Imminent Danger

When she put all the single images together, what she got was a mental image of a handsome man.

A confirmed bachelor, she reminded herself. Not that she was interested. She had a life, a full life waiting for her return to Chicago. That was her Camelot.

“Want another cup of coffee?” Jesse called from the kitchen.

“No, thanks. I’m fine,” she replied. She heard him enter the room and smiled in his general direction.

“I thought maybe we’d eat lunch down at the café this afternoon,” he said. She heard the squeak of a cushion and knew he’d sat in the chair opposite the sofa.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” The thought of going out, of being vulnerable, sent a flutter of anxiety to the pit of her stomach.

“Keller told me to keep my routine as normal as possible and to tell everyone you’re my girlfriend. Every person in town will begin to wonder about you if I keep you isolated here. That wouldn’t be normal.” He sighed audibly. “Besides, trust me that we’ll know if a stranger shows up anywhere in the vicinity. A fly doesn’t land on the back of a dog, that somebody in this town doesn’t comment about it five minutes later.”

She laughed, her anxiety ebbing somewhat. She had to trust his judgment, had to believe that he not only knew his hometown and the people in it, but also knew the business of protection. “Okay, lunch out sounds good.” She jumped as a heavy knock fell on the front door.

Jesse got up and walked to the window. “Relax, it’s my deputy,” he said to her, then opened the door. “Hi, Vic, what’s up?”

“Jesse, I think we’ve got another one.” The deputy’s voice boomed loud and deep.

“Dammit!” Jesse exclaimed. “Who?”

“Maggie Watson. I don’t know, Jesse. She’s in bad shape. She’s locked herself in her house and won’t let anyone in.”

“Has she been hurt physically?” Allison heard the concern in Jesse’s voice.

“Nobody knows. Amanda Creighton came down to the office and said something was wrong with Maggie, that she and Maggie were supposed to meet this morning at the café for coffee. When Maggie didn’t show up, Amanda went to her house.” The deputy paused, apparently to draw breath. “Maggie wouldn’t let her in the house, but she says she is a victim of Casanova. I don’t know what’s going on, but it sounds like she’s freaked out totally.”

“Okay, you go on back to the office and I’ll check things out at Maggie’s place,” Jesse said briskly. “You might try to find Shelly. Maybe Maggie will feel more comfortable talking to a woman deputy.”

“Shelly left early this morning to visit her parents. By this time she’s miles and miles away from here.”

Allison listened with interest as the two men finished their discussion and Vic left the house. She tilted her head questioningly, aware that Jesse hadn’t moved from the door. “I’ll be fine, Jesse. Go where you’re needed.”

“I’m not comfortable leaving you here alone.” He hesitated a moment, then continued. “Why don’t you ride along with me? I can’t promise you how long we’ll be gone and I’ll ask that you remain in the car, but I’d feel more comfortable if you don’t stay here alone.”

“Okay,” she agreed, and stood. It didn’t much matter to her whether she sat in his car or sat on his sofa.

Moments later she was safely ensconced in the passenger seat of Jesse’s car. “Who’s Maggie?” she asked.

“Maggie is a twenty-eight-year-old who works the evening shift as a waitress at the Round-Up.”

“And the Round-Up is?”

“A bar at the outskirts of town, decorated like an old-fashioned saloon.”

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