Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) Page 2

  Just stay cool. Don’t panic.

  Feeling faint, she took a deep steadying breath and pressed on the accelerator. The old car whined in protest but the needle on the speedometer slowly climbed until she was fifteen over the speed limit. The truck didn’t budge from her bumper and the reflection from the headlights still made it hard to see.

  Okay, that didn’t work. Now what?

  With more than a small amount of joy, Gigi glimpsed the twenty-four hour convenience store on the next block. Lit up and friendly, it was just the oasis she’d been praying for. She quickly turned into the parking lot, her sweaty palms slick on the steering wheel, and watched as the pickup truck barreled past the store and into the night.

  Still shaking with fright, she pressed her face into her hands and finally let the tears that had been threatening since she’d left West slide down her cheeks. She hated living like this. Scared every single second of every single day. Always on the run. She didn’t know what she’d done in a past life to get shit on this way in this one but here she was.

  Alone.

  Alive.

  For now.

  When the chips were down the only person she could count on was herself. She’d known that for a long time although every now and then she had to remind herself. Tonight was one of those times. She longed to have someone she could lean on and trust but that only led to disappointment later. It was better to know the truth up front.

  This episode with the truck had been a stark reminder of reality. Life was hard.

  It was time to plan her next move. It was time to say goodbye to West and Tremont.

  * * *

  West flipped on the television and slid between the covers of his bed, Gigi’s scent still clinging to the sheets and pillow case. She was stubborn and he was damn frustrated about the entire situation. Was he so unattractive that she couldn’t even consider sticking around? Was he only good enough to make her come but not to be cared about?

  It stunk.

  It also gave him an entirely new appreciation for the beautiful ladies who had professed to him their desire for a “real” relationship. He wished he’d handled it better and more sensitively than he had.

  West’s phone on the night stand lit up and he sighed in resignation. He might be on leave from the Tremont Police force but as the Head of Detectives he still received calls from his men regarding cases in progress.

  He swiped his thumb across the screen. “Anderson.”

  “Good. You’re awake.”

  Travis Anderson was West’s oldest brother and the man that ran the family business holdings. He was also helping out on West’s campaign to unseat the current asshole of a mayor which was probably the subject of this call.

  “What would you have done if I’d been asleep?”

  “I assume you wouldn’t have answered the phone so I would have left a message. Am I wrong?”

  “I’m a cop. I don’t turn off my phone.”

  West wasn’t pissed that Travis had called actually. He needed to talk to someone even if it was only about the campaign or the weather. He’d never liked to be alone all that much. It probably came from being raised in a house full of siblings and cousins. Living alone didn’t seem quite natural.

  “Noted. Listen, I got a tip there’s going to be a story in tomorrow’s paper about a case you worked a few years ago. The Loenel murder. I want you to be ready to counter their claims that you railroaded an innocent man to prison.”

  West couldn’t hold back a loud snort of derision. Mayor Leon Cavendish must be getting mighty fucking desperate. “Innocent? Michael Cleaver had a list of priors a mile long plus a motive. And he was caught with the bloody knife in his hand, leaning over the body plunging it in Leonel’s chest over and over again. Other than the fact that Cleaver kept saying he was framed, it was an open and shut case.”

  “Well I guess he’s sticking to that story and giving out jailhouse interviews now. I just thought you should know. Put together a quote and we’ll get it to the press first thing in the morning.”

  The “press” in Tremont consisted of a guy named Earl and when he was sick or on vacation a woman named Sarah who also wrote a column in the paper about gardening. Travis had obviously spent too much time in New York City lately.

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Good. Now tell me why you’re awake this late. Woman troubles, bro?”

  West didn’t appreciate the amused tone in Travis’s voice but then West had been pretty tough on Travis and Jason in the past. The three brothers were always busting each other’s balls about one thing or another.

  “Everything is fine. Gigi just left. She has an early shift at the diner.”

