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Orly shook her head, feeling as though her blood was quickly turning to ice. She couldn’t use her I.D. and she didn’t have a library card. The overwhelming need to get out of there was almost too much and Orly’s feet started backing up before she even knew what she was doing.
“Are you okay? Martha asked, concern lacing her tone.
Orly nodded, then turned and rushed out of the building. She’d purposely waited until the end of the day in the hopes that there would be fewer people at the library so she could get in and out unnoticed. But of course, her luck meant that half the Roanoke Police Department would be there. The security guard yelled something at her as she flew past him, but she didn’t hear what he said as the double doors closed behind her. She didn’t even look where she was going as she raced down the street, not paying attention to the traffic or the people around her. When she got to the corner, she was out of breath, and her heart was racing. She looked left and right, but all she saw were cars, buildings, and strangers.
“Hey, are you lost?” A male voice asked.
Orly spun around. Two uniformed police officers stood just a few feet behind her, their gaze directly on her. Her eyes widened and they took a step toward her. She shook her head and started to back away. She wasn’t sure which one of them had spoken, but her instinct to run was so intense now, she could hardly take a breath.
“Take it easy,” the taller one said. “We just want to help.”
Orly let out a breath and tightened her fingers around the straps of her backpack. She’d almost forgotten it was on her back. It literally held everything she had in this world, but right now, she considered throwing it at them as a diversion to help her get away. “I’m not lost,” she finally said, gripping the straps until her fingernails dug into her palms.
The tall officer who’d spoken to her nodded, and she took that as an opportunity to keep walking. She loosened her grip on the straps and kept her gaze on her feet as she turned the corner and kept going at a slower pace. Footsteps lingered behind her, but not knowing if the officers were following her or if it was just people going about their business, she picked up her pace. When she heard sirens coming up behind her, she made a split second decision and turned into a dark alley. The air smelled of sewage and trash, but Orly wrinkled her nose and kept walking. Her head hung low, her shoulders hunched, and her fingernails once again dug into her palms as she held onto the straps of her backpack like it was a life vest and she was a drowning victim.
Tears burned her eyes as her breaths started to come out in ragged pants. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts she didn’t even notice when a car started backing up out of a driveway. It wasn’t until it slammed on the brakes, making a screeching sound that she looked up and saw that the bumper had come within inches of hitting her. “Sorry,” she called out.
“You dumb broad.” An angry voice called out. “Watch it!”
Orly swiped at the tears on her face with the back of her hand and just kept going. The alley ended at the end of the block. Unsure of where to go next, Orly spotted an open area with a few trees and a park bench across the street. She looked back to make sure no one was following her, and to her relief, there was no one there.
She crossed the street, eyeing the bench, and gratefully sat, her eyes blurring with more unshed tears. It had barely been three months and she was already broke and ready to give up. How pathetic was that?
You’re not pathetic. At the sound of Luke’s voice in her head, Orly only felt worse. She hadn’t meant to let him hear her thoughts. He’d been there for her since the very beginning. She had no idea why he stuck around or why their connection hadn’t faded yet. For whatever reason, Luke had stayed.
He froze my bank account. She thought, not able to keep it to herself any longer. I have no money. No car. Nowhere to go. Orly had never said those words out loud, but thinking them was more than enough to make her want to puke.
Who, Orly? Who is doing this to you? Luke’s question hung in her mind like low hanging fruit. This was her chance to finally tell someone the truth. She’d been holding on to it, protecting it, like it was her burden to bear. And maybe it was, but she just didn’t have the strength anymore.
Russell. Captain Russell Graham of the L.A.P.D. She dropped her head, lowering her gaze to her dirty sneakers and worn out jeans. He wins.
The hell he does. I told you. Come to Dallas. I’ll protect you. I’ll help you. You can stay with me or if you want, I’ll put you up in a motel nearby.You’ve never been alone in this. If you’d just let me help you. Luke had been offering his help from the beginning, but Orly had been too scared and too stubborn to accept it. Now she couldn’t make it to Dallas if she wanted to.
She didn’t even know anymore if it was Luke she didn’t trust or herself, but whatever she’d been doing wasn’t working. She definitely couldn’t keep going the way she was. She’d end up dead on the streets or back with Russell.
Please, let me help you. Let me come to you. There was a pleading quality to Luke’s tone she’d never heard before. Coming from a man like him, who sounded like he’d never begged or pleaded for anything in his life, it was a testament to how much he cared. How could this man, who’d never even met her, care so much?
I wish - Orly started to think, but Luke interrupted her.
Don’t wish. Just tell me where you are. Trust me to help you. When Orly didn’t say anything for a long moment, Luke continued. If nothing else, I owe you for saving my life. I’d probably be dead right now if it wasn’t for you and I don’t take that lightly.
Orly swiped at the wetness on her cheek. He put out an APB on me. I’m wanted for murder. She wasn’t sure how Luke would react to that, but it honestly made her stomach turn thinking he’d believe the worst.
Did you do it? Did you kill someone? Luke asked, his tone so soft, it almost made her want to weep.
No. I swear I didn’t. Orly clutched at her backpack as she blindly watched the traffic in front of her. If Luke didn’t believe her now, she really would be all alone in this world.
His next words carried a hint of anger in them that she instinctively knew wasn’t aimed at her. But it was the empathy behind them that washed over her like the tidal wave she didn’t know she’d been waiting for. I don’t know your story and I have no idea what I can do to help you legally, but let me come to you. Let me at least buy you a hot meal and a place to lay your head for a few nights. Let me help you, Orly. Please.
Orly was exhausted, ashamed, and out of money. It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, to insist that she could get by on her own, but then she looked around and saw only darkness aside from the headlights of passing cars. She had forty two dollars left to her name, and one bruised apple at the bottom of her bag she’d been saving for the last week, wondering when to eat it. And that’s when she finally let it all sink in. She had nothing to lose. Roanoke. She finally thought. I’m in Roanoke, Virginia.
***
Luke’s nightmares from his capture had subsided after a few months of counseling, but it wasn’t unusual for him to have one every now and then. This one was different though. He’d been in a library, with hundreds of eyes watching him as he ran for his life. He made it past the guard, but just barely got through the double sliding doors when two more sets of eyes landed on him again. Nausea and fear pummeled his senses, making his vision blur. He turned and ran again, this time, picking up speed even as fear knotted his gut. Darkness surrounded him. Passing lights blinded him. He shot up from his desk, his arms flying out in front of him.
“You okay?” Tanner asked, a hint of concern lacing his tone.
They’d been up most of last night wrapping up a case, so it didn’t surprise anyone that he’d dozed off at his desk. But this nightmare made no sense. Until he sensed her. Orly.
