Page 44 of Shielding his Legacy
Her brows snapped together. “U.S. Marshal…”
“That’s right.” He closed the wallet and returned it to his pants pocket, his stare seeming to assess her in a way that reminded her of a parent or fairy godmother. “I’m not going to hurt you, Miss Livingston. Not everyone with a badge is on the wrong side of the law. Some of us are just trying to help people.”
“How can you help me?”
“Miss Livingston, I don’t believe you did anything wrong.”
She remained silent.
“I think you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw something you weren’t supposed to see. That makes you a material witness to an internal affairs investigation that just got a whole lot more complex.”
Still, she said nothing.
He looked down at the baby, then back at Eva. “But producing the photographs you took during the murder and testifying against the perpetrator puts you in grave danger. Have you heard of WITSEC?”
“Witness protection?”
He nodded. “My office is in charge of the witness protection program. In exchange for your testimony and those photographs you took, I’d like to offer you and your daughter placement in our program.”
“Really?”
He smirked kindly. “Yes, Miss Livingston. Really.”
“Just like that? All I have to do is say yes, and you give us new identities and whole new life?”
“That might be a slight oversimplification, but that’s the gist, yes.”
She was smiling now, more relieved than she could have imagined. The nightmare that had started when she went totake a few pictures was officially over. “Where would we go?”
“You would have your choice of several different places. We have people all over the country. You’d be given a new identity, a job?—”
“Can you set me up with my own photography business? Just a small one with some basic equipment.”
He nodded. “That can be arranged, sure.”
“And an apartment?”
“Of course.”
She suddenly thought of Gavin. Would he be willing to come with her? Would he be allowed? “What about my daughter’s father?”
He glanced at the baby, then back at Eva. “Is he a… boyfriend?”
“Yes.” It occurred to her that calling him this was also an oversimplification. She chose not to focus on that.
“I’m sorry, but no. Only spouses and immediate family are eligible for placement in the program.”
Eva felt like she’d been slapped. She could be assured of her and Abby’s safety, but only if she was willing to let go of Gavin forever. Things might not even work out between them, but was she prepared to exchange the possibility that they might work out, for the certainty of a never?
He folded his hands in his lap and knitted his fingers together. “I can see that complicates things for you.”
She nodded.
He sighed softly. “Look, we’re three hours away from Manhattan. Why don’t you take that time to think about it. If you decide you want to take me up on my offer, the state troopers will turn around and take you right back here. Sound like a plan?”
Thirty minutes later, Eva was leaning over Abby’s carseat, feeding the baby as tears welled up in her eyes. Sniffling, she wiped her nose on her forearm and wished for a tissue.
“Here.”