  “Your words say one thing but the sound of your voice says something all together different. Did you two have a fight?”

  “No. Yes. Maybe. Shit, I don’t know. She’s not like any other woman I’ve dated in the past.”

  “Is that a good or a bad thing?” Already irritated by Gigi’s exit, West could hear his brother laughing. “I like Gigi. She’s a tough one. Doesn’t take any crap from anybody. Yesterday she verbally slapped down some cowboy who tried to cop a feel while she was taking his order.”

  This was the first West was hearing about it. He’d have to ask her who it was and have a serious talk with the offending male.

  “This whole relationship started out to be more like friends with benefits than a love affair but somewhere along the line I’ve really come to care for her.”

  “I take it she’s not on board with the change in direction? Is that why she left your house in the middle of the night?”

  “I guess so,” West admitted. “I’ve never had a female keep me at arm’s length like this.”

  “So court her. Pitch some woo, bro. Be charming and romantic. Do all her favorite things and bowl her over.”

  “The thing is I don’t know all that much about Gigi. She’s so…”

  “Secretive?” Travis prompted. “You told me once she didn’t like to talk about her past but after all this time you still haven’t found out anything?”

  What West knew about Gigi was actually quite pathetic. Every time he tried to get to know her better she somehow managed to change the subject until he forgot what he was trying to do.

  “Not really. When I’ve tried to find out her favorite movie or book she turns the question around on me and the next thing I know we’re having sex.”

  Now that he was thinking about it, Gigi had managed to stop any personal conversations in their tracks all by using his libido against him.

  “Some men wouldn’t think that’s a problem.”

  “It wasn’t at first. But now…”

  Travis took so long to respond West thought that the call had dropped. “You could have Jason do a little research into Miss Sidney. Nothing in depth but just some general background.”

  “No way. I wouldn’t do that to her. If she has something she doesn’t want me to know I won’t intrude on her privacy.”

  No matter how tempting it might be. He was a jerk but not an asshole.

  “Then you’re going to have to work even harder and stop having sex long enough to talk to her. You’re a cop so you should know how to be sneaky and find things out without seeming to be interrogating her.”

  “I tend not to treat my girlfriends like suspects. It makes things go more smoothly.” West didn’t bother to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “For a wise older brother, you aren’t being much help.”

  “What the hell do I know about relationships? You want sex advice? I can help there. But love and the more tender emotions? Sorry. You might want to talk to Jason. He might be able to offer some suggestions.”

  It was bad enough talking to Travis about this without adding Jason into the humiliating mix.

  “I can handle this on my own. No family intervention needed. Just stick to worrying about my campaign and leave my love life to me.”

  “Got it. No telling mom and dad.” West
almost clutched his chest at the thought of discussing his love life with his parents. They were wonderful people but he sure as hell didn’t want to talk about sex and…feelings…with the people who still remembered when he wore diapers. “Listen, I’m beat. I’ll call you tomorrow about the press release. Get some rest, okay? We have that visit to the shops on Main Street tomorrow. You’re the champion of small business, remember?”

  It wasn’t likely he would forget. The entire reason he was running for mayor was to get rid of the corrupt town government currently in power. They were crushing the little guy in favor of big money and corporate interests.

  “I’m tired too. Why don’t you meet me for breakfast at the diner? Seven-thirty?”

  “Sounds good. See you then.”

  Travis rung off and West placed the phone back on the nightstand before flipping off the bedside lamp. He left the television on and zoomed up the volume. He knew himself well enough to know he wouldn’t be falling asleep for awhile. His mind was too active, working on the puzzle that was Gigi.

  With everything going on in his life he might do better to let the relationship die a natural death. She was clearly pulling away and honestly he should probably allow her to do it. Stop fighting the inevitable and find someone who didn’t look for reasons to push him away.

  Before he did something stupid like fall in love.

