Page 68 of Liberty
I stared at him and smiled despite almost being arrested by this guy. “Sure.” I took the small book and pen. I signed my name as I joked, “As long as this won’t be used as a confession or something.”
He chuckled. “No, but man, are the guys at work gonna be jealous. I almost got to arrest Tiger Walker of all people!” He took the book back and tipped his hat at us. “I’ll see yah around, Belle.” He finally walked away.
Fate and I turned our heads to look at Belle.
She bit at her lip. “Ok, I know this all looks bad to you. But I figured out what must have happened, I think? So, when Deacon came to me and we devised this plan, I told my best friend and neighbor Briget very little. I mean what could I tell her? The truth was preposterous. I could not tell her that Deacon was FBI and he was going to have me help him to get my kidnapped sisterback, because she was being held by a family of monsters, who dealt drugs and killed people.”
I kept shaking my head. I still had trouble with how Deacon had fooled her by laying his and his mother’s crimes at our feet. That she honestly believed the Walkers were drug dealers and slave peddlers.
“So instead, I told her I had a family emergency,” Belle went on with her explanation. “That I took a short leave from work, but I thought I would be back in two weeks or less. I had her watching my apartment. You know, watering my plants and getting my mail. Then when my phone was destroyed because of the tracker Deacon had put in it, I imagine that she couldn't call me anymore. I bet she then tried to call my mom or went over there and my mom was missing too by then. And that just made it all even more suspicious. Then you both know the rest. I was forbidden from calling anyone at all after that and I was being held there by Talon. Then I had to arrange a wedding? Not to mention you, Liberty. You are enough distraction for anyone to deal with.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Fate replied with a nod. “Liberty’s a real piece of work. Loud, obnoxious—”
I glanced over at him and slapped the back of his head.
“Hey!” Fate grumbled as he rubbed his head. “And did I say abusive?”
Belle giggled a little then shook her head and looked down into the shopping cart. “We’d better get some fresh food next.”
We headed to the produce section then hit the meat aisles. Finally, we finished our shopping, but when we got to the checkout lane, Belle let out a gasp.
Looking over at her, I asked. “What is it?”
“I forgot food for Daisy.”
I slowly shook my head. “Is this another friend or what?”
Belle laughed. “Yes, as a matter of fact she is a friend. Wait here a minute, ok?” She turned and hurried away.
“Where's she going?” Fate came up to where we stood as he held a small basket in his hand.
“To get food for Daisy.”
“Who is Daisy?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” I looked down at his basket. It was full of junk food. Oreos, potato chips, mini sausages, microwave popcorn, a six pack of bottled beer and a pack of soda. “The hell, Fate?”
He glanced down at the basket. “I like my comfort food and since I will be up at night watching you both, I will need TV snacks.”
Belle came over with her an armful of canned dog food and a chew toy. Setting it down on top of our food, she nodded. “All done.”
I smiled at her. “So Daisy is a dog?”
“Yep, best dog in the world. Briget and I both adopted her, so we share custody.”
“I love dogs,” Fate said as he popped a chip into his mouth.
“Hey brother, you haven’t paid for that yet,” I admonished him as I pushed him ahead of us in line. “Pay up first, dude.”
He laughed and set his stuff out on the conveyor belt. Then he paid.
I set our stuff up onto the belt.
“Oh, no!” Belle exclaimed.
I looked over at her. “What is it now? Are we gonna get jumped for some other crime or what?” I joked as I gazed around at the shoppers and clerks.
Belle nodded at me. “Maybe, if we can’t pay.”
