“I’m Camber,” her best friend cut in. “You didn’t interrupt our break.”
“I was decorating—” Arden hiccupped again, “—for Halloween, you know? I was working in the entryway and forgot to unlock the door after I finished. I’m so sorry for any inconvenience.”
A midnight chuckle caressed my ears as he humored the girls. “Does Rue Hollis work here?”
“She’s our boss.” Camber took over the awkward exchange. “Let me get her for you.”
“We have a new line of hand lotions.” Hiccup, hiccup, hiccup. “Would you like a sample?”
Poor Arden fumbled her sales pitch while Camber, who could usually be counted on to rescue her from a bout of anxiety, rounded the counter and cut her eyes at me.
“Who is he,”I mouthed. “Get his name.”
“I forgot to ask,” she called out, all smiles. “Who should I tell her is here?”
“Asa.” His footsteps thumped closer, until I smelled the sweet-burning smoke of rich tobacco and almost tasted the bite of ripe green apples. “Montenegro.”
The blood drained from my face in a dizzying rush, and I shook my head once.
“Be right back.” She strode into the office, waited to the count of ten, then returned. “She took an early lunch.” She held up a note I wrote earlier in the week. “I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t hear her leave. She must have gone out the back.”
“Can you give her my card and have her call me at her earliest convenience?”
“Of course.” She resumed her post beside me. “I’ll pass it on as soon as she gets back.”
“I’ll be in town for twenty-four hours,” he murmured. “Can you tell her that too?”
“Sure.” Camber dialed up her sincerity five degrees. “I’ll do that.”
His footsteps receded, and I took my first easy breath since I heard his voice.
“Rue,” he whispered for my ears alone. “You can’t run forever.”
The door opened, triggering a chorus of ghostly moans Arden must have rigged, then shut behind him.
Only after Camber gave me the all clear did I draw my legs into my chest and rest my face on my knees.
Slender arms encircled me as Arden knelt beside me. “Who was that guy?”
“The boyfriend?” Camber sat across from us and rested her hand on my thigh. “He found you?”
Of all the lies I told when I moved here, I regretted spreading the story about running from an abusive ex the most. The cover had done its job, rallied my neighbors behind me. They looked out for me, giving me extra eyes on strange vehicles spotted on our dirt road, lurking near my house, or passing through town.
Their aid allowed me to stay in one place, to put down the shallowest of roots, but it wasn’t freely given.
I had stolen it, and I couldn’t give it back.
The store had been a mistake. I saw that now. I thought I was safe. Clearly, I was wrong.
“He left you this.” Camber passed me the card. “It’s blank.”
Black ink spilled across its face in curling handwriting for my eyes only.
Special Agent Asa Montenegro
Black Hat Bureau
“You’re shivering.” Arden put her arm around my shoulders. “This is our fault, isn’t it?”