Page 10 (1/2)

And so she needed to keep close watch and monitor the news and any other information about Walt’s pursuit, both privately and in the media It was the private pursuit that scared her theBut it was the lengths to which a o outside the law that sent chills snaking down her spine and gripped her throat in a paralyzing hold that took her breath

She tensed, shaken frohts by the sound of a vehicle just outside the trailer door Sweat broke out on her forehead, and her gaze flew to Ca on the couch

Oh God What if he was here? What if he’d found her? There was nowhere for her to run No escape She had no vehicle The one she’d bought with nearly all of her cash reserves--under a false naed her three times what the piece of crap orth had broken down outside Dover

She and Travis and Ca they had no money or means to repair it, and they’d walked It was how they’d come to stay in Dover Necessity Not choice

With the last of their available cash, Eve had rented the trailer and paid the necessary deposits to have the utilities turned on

Until she was able to work and stock up enough money to fund their escape to the next place, they were solidly stuck here

She rushed to the couch, galvanized into action by the sound of a closing door She curled her arms underneath Cammie and flew into the bedroo on her lips

"Shhhh, Ca Soid in Eve’s arms Eve damned the fact that Cammie ell acquainted with the need to hide To be quiet On constant alert

"Crawl under the bed," Eve whispered, setting her on the floor even as she issued the command "Don’t come out, Cammie No matter what you le sound Promise me"

"I promise," Cammie whispered back

Eve all but pushed the sed the faded, worn bed skirt to hide the evidence that so happened to Eve--if Walt had found her--perhaps she could convince them that Travis and Cammie weren’t with her That she’d left the them so that if Eve was arrested, or worse, discovered by Walt himself, maybe, just maybe, Cammie would remain hidden and undiscovered until Travis arrived

A knock sounded in the distance and Eve’s heart pounded harder She whispered an urgent prayer as she shakily rose from her perch Please, please don’t let it be the police Or worse, Walt It was a testament to just how much she feared her stepfather that she’d actually prefer to be confronted by the police than by Walt hi the knock There wasn’t a vehicle parked outside to indicate anyone was at home She knew no one here It was certainly in the realiven the time of day that one could assume whoever lived here was at work

Unless they knew better Unless they knew very well she was here That this here she’d fled and hid even now

Another knock sounded Harder this ti away

Bracing her shoulders, determined not to let anyone see her fear, she walked slowly to the door There wasn’t ain the door She was fortunate to have a door at all with the condition of the rest of the trailer No way to see as on the other side without revealing herself by looking out the s roo to know at least what she was up against If there were police cars outside

Frowning, she took in the same truck that had been there just the day before Donovan Kelly He’d co woman who’d hired Travis What could he want?

Feeling only a in of relief, she went to the door and cracked it cautiously, even though it was ridiculous, because if the man wanted in, there was little she could do about it Even she could break through this door

"Eve?"

Donovan’s soft inquiry slid over her ears, pricking her nape Her pulse sped up as she aze

"It’s Donovan Kelly We met yesterday," he said unnecessarily

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak She was still dealing with the overwhel fear she’d experienced when she’d heard the vehicle drive up She breathed deeply through her nostrils, willing her pulse to slow fro at her temples It wouldn’t surprise her if he were able to see her heart beat against her thin T-shirt

"Can I coripped the door harder and stared at hi from both hands

"Why are you here?" she finally ood tis that you, Ca his head toward the stuffed bags

She stared in bewilderment at him, unsettled by the unexpected visit, but more so by the determination she saw in his eyes

"Eve, I’ently "Let roceries"

It was voiced quietly enough, but there was a definite thread of corip eased on the door, and then she re under the bed in the other room Hoould it look if Donovan saw?

"Ca," she blurted "I don’t want to disturb her"

Donovan nodded even as he pushed forward, giving her no choice but to let go of the door As he walked in, his gaze went to the couch where Ca justand panic scuttled up Eve’s spine

"She o check on her while you" She broke off, gesturing toward the bags he held