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Chapter Ten
“Why are you leaving me here? I want to go with you.” Alicia’s whine scored a direct hit.
“Sorry, kid. I can’t take you this time. It’s personal business. I’ll only be gone for a couple hours, I promise. Just a loose end I need to tie up.”
“I’m scared without you nearby, Carolina; terrified, actually. I’ll be sick the whole time you’re gone. Please, can’t I come with you?”
From the moment Carolina promised to keep Alicia safe, to be her guardian in witness protection, the girl had become weirdly attached.
Carolina forced her voice to stay calm rather than losing her cookies at Alicia. Frustrated already about the phone call to Prowler – the one where she’d agreed to take on the safety of their witness – she now faced explaining the change in plans to her grandfather.
“Kid, back off.”
Before the last syllable had left Carolina’s raised voice, Alicia’s demeanor changed from beseeching to totally distressed.
Calm down, bitch… it’s not her fault.
“God, I’m sorry, Alicia.” Carolina sucked in some air and lowered her voice. “Kiddo, you can’t be seen with me. You know we’re leaving later today, right. And we’ll be together until the trial. But you need to give me these couple of hours. I made plans that I need to complete in case anyone is watching.”
“I’m sorry. Detective Crawly explained it all to me.”
“See, that’s right. In the meantime, one of their stipulations is for me to carry on as if nothing has changed. While I’m away, Officer Dale, Melissa, the cop who’ll be taking my previously planned trip, will be here to switch her things into my suitcases, etc. You’ll have company while I’m gone. Okay?”
“He said she’d be bringing a file with our new identities that we have to memorize.”
“Yes. Studying it will help pass the time. From now on you need to remember to call me Charli.”
“Why Charli?”
“It’s a nickname my Gramps gave me when I was younger. I’m used to it. Kiddo, I gotta go.”
“You’ll be safe?”
Ahh… her inner lightbulb ignited.The kid isn’t scared for herself, she’s worried for me.Carolina’s attitude melted, and she softened her tone. “Yes, honey. Give me an hour, two tops.”
Alicia swallowed, her eyes filling. She blinked rapidly and held out her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a baby. I don’t want to be a burden.”
If she was a hard-hearted woman, Carolina might have taken her hand briefly and made light of the situation. But as much as she’d buried her young-girl tendencies as a loving, huggy person, this was one time she couldn’t block herself.
She put her arms around Alicia and smoothed her long hair while the youngster clung tightly, a suspicious sob low but clear. “Hey baby, we’re gonna be glued at the hip from now on. And no need to be scared when you’re with me. I’m FBI and I don’t take any prisoners, right. That asshole comes anywhere near us, and I’ll plug that varmint right between his beady little black eyes. Deal?”
Laughing shakily, Alicia nodded and leaned back. “Deal. But just so you know, his eyes were anything but beady.”
“Yeah? Well, when we get to Florida, they’ll have a sketch artist working with you so you can bring him to life for all of us.”
“And photos from the criminal website too?”
“Yes.”
The doorbell rang to break up their embrace, but before Carolina could drop her arms, Alicia gave another tight squeeze and whispered, “No one’s ever hugged me like this before. Thank you.”
“Oh baby, you aresowelcome.” Carolina caressed her cheek before heading to the hallway to let in her decoy. With the back of her hand, she swiped at her own cheek before opening the door.
Poor, kid…
***
In the same booth that Charli and her grandfather often frequented at his favorite diner, Charli finished her thick vanilla milkshake and ate the last bite of her heavenly scented Polish dog. When her food had arrived, the smells of her most passionate teenage junk food assaulted and her hunger had taken over.
