Page 37 of Devil's Due

“Nah. Dismissed that. Whoever set up your identity knew what they were doing.”

“I’m a programmer,” she objects. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

“Is there an ex somewhere? And did you do it yourself?” I ask direct.

Her mouth opens, but she can’t force a lie from her lips. Yeah, just as I called it.

I change tact. “What are your thoughts about the car that almost killed you?”

“An accident. I spoke to the cops earlier. They’ve still had no luck finding out what car it was. They think, because they hit the dog and not me, that they felt they needn’t stop. Should have, but maybe acted in panic.”

“That might be what the cops think. But how about you? What conclusion have you arrived at?”

“I haven’t had the time, or the want to think about it, Beef.” She throws herself off the couch and starts pacing, expertly avoiding everything in her way. “I’ve been too tied up with worrying about Max. Since I’ve had him he’s made my life worth living. I couldn’t have come here without him. Now he’s not here, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

I stand. I move into her space, my hands stopping her forward motion. Again she tries to push me away, her fists hitting my cut. I pull them away before she damages herself, knowing she’d bruise before I do. “You’re fuckin’ worried, aren’t you? Whatever you’re running from may have caught up with you, and while you’re trying to ignore it, you can’t.”

“They can’t have found me, Beef,” she admits at last. “I was assured it was impossible. Yeah, what do you think? Of course I’m wondering if I was deliberately targeted, but the driver probably just made a mistake. That’s more likely than someone finding where I am when I’m halfway across country.”

“Where do you come from, babe?”

Her mouth slams shut.

“I’m not here to hassle you. You really want me to go? Then that’s what I’ll do.” It wouldn’t sit well with me, and she’d probably hear my bike more times than she’d like as I kept a careful eye on her from a distance. I’m more protective over her as she can’t see what’s coming for her. A sighted person would have been able to jump out of the path of that car, but she’d had no warning. “Before you show me the door, can we talk a little more? You don’t need to tell me where you’re from or who’s after you. But I’ll tell you what I can do, and you can tell me what you need.”

Her brow furrows as she considers my words. Her frown disappearing shows me the moment of capitulation. “Okay.” I’d expected it might take more to persuade her. Then I remember, she doesn’t appear to have anyone else.

“Okay.” I take her hand and lead her back to the couch. Once there, I let her go again, then flex my fingers, missing her touch. “Can you tell me this, has your move, and the reason for it, been legit?”

“Yes. I’ve done nothing illegal.”

That’s what I expected. “Is it permanent, or temporary?”

“Hopefully just for a few months.”

“Way I see it, sweetheart, is that it would be hard for you to relocate unless you have Max fit and well with you. That may not be for another three months. Any chance you can be assigned a new dog?”

Her lips purse as though she’s not really taken that in. She’s quiet. I give her space. “A new dog is out of the question. Even if I could come out into the open, there’s a waiting list, then you have a month’s training to pair you up with the right dog and learn how to interact with each other.” She sighs. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve got dependent on having him with me. Some people manage with a white stick or have friends who can help. But I can’t go anywhere that I know someone. Can’t go to a place that’s familiar. It’s important I don’t stick out. Max allowed me to explore and stopped me from making a fool of myself, by falling over curbs or crashing into obstacles.”

“If whoever wants to silence you has found you and was behind the car almost running you down, then they’re going to make another move. My feeling is it will be soon. First thing they’ll expect is that you’ll run, and this time they may lose you for good. I reckon if anyone wants to make another attempt on your life, that it will happen before you, or whoever’s helping you, has time to make new arrangements.”

“You’re not exactly helping me feel better.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do. I want you to face up to what I think’s happening. Get ready to fight it head on.”

“I can’t fight…”

“You can with me beside you.” Stupidly I indicate the business card which had dropped from her hand onto the floor. “Won’t lie and tell you this isn’t my first assignment, but I was telling you the truth. Satan’s Devils have a security company, and I’m now on their payroll.”

“You’re suggesting I employ you and pay you? As what? A bodyguard?”

“That could work.”

Her lips press together. “And just how much will this cost?”

If I say nothing, she won’t believe me. Which will mean I lose the opportunity to learn who’s after her, and who may now have the club in their sights. “We can work out the details later, but it won’t be at full cost. I’m doing this on a trial basis myself.”

“I’m a test? You keep me alive and they’ll take you on permanently?” she scoffs.

---