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He took her hand and squeezed it. “The local police can be trusted, I promise. I know most of them, and they’re moral guys. They’ll take you seriously, and they won’t let him off because of his connections.”
“Mmph.” She didn’t know what he wanted her to say. Almost anyone could be bought or manipulated for the right price. “I’d really rather not.”
“What?” he demanded, lifting his arm from her, taking away her source of comfort. “Are you just going to hide out forever?”
Put that way, she supposed not. “I figure he’ll get sick of looking for me and give up.”
Surely she wasn’t so indispensable to his career that it was worth endangering his freedom by doing something illegal.
“And then?” he demanded. “Did you think about the next girl who’d fall into his web?”
Shame welled within her, hot and unwelcome. “I didn’t think.”
“You were in a tough spot.” His voice gentled. “But you know what he’s like. You need to tell someone, so some other girl doesn’t end up in the same situation as you.”
She drew her knees to her chest and hugged them, wishing with all she had that she could simply end the chapter of her life that involved Charles Wentworth. It seemed that was not to be. But then, after how epically stupid she’d been, she didn’t deserve to take the easy way out.
She sighed. “I have to, don’t I?”
He shifted, rubbing a palm in circles on her back. “You never have to do anything, but yeah, I’d recommend it.”
“Okay. You can call them.” She sighed. “Make sure you get everyone here who needs to know the story. Kat, too. I only want to tell it once.”
“You’re being very brave.”
She wanted to grump at him, to say that his tone was patronizing, but she knew he was doing his best to soothe her.
“I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
She nodded, but inside she wondered if he’d change his mind. Promises like that were so easy to break.
15
Tione had never soughtto be anyone’s hero, but damned if he didn’t want to do everything in his power to help Megan. He wasn’t the kind of guy who enjoyed being wrapped up in drama, but the universe had handed him an opportunity to atone—at least in part—for past mistakes, and he was determined to do things right this time around. That meant getting the police involved and stepping back before he could endanger her with any well-meaning interference.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed the local policeman’s number and spoke without waiting for a greeting.
“Kia ora, Elliot. Can you come over to Sanctuary? I’ve got a woman here who’d like to talk to you.”
“You want to tell me what this is about?” Elliot asked, gruff as ever.
“Not right now. It’s not my story to tell. But suffice it to say, something has happened to her.”
A heavy sigh came down the line. “Okay. I’ll be there in five.”
“Thanks, man.” He hung up and dialed Betty. “I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“Anything you need,” she replied, probably because she still felt guilty about their run-in earlier—a fact he’d been counting on.
“Can you come over and prepare dinner for the guests? Something has come up.”
There was a brief silence, during which he had no doubt her gossip-seeking radar had gone off. “What kind of something?”
He rolled his eyes. “Can’t tell you right now. Can you help, or not?”
“Of course I can,” she said, as though it had never been in doubt. “I’ll head over right now. Shall I meet you at your cabin?”
He suppressed a smile. She wanted to know what was going on, and she wasn’t about to give up. “No need for that. You know where the kitchen is.” She made a sound of disappointment. “Thanks Betty,” he continued, not giving her a chance to protest. “All myaroha. Bye, now.”
