Page 12 of Baby Me

“Thank you. I… I’m just not too sure which one I shouldchoose.”

“Whychoose?”

“What do youmean?”

“I mean why don’t you take them all and decide athome?”

“Really?”

Cameron turned back to Gary. “Do you have that othersurprise?”

The old man grinned from ear to ear as if Cameron were underestimating him, and then removed a square box from underneath thecounter.

“What’s that?” Iasked.

“It’s for you. Stay seated, please.” Cameron lifted the box off the counter and crouched in front of me. He lowered it to my lap and unlocked the hinge at the front. I opened the lid. Inside was a brand-new gun with what looked like a built-in silencer. It had to be one of the newer ones out on themarket.

“It’s forme?”

“I know you were a detective, but I also know that you worked as a cop before that. We can practice in the back to make sure your aim is still good, but I thought it would make you feelbetter.”

“Does it make you feel better?” I asked, checking the fit of the handle before taking bullet-less aim to the back of the store where a black dot in the center of a painting of a field of poppies caught myattention.

“Definitely.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about his answer. This gun only meant that Cameron was worried about Aaron Cortez coming back for me. Even worse was the fear thatIactually believed Aaron Cortez would come back for me. I slowly lowered the gun, weighing the true meaning of his words and my thoughts. I’d almost died once, and I wasn’t planning on doing so again. I knew that if I were going to pull any trigger in my life, it would be to kill the bastard who stole the life growing insideme.

“Well, let’s hope I don’t have to put this baby to use; and if I do, let’s hope it’s used to put a bullet in Aaron Cortez.” I lowered the gun to the compartment and gently closed itslid.

“Not exactly what I would have hoped for.” Cameron removed the box from my lap, and our gazes connected. Our silent communication was clear: he was worried as well. He got me and wanted me to remain protected. This man would forever have my back and would always respect me, and I was certain that I would love him for it for the rest of my life. He was the best life partner in this world that I could everhave.

“Aaron Cortez?” The old man coughed, and both our heads turned toward him. “That name soundsfamiliar.”

“Where have you heard it, Gary?” Cameron asked, and for the first time since arriving in this town, I felt my hands shake. I grasped the sides of the chair, clenching my hands around its edges. Luckily, Cameron didn’tnotice.

“Oh, I don’t know, but the name soundsfamiliar.”

“As in he introduced himself to you familiar, or you heard his name on the news familiar?” Iasked.

“Like he was a topic of a discussion I overheard at Marianne’s diner. About a week or so ago. It’s just a name I overheard, but I really don’t remember what the conversation wasabout.”

My gaze connected with Cameron’s once more, and I knew that we were both thinking the same thing: if Aaron Cortez’s name was floating around, he couldn’t be faraway.

“Gary? If anyone ever mentions him again, tell them that he’s a loser. Tell them that he gave up twenty-five million because a woman convinced him that all fifty deteriorated in acrypt.”

Gary chuckled and went behind the striped curtain to theback.

“Kate, what are you doing?” Cameron turned me to facehim.

“He’s coming for me anyways, right? This way I’m making sure he has areason.”

“Why are you trying to trap him,Kate?”

“Because it’d be nice to do it before he trapsus.”

“No one knows about our place or this little town. He’s not going to find you. We’re pretty much off the map. Right,Gary?”

“Right.” Gary called out from the back before swooshing the curtain the side and returning. “It’s why our families have stayed here for decades. Away from concrete cities, politics, and possible nuclear attacks.” Gary’s eyes grew wide at his mention of nukes, and for a quick moment I got the feeling that Gary could be suffering from a mild form ofdementia.

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