Page 20 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

Rawley shook his head "That’s theotta tell Mac now And Cooper We can’t keep ’em safe if we don’t knohat or who to keep ’em safe from"

Spencer stood up "Rawley, letaround to that when the SUV turned up She got so scared I didn’t think she’d stay upright"

Devon held her breath and concentrated on the kids, refusing to turn around and look back at the bar Because of the surf, she wouldn’t be able to hear if the SUV departed Her heart was in her throat; she was afraid as she sat there that Jacob and hisup on her

She heard a familiar whistle, then Spencer’s yell "Hey, Austin! I’ain "It’s okay," he said "He’s gone, whoever he was He said his name was Johnson, but I have my doubts"

"How old was he?" she asked

"Mid-thirties, asped "She has a son!"

Spencer nodded "He said she’d be with a boy and a pregnant girl"

She gasped again They were getting out--one or two or three at a ti people to leave and then staying behind? And what about the other women? Laine wondered if any of the others would leave of their own volition

But were they safe? Would she ever see theain?

"Is he the one you ran froave a laugh "No, he works for Jacob, the leader of The Fellowship, a far commune where I spent the past few years He didn’t one?"

"He didn’t one so long, they assume you’re far away But what are the chances they’ll see you souess," she said "When I first arrived, there were ," she said

"Theblack SUVs all the time The women went only to the Farrew Everything we needed froht to us I think it was Reese who s, whether she was asked to or not She was the eldest woone? That ood He was convincing--said he’d been in this town and on this beach every day and hadn’t seen any wo here He said there weren’t any jobs or apart here--a newconant woman He asked for a phone nuot the license plate"

"That Rawley," she said "We should never underestihthe sure doesn’t look or act like the clever dude he really is" He draped an arm over her shoulders "I think you’re safe I don’t think you have to hide froht?" He touched the bill of her cap "The hat is probably a good idea"

Mercy was suddenly in her lap, whining Sandy, hungry, cranky Devon laughed "A little beach goes a long way--I better get these kids ho ht about what had happened and was re suspicious or noteworthy turned up regarding her past life, she would speak to the deputy

Devon took the kids to Scott’s house and moments after she arrived, he was home She briefly explained what had happened and asked if he wouldafter Mercy for a while She then called and ements to o with her and have Gabriella mind the children instead, but she wanted to do this on her own Because she was terrified

Mac was already at the sheriff’s office when she arrived, but he was not dressed in uniform He wore a short-sleeved knit shirt with his jeans and see on some paperwork He looked up when she walked in and put down his pen He stood He gave her a nod "Devon," he said

Devon was shaking as she said, "Thank you for letting s I think you should know about"

He gestured toward a chair that faced his desk "Are you afraid ofwrong At least, not knowingly But if I’m arrested or sent to jail, away from my baby, my life is over"

"Let’s hear what you have to say before we start worrying about worst case scenarios How about that?"

She took a breath "Well, it started about five years ago, after I had a run of real bad luck in the jobhis features and expression as she recounted the events up to thistook an hour Mac asked a few questions Were you held against your will? Were you told you would be punished for leaving or atteal controlled substance? Are there weapons in the compound? Were there stateer to anyone who shared the secrets of the coather and ardens and by then I kneas in the warehouses"

He gave her a wan smile "Do you knohat they did with it?"