Page 111 of Maximus

Eva’s voice paused and I clearly heard the audible gulp of oxygen as she tried to gain her composure. “The looks on their faces will haunt me forever, if I’m being honest. Mark knew what was happening immediately, and wasn’t happy at all. Zoey simply looked confused. But after I turned the plane around, I looked back. She had a look of utter disbelief and terror on her face.”

Christ, the sorrow in her voice was killing me.

“And you didn’t leave them with anything that might help them survive, right?”

“No.” Eva’s voice cracked and it was clear she was crying. Fucking hell. “All they had were the clothes they were wearing. But, I have to tell you, Mark had approval to carry a knife on the plane, and I’m pretty sure the pockets of his cargo pants were full, but I don’t know with what. Otherwise, all they had were the clothes on their backs.”

“Good. You’re sure no one knows where you went and where you are now?”

I tuned out the rest of the recording and pulled a sobbing Eva into my arms. This, right here, was why I didn’t want her to come to Alaska. I didn’t want her to relive something she was so ashamed of. I knew it would bring everything to the forefront—not only what she’d done to Bubba and Zoey, but the reason behind why she’d been forced to do it in the first place.

“Can you please tell me who is on that recording?” the ADA asked.

“That’s Tracy Eklund,” Eva muttered as she sniffed back tears. “Me and Tracy talking.”

“You referred to her by the moniker, “Boss”. How do you know it’s Tracy?”

“Because I’ve met Tracy. She worked at her husband Kenneth Eklund’s law practice as his assistant.”

“How did you meet the Eklunds?”

“When my father was arrested on his third DUI, Kenneth Eklund was his attorney. You heard the recording so you tell me, even ten years later, wouldn’t you remember that woman’s high-pitched, nasally voice? That’s Tracy Eklund. One hundred percent.”

Eva was correct. Tracy had a very distinct voice that no one could forget.

“I believe you, but you will be cross-examined and the defense will ask. Though I think it will be moot once Mrs. Eklund speaks.”

Several hours and three more recorded phone calls later, we were finally back in the elevator on the way down.

“You did great,” I told her. “How do you feel?”

“Free.”

“That’s good, honey.”

“I can’t wait to get home and start living.”

Good Lord, her statement sent an ache over my body.

Home—I’d never had one of those and I couldn’t fucking wait to make one with her and the kids. Now, if I could manage to summon up the courage to tell her how I felt when she was awake, we’d be on our way to making a future.

Chapter 31

Time sure does go fast when you’re trying to sort your life—the previous week had gone by in a blink.

Max helped me sort my house in Florida. And after I consulted Tex, since he’d been the one to set me up and purchase my furniture, we decided to donate all of it to a battered women’s shelter. His generosity knew no bounds and I got a little teary eyed when Tex told me he knew what it was like to need help. I couldn’t imagine someone as capable as Tex needing anything from anyone—and I didn’t ask for him to elaborate.

Anaya came over and we found the perfect organization to give my belongings to. She’d been wonderful. Not only to me but to the kids as well—they adored her and Kyle, too. The couple had been over several times in the last week, and not just so Anaya could help me, but just to keep me company while Kyle and Max worked.

Tex had also given me a new identity and I prayed this would be the last time I’d have to change my name. It was getting a little ridiculous at this point. So now I was Mary Eva Deward. I would still go by Eva because, seriously, I’d never remember I was supposed to answer to Mary. Tex had also transferred my meager savings and checking accounts into my new name.

Things were coming together.

Max and I still hadn’t had our talk, but I thought after the Alaska trip we both needed to breathe and decompress. Not to mention, we weren’t out of the woods yet, not when there was still a hitman out there somewhere trying to track me down.

A man called Garrett who worked with Max and his team and was supposed to be a computer genius guy much like Tex, had spread the information all over the dark web, whatever that was, that Kenneth Eklund had been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, witness tampering, and witness intimidation. I thought tampering and intimidation were pretty much the same thing, but apparently ADA Bernard wanted to throw the proverbial book at both Eklunds.

Tracy was screwed and her lawyer was now scrambling trying to make a deal. Which meant Alaska was almost behind me. I hadn’t told Max yet, but I had one more thing to do before I could move on and Tex had been more than happy to set it up. Now I just had to find a way to actually go through with it.