Page 19 of SEAL's Sky
“I’m going to ask a friend of mine to see what we can dig up on Mr. Kurt Walker.”
“But why? What good will it do? If he figures out where I am he’ll come for me.”
“My friend, his name is Tex, he’ll be discreet. I’m sure he’ll know everything there is to find out by tomorrow even without anything other than his name and address.”
“Murph, you don’t need to get involved. I can call my attorney and see what we can do. A restraining order, something,” her mom said.
“Restraining orders can’t prevent him from coming after her, and she’d have to file in New York. I take it you don’t want to go back, right?”
“No way.”
“Then until he does something to her here, a restraining order won’t work. Do you know anything about his previous relationships?”
“No. Why?”
“You can’t be the first woman he’s done this to. In fact, I’m counting on it. If we can find at least one other, we’ll have leverage. If not there are other options,” Murph said.
The anger on his face scared her, it triggered a flashback to the night of the beating. She must have made a sound because his expression softened almost instantly.
“I’m sorry, Sky. I promise I will never hurt you, never lay a hand on you in anger, and neither will the rest of my team. We’re going to help you get out of this, one way or another. I know it will take time for you to trust us, but you have my word we’ll do everything in our power to keep you and your mom safe.”
Trusting a man again was not going to be easy, but at least he understood her feelings. He sounded so sincere but so had Kurt. But she had to admit there was something that was different about Murph.
“Thank you. I can’t promise I will be able to trust anytime soon or ever, but I appreciate what you’re trying to do.”
“No worries, Jen, although I guess we should go back to calling you Sky for now. It will be safer to keep your identity hidden until we see what Tex turns up.”
“Okay, I’m fine with that. Mom, are you onboard?”
“Yes, of course. I told you I trusted them. I’ve known the five of them for a very long time and now their girlfriends too.”
Jen finally looked up at her mother’s face but all she saw was love shining in her eyes. It didn’t make the shame and regret disappear, but it did ease them a bit.
“I think I’m ready to eat now.”
“Do you want a burger or something else?” her mom asked.
“The burger. Hopefully, I won’t regret it.”
“I’ll stay with her, Pam. Do what you need to do,” Murph said before he turned toward Jen. “Unless you don’t want me to? If you’re scared to be alone with me I can wait outside.”
“No, it’s okay. As long as you don’t grab me, I’ll be okay.”
“You got it, no grabbing.” His smile lit up his entire face and eased the hard edges. She couldn’t help but smile in response.
“I’ll be right back. Can I bring you anything, Murph?”
“A beer, if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” her mom said as she disappeared through the door.
“I’m going to sit down behind the desk. I’d like to ask you some more questions. If it upsets you, I’ll stop.”
That he understood her fear and didn’t mock her for it went a long way toward easing her stress. “Yes, but I’ve told you everything I can remember. Just so you know, I was never like this. I’m a happy person or was.”
“I remember how you were when you worked here for the summers. You’ve been through a traumatic event. Everyone is affected differently by what you’ve been through, but if it hadn’t changed you, I’d have been worried. You need to cut yourself some slack.”
Slack? Cut herself some slack. Yeah, that was way easier said than done. Murph was right, though. If she didn’t work on putting this behind her, she’d be stuck in this hole of fear and sadness for the rest of her life. Nodding, she finished the bottle of water as her mom came in with Murph’s beer and another water for her.
