Page 66 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“Is there somewhere the police could put me that I will be safe?”Poppy asked Billy.
Nick didn’t speak but shot Billy a look.They’d known each other since they were kids, so he interpreted it easily.
“Your best bet is to just sit tight at Nick’s, Poppy, until we can catch Davy and Denton.We have Davy’s prints in your place, plus the history between you.You’ve also just identified Denton, so we will bring him in for questioning when we find him, which is only a matter of time.”
Her cell phone rang before she could argue her point further.Looking at the caller ID, Nick relaxed when he saw it was a FaceTime call from her Aunt Jenny.
“I’ll call her later,” Poppy said.
“Speak to your aunt.She’s worried about you.Plus, it’s time you told her what’s been going on.You owe her that much in case Davy or Denton decides to get at you through her now.”Nick took the phone out of her hands and answered it.
“Hi, Aunt Jenny, it’s Nick,” he said into the screen as an older lady with a short gray bob appeared.“How are you?”
“Give me my phone,” Poppy said, reaching for it.
“Handing you to Poppy now.She’s got something important to say.”
“All right, and lovely to see you again, Nick,” Aunt Jenny said, as if they were old friends and had actually met in person before.
“Tell her,” he said, handing the phone to Poppy.She glared at him and then walked outside.
“So, Nicky,” his cousin Howard said, “what’s the deal?Are you in love with that sweet girl?Because a famous author in the family would be cool.”
Chapter26
They had left Nick’s cousin’s house ten minutes ago and not spoken a word.Poppy’s mind was whirling with what she should do, and she was sure Nick’s head was filled with what Billy had told them.
Because of her, his family could be in danger.Was someone following them even now?Had Brad Denton known where she was tonight?
“You need to listen to me, Nick.”
He shot her a look.“Shoot.”
“You love your family, and you want them to stay safe.”
“Of course.That’s a given.”
“Well then, you see that me leaving is for the best.I don’t have to stay away forever, just until these men are caught.I have a book to write and could find somewhere Malcolm Davy and his accomplice can’t find me.”Her words came out calm and rational—the opposite to what was going on inside her head.“It’s for the best,” she added.
“Want some ice cream?”Nick said.
“It’s freezing outside, and how can you think about ice cream now?”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those weirdos who never eats ice cream in the winter?”He shot her a look that told Poppy he was messing with her.
“I mean it, Nick.I want to go away.Maybe Europe.I have an author friend there I could visit.”
“Ha-ha.”
He drove like he did everything: confidently.Poppy wanted that desperately for her life now.She’d been scared for so long.
“So, I’ll book a ticket,” she added.
Nick directed his pickup into the drive-through lane.Lowering the window, a blast of cold air filled the car.
Damn you, Malcom Davy, for doing this to me,Poppy thought,and damn me for avoiding dealing with it for so long.She’d truly believed that eventually he’d leave her alone.You’re a naïve fool.Nick was right.
“Hey, how’s your evening going?”Nick said, smiling at the young girl who was leaning out the small window to ask what he wanted.
