Escape from the Badlands. Dana Mentink
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bed. “Any word on your sister?”
Kelly’s face shimmered with pain. “My uncle has a lead, but so far nothing concrete.”
“I hope she turns up safe.”
“Me, too.” She hugged herself. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s late. I’ve got to start work tomorrow so I think I’d better get some sleep.”
“I need to talk to you about that.”
Kelly cocked her head at him. “I think I know what you’re going to say. I’m sorry that it’s going to be a little awkward, Shane, but I had no idea you’d be here. We’ll stay away from each other. One week and the whole thing will be over. You can stand it for that long, can’t you?”
He winced. “That’s not what I meant.”
She frowned, the dim kitchen light reflecting in the dark pools of her eyes. “What, then? Does this have something to do with the fictitious name you’re using?”
“Yes. Did you tell Gleeson we…know each other?”
“No. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t. That was almost two years ago. Old history. What’s going on?”
Their time together, though only a year, would never be old history in his mind. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because it might put you in danger.”
Anger flickered to life in her face. “You know, I’ve become pretty good at taking care of myself and Charlie.”
He felt his cheeks flush, and he looked at his wet boots.
She waited a moment. “Fine, don’t tell me, I’m not sure I want to know anyway. Say what you need to say. I’ve got to get some sleep.”
He took a deep breath. “Kelly, you need to leave Desert Quest.”
Kelly felt as if she must be dreaming. All the long evenings she’d sat in the secondhand rocking chair, comforting a wailing Charlie. Half the time during those endless nights, she found herself wishing Shane would walk back into her life, and the rest wishing she’d never met him in the first place. Now that he stood there, blond hair dark with moisture, full lips drawn tightly together and the fire in his blue eyes as strong as ever, her feelings flared into the same confused mess she’d experienced those earlier days. She was not sure whether to be furious or concerned.
“You can’t just walk in here and tell me to leave my job. Working for Desert Quest is an incredible opportunity, and it’s going to help me and Charlie buy a place closer to the city where I can find a job to support us both until my sister comes back.”
He shifted. “I know it sounds crazy, but the people here are not who they seem to be.”
“What do you mean?”
He walked to the window and opened one of the curtains to check out the other trailers. No one was watching, at least that he could see, and if anyone was, he was just returning Kelly’s belongings. “It would be better if you just trusted me and left.”
She tried not to gape. “Trusted you? How can you even ask that after you walked out on me?” She fought for calm. “All your professed love evaporated as soon as you got wind of Charlie. The responsibility scared the love right out of you. That’s a guy I’m supposed to trust again?”
“That isn’t why…” He broke off. His voice was low and soft when he answered. “I guess not, but I’m asking you to anyway.”
She bit down on her impatience. “Why? What’s going on here? I’m not leaving, so you might as well tell me.”
“Did Devin Ackerman hire you?”
She shrugged. “He told me his boss, Martin Chenko, did.”
“On Ackerman’s recommendation?”
“I suppose. Devin brought Gleeson into the clinic. I was just subbing there for a girl on maternity leave so it was actually my last week. He liked my work, and I suppose he recommended me to Mr. Chenko.”
“Don’t trust Ackerman, Kelly. You’ve got to get away from him.”
“Why?” Her voice came out louder than she’d intended. Charlie stirred in the bed, and she lowered her volume. “What do you know about him?”
Shane turned determined eyes on her. “He killed Olivia.”
“How…?” She tried again, head still whirling from the shock. “How do you know that?”
“There are lots of reasons which would take too long to give you now. Main point is my brother is in jail awaiting a murder trial for killing his wife, while Ackerman is the real killer.”
“I’m sorry about Todd. I know how much you love him.” The truth finally dawned on her. “So that’s why you entered this race? To wander around pretending to be a racer to somehow find proof that Ackerman is guilty? That’s not much of a plan.”
“I’m going to find a lead to locate Ellen Brown, the woman who provided Ackerman’s alibi. Someone here will know how to find her. Many of these people raced with her last year.”
“Shane, that’s crazy. You’re desperate to help your brother—I get that—I feel the same way about my sister. But this isn’t logical or rational.”
“I’m past rational.” Shane’s faced blazed with emotion. “We mortgaged the ranch and hired the best lawyer we could afford, and you know what? It still looks like Todd is going to be convicted, even though I know he’s innocent.”
“Just because he’s innocent doesn’t make Ackerman guilty.”
Shane shook his head. “I’m not going to get into the details. Please, Kelly. I want you to leave before you get hurt.”
The look he gave her made her feel dizzy, as if she’d just stepped off a merry-go-round. That face that had lit up at the sight of her, the mouth that kissed her with the promise of forever, the mischievous eyes that looked at her now, shimmering with loss and heartbreak. Whether or not Shane was right about Ackerman, he believed wholeheartedly that the man was a killer.
She glanced over at Charlie. He was so small and vulnerable, and he had experienced more pain than a child ever should. She straightened. “I’ve already been hurt worse than I ever imagined, and I’m not leaving.”
Shane was still, as if he was in another place with his thoughts. Then he nodded. “I’ll let you get some sleep now.”
She watched him walk into the darkness, headed for the trailer two spaces away from hers, head bowed against the heavy mist. He didn’t look back at her, and she found herself oddly disappointed.
Follow your own advice, Kelly. Stay away from him, and the whole thing will be over soon enough.
She saw him fish the key out of his pocket. Then he stiffened, head cocked.
Something about the posture made her hold her breath. The weak porch light cast shadows against the trailer as he stood there, key in hand. She watched as he backed quietly away, before she poked her head out of her trailer door.
“What is it, Shane?” she whispered.
He darted a look at her.
“Someone’s in my trailer. Go inside and lock your door.”
Her body grew cold. “What are you going to do?”
He flashed her an almost grin, reminding her of the cocky Shane Mason she used to know. And love.
Then he vanished into the shadows. Kelly followed his advice and shut herself inside, but she opened the curtains and slid the window open. Heart in her throat, she considered calling someone to help Shane, until she remembered that her phone was on the floor of her car, wedged