take Tony and Mark down—and make the whole town safer. Including my mother.

I picked up the bag and stood. “Come on, Susan's waiting for you. You need to get going. When you get back, things will be better. I promise.”

Could I make that promise? Probably not.

Did I hope I was telling the truth, though?

Absolutely.

***

THE MINUTE MY MOM AND aunt left, I got lonely. Warren was out walking Silver to give my mom and me time to say goodbye, but now that the house was empty, I hated it. I didn't like the shadows in the corners or the wind blowing the trees outside, and every time there was a knock or creak in the walls, I jumped.

I remembered too well the banging at the door that had always heralded an arrival or present from Tony and his gang. The feeling had crept into my guts and sat there, just waiting to jump out at me.

Maybe I had PTSD too.

When the door opened, though, it was Warren and Silver, and my dog came racing in and hurled herself at me, all kisses and cuddles from the short time we'd been apart. I laughed and wrapped her in my arms, overjoyed to see her again, and thought once more about how much she'd saved me. I might have taken her out of a bad situation, but she'd filled my whole world with her excitement, and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without her.

Hopefully I wouldn't have to experience it for a very long time.

“Your mom gone?” Warren asked, looking around the house.