Page 53 of The Agent
But God, he wished she would trust him now, to protect her, at least. He’d still be next door, but what if that wasn’t close enough? What if he wasn’t fast enough?
His palms began to sweat and he rubbed them on the front of his pants. “No,” he finally said, his voice sounding hoarse even to his own ears. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you, Marley.”
* * *
THE SHRIEK OF SIRENSreverberated in the night, causing Patrick to sink farther into the bushes. He’d been hunkered down inthe small park directly behind Marley’s cul-de-sac for the past hour, ever since he’d heard that first siren wail in the distance. Seconds from hopping the fence at the edge of the park, he’d been forced to retreat, and now he hid, waiting for the opportunity to get the hell out of here. Evidently the cops had discovered his hiding place, which sent a rush of fury to his gut.
A flash of color caught his eye, and he peeked out to see a cop car cruising along the street in front of the park. Patrols. They were obviously casing the entire neighborhood.
“Damn it,” he muttered, ducking into the bushes again.
What was he supposed to do now? He’d planned on going for the money tonight. The black backpack slung over his shoulder contained the syringes and sedatives he’d stolen from the hospital earlier this afternoon. He still couldn’t believe he’d walked in undetected and managed to break into one of the medicine cabinets. Managed to leave Marley a nice little message, too.
Now his plans were shot to hell. It could’ve been so easy. Break into the house next door to Marley’s and stick a needle in that cop bastard’s throat before he knew what hit him. And then, with the cop in a drug-induced slumber, Patrick would get his money from Marley’s bathroom while she worked the night shift. He’d considered going back to the hospital after that, waiting outside in the parking lot for her to come out. Even contemplated forgiving her for sleeping around on him. God knows, starting a new life would be a lot more fun if he had someone with him.
But now…now everything had changed.
He peered out again, breathing a sigh of relief when he noticed the cruiser had disappeared. He needed to make a run for it. If the patrols turned up nothing, the cops might start searching the area on foot soon, and he couldn’t afford to stay in this damn park all night.
He crept out of the bushes and stayed in the shadows, using the oak trees for cover, his guard on high alert with each careful step. Rocks lined the edge of the playground. He bent to pick up a decent-size one, then kept moving. He neared the sidewalk, his gaze darting up and down the street, and finally he zeroed in on a beat-up old Toyota with rust coating the doors. There was no telltale flash of an alarm as he approached the decrepit vehicle. Perfect car to hotwire.
Fingers tightening over the rock, he glanced around the dark, deserted street, then smashed in the driver’s-side window and held his breath. No alarm sounded.
He was in business.
Rapidly, he opened the door and slid into the car, his hand reaching under the dash and yanking out a bundle of wires. Two minutes later, the engine rumbled and Patrick sped away as if his life depended on it.
Because it kind of did.
He drove fast. His breath came out in sharp puffs, growing steadier the farther he got from Marley’s neighborhood. He glanced in the rearview mirror every two seconds, but no police cruisers appeared behind him. No flashing lights. No sirens.
Relief pounded into him. Shit. That had been close. Too close.
When he decided he was far enough away—he’d driven for a good half hour—he pulled up at the curb in front of a small strip mall and let the car idle.
Then he slammed his hands against the steering wheel in fury.
Damn it. What the hell was he supposed to do? He needed that money.
Then you’re just going to have to get her to bring it to you.
A slow smile stretched across his mouth. Yeah. Yeah, that could work. Marley would have to bring him the money. Buthow? How could he get her to— He straightened his shoulders, the smile widening.
And just like that, he knew exactly what he needed to do.
CHAPTER 13
MARLEY LIFTED HER HEADin surprise. Caleb stood in front of her, his broad shoulders squared, his defiant expression making it clear he would not back down.
“I know you’re angry with me,” he began. “And you should be. I lied to you, and I abused your trust. But the only thing I lied about was what I do for a living. Everything else was real, Marley.”
“Forgive me if I have a little trouble believing that,” she replied.
“It’s true. I’m still the same person. I never lied about my background. I never hid my personality.” His voice grew wry. “Don’t you think, if I was playing a part, I’d choose to be someone more charming, more likable? I know I’m flawed, Marley. I’m rough around the edges, I’m too serious, too intense, too…broken.”
Her heart squeezed in her chest. No, she would not allow herself to be swayed by his words, no matter how earnest they sounded.
“That could have been part of the act,” she said, wincing at the feeble pitch in her tone. “Make yourself out to be…to bebrokenso I’d feel some silly urge to fix you. You knew I was a nurse, that my job means I like to help people. Maybe you wanted me to help you.”
