Page 38 of Abigail
“Where’s the bastard at this moment?” Straw demands into the phone. His patience is at an all-time low.
“Still headed toward the shelter, about 3 blocks away,” Wallace replies. “Worm is closer as we are taking turns tailing him. Lucas, one of Olson’s men, is about to pick up the tail in about half a block. Why? What’s up?”
“I need to cross over the street and make sure Abigail is here at the shelter,” Straw informs him as he begins to cross the street. “I didn’t want to give us away if he was closer.”
“You going to get her out?” Wallace asks. “Because I sure as fuck would if he were after Emma.”
“Can’t deny that I sure as fuck want to, but I have a feeling that she won’t appreciate it,” Straw answers honestly. “I’m going to make sure she’s actually here because I was too busy fantasizing on all the ways I’m going to kill this bastard and make him suffer before doing so, instead of getting her schedule for the day. I fucking dropped the ball man.” Straw slips down the alley between the shelter and the run-down laundry mat to the employee lot in the back. Rounding the building, he scans the parking lot to see that Abigail’s SUV is not in its usual spot. He turns to the back door as he hears Wallace spewing a string of curses.
“Motherfucking dickwad son of a bitch!” Wallace exclaims. His sudden tirade causes Straw’s heart to drop. Something bad is going down. Straw needs information.
“What?” Straw yells into the phone as he enters the shelter through the back door. He can hear that Wallace is apparently running down continuing to curse. “Wallace! Tell me what the fuck is going on?” Straw yells, running down the hall toward the offices. He notices the lights are off in Abi’s office. Passing on by, he heads toward Jolene’s office. The woman looks up when he busts in her door.
“Where’s Abi?” Straw doesn’t bother with niceties. He’s got to find his woman before Todd does.
“Robert!” Jolene exclaims jumping to her feet. “What’s going on?”
“I need to know where she is.” Straw is holding on by a thread. The sounds coming from his phone have him on edge as waits to hear back from Wallace.
“Abigail had a meeting today at a potential venue for the talent show fundraiser,” Josie supplies just as Wallace finally answers Straw’s questions.
“Dammit Straw,” Wallace begins. “I’m sorry man. He fucking gave us the slip. He had someone waiting for him in a vehicle on the corner of Helm and 2ndstreets. We are in Olson’s man’s vehicle as it was the closest, but we’ve lost sight of their vehicle. It’s a silver Ford four-door sedan. Not sure on the model, I didn’t get a good look at it, but I saw the Ford emblem as they drove away.”
“Thanks man,” Straw replies. “I’ll keep a look out for it here. Abigail is out somewhere at a meeting. I’ll text the address as soon as I have it.” Ending the call, Straw looks to Jolene knowing the woman will understand he needs to know where Abi has gone.
“Jacksonville Commons,” Josie answers right away. “Robert, what’s happening? Is Abigail in danger? She mentioned this morning that her ex was on the loose.”
“I’m afraid she might be,” Straw replies sadly. “Todd, her ex just gave his tails the slip. He’s in the wind.” At that moment, the same statement just goes out on the group text. Straw’s phone begins blowing up with replies from the members. Straw makes a mental note to kick Wallace’s ass for the annoyance this group text will cause him, but at the same time, he needs to thank him for help it will lend in keeping his family safe. Straw shoots off a text to the group of where Abi’s meeting is located. Then he calls Abigail. He’d promised her no more secrets. He will keep her informed so she can protect herself and Ellie.
“Hello, handsome,” Abigail answers the phone. Her voice helping to calm him. “What’s up? I thought you guys were running drills or something with that SEAL team.” He takes a deep breath to further calm himself before answering her question. He doesn’t want to make her even more upset than she’ll already be by letting her hear the fear for her in his voice.
“We got out early, sweetheart,” Straw replies. Now to explain to her why. “Where are you? We need to talk.” He’s met with a moment of silence.
“I just finished meeting with manager of the Jacksonville Commons,” Abigail answers. “I was about to grab a bite of lunch before heading back to the shelter. Why? What’s wrong?” Leave it to his woman to know that something is wrong right away. He’s not as good at keeping it out of his voice as he’d hoped.
“Todd’s in the wind, sweetheart,” Straw answers her honestly. “We have men on Ellie’s school. Everyone is out looking for him. I came to the shelter, but you were out. Tell me exactly where you are, and I’ll come get you.”
“I don’t need you to get me,” Abigail protests. “I have to pick up Ellie. He can’t get to her, Robert. I can’t let him get to her. We have no idea what’ll do to her or tell her. We haven’t explained to her about him yet. He could tell her a pack of lies and make her distrust us. I won’t let that happen, Robert. I won’t.”
“I know you won’t, sweetheart,” Straw answers her. “But you can’t take him on by yourself. Let me come to you, and we’ll go pick Ellie up from school.”
“He could get her in the time that will take,” Abigail objects. “Meet us at home. I’m almost to Ellie’s school. I promise I’ll come straight home after I pick her up.”
“Abi, please,” Straw pleads with her. “I…I can’t lose either of you. I need to protect you, sweetheart.”
“I know.” Abi’s voice softens. “I love you, Robert and how protective you are, but Ellie and I’ll be fine. We’ll be home soon, honey.”
“I love you too, Abi. Virus and Tank are stationed at the school, today.” Straw is texting the two men even as he speaks. “I dropped Tank off on my way to the shelter. Ellie is well protected, sweetheart. I’ll have them follow you home. Be safe, baby. I’ll see you soon.” Ending the call, he’s waiting for a reply from the men as he heads back across the street to Tank’s SUV. Climbing inside he scrolls the messages on the group text to get caught up on everything that’s going on. He finally gets a text from Tank letting him know that he has eyes on Abigail entering the school. He feels his body relax at seeing those words. He texts back asking him to let him know when they are on their way home. Tank confirms he will keep him updated. Straw pulls out of the parking lot and heads in the direction of Ellie’s school. He knows she told him to meet her at home, but something is telling him to head to her. She’s going to need him.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Abigail enters the school after being buzzed in by the school’s secretary. After getting Ellie signed out, she herds the child out to her SUV, Ellie chattering the whole time. She’s upset with Abi for picking her up early. The teacher had planned to give them a special snack and extra recess time today as a reward, because the class had scored well on a recent test. Abi gets Ellie buckled in, climbs into the driver’s seat before buckling herself in, and starting the vehicle. A knock on her window causes her to scream, scaring Ellie. Whipping her head to look, Tank is at the window with a look of contrition on his face. She lowers her window as she tries to calm herself back down.
“I’m sorry, Abigail.” Tank’s face is contorted in a frown. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just wanted to let you know that there’s been no sign of T-…um…any trouble. Virus and I will be right behind you, okay?” Abigail nods giving him a thankful smile.
“Thanks, Tank. I really appreciate it,” Abigail replies.
“Tank!” Ellie calls from the backseat. “What are you doing here? Momma picked me up early from school, and I’m gonna miss my special snack. It’s not fair! Tell her I should get to stay!” Ellie has Tank wrapped around her little finger. She’s going to use that to her advantage if possible. The poor child is going to be disappointed. Abigail won’t get into it with her in the school parking lot, but the talk she needs to have with the child about her father and Abi’s past is at hand.