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  The sun was barely up the next morning and the parking lot of Gigi’s apartment complex was deserted, the hour too early for most. After the incident last night, she needed to be sure she was ready to leave at a moment’s notice even if she didn’t have time to make it back to her place. She’d grown lazy and inattentive since she’d come here to Tremont but she’d be sharper now. Fear was a powerful motivator.

  Unlocking the door, Gigi reached under the driver’s seat of her piece of shit car. She ran her fingers along a rip in the fabric until she felt the corner of an envelope she’d tucked up into the upholstery and springs.

  Got it.

  She quickly retrieved the envelope before climbing into the car and locking the door behind her. It was an ingrained habit now. Even in a small town like this, she didn’t feel safe without a barred door between herself and the world.

  A prison of her own making. Ironic.

  Holding the envelope below window-level, she quickly counted the bills tucked inside. Fifteen hundred dollars, and hopefully another hundred at the end of this week. It had taken months of scrimping and saving to get her stash that high. Her clothes were falling apart along with her vehicle but she’d learned to do without. At one time she’d hoped to save enough to hire a private detective to help her but she’d realized they were way out of her price range. She had to do the best she could alone.

  Balancing the stack of bills on her thigh, she checked the additional items. Just to make herself feel better. It was compulsive behavior but she lived in terror of losing any of her important papers. That’s why she kept them hidden and locked in her car instead of in her apartment or even shoved into her purse.

  Driver’s license. Birth certificate. Passport. Social Security card.

  She breathed easier simply holding them in her hands. Tucking everything back in, she reached underneath the seat and slid it back into its spot. If she needed to leave she was ready.

  She dug her car keys out of her purse and fired up the engine. She was due on shift in fifteen minutes, and if she knew West Anderson, he would show up for breakfast and sit in her section. It was hard to imagine a day when she wouldn’t see him anymore. He’d become such an integral part of her life these last three months.

  Gigi would miss him. And admitting that hurt more than anything.

  * * *

  Gigi rubbed her throbbing temple and stretched in the uncomfortable wooden chair. She’d been sitting in the Tremont Library using its free Wi-Fi for the last hour and a half. Her head hurt, her butt was numb, and her shoulders ached. This after an eight hour shift on her feet at the diner.

  She was exhausted.

  West had invited her over to his place but she’d refused. Not because she didn’t want to go. She did. But she had work to do, and he couldn’t be a part of that. A good night’s sleep wouldn’t hurt either.

  She clicked on another link from her search results. She was pages upon pages deep and she doubted most people ever had the patience to go this far. Scanning the page, she sighed and clicked the back button. The list of links reappeared and she half-heartedly scrolled down, used to fruitless evenings such as this. If they were out there, she’d find them. She’d lost hope long ago that they were looking for her in return.

  Her sight blurry from fatigue she almost missed the link. Zachary Rogers. A short article in a Las Vegas newspaper about how he was working with at-risk young men by teaching them martial arts.

  Her throat swelled shut with emotion and tears stung the back of her eyes. She had to take several deep breaths to keep from screaming out loud with a hope so strong it was painful. It’s what she’d been living on for so long now and here it was. The first clue she had in a long time. The last one had brought her to Montana.

  It might not even be her Zachary Rogers but it sounded like him. He’d always been the first person to reach out a helping hand. He would understand what those boys would be going through.

  She quickly took down all the information from the newspaper article, her fingers shaking with excitement, her cheeks damp. Her chest tightened as she imagined a reunion. They’d hug and cry. He’d tell her about his life and she’d tell him about hers. How she’d never given up on him. The photo that went along with the story only showed some of the young men but not Zachary. It didn’t matter how many years had gone by, she’d know him anywhere with only a glimpse.

  Shoving the notes into her purse, she pulled out her battered wallet and paged to a photo in the middle of three children. The boy was the oldest and taller than the two girls although they were all small for their age. Gigi’s mother had snapped that picture on one of her rare sober days. She’d taken them all to the park and bought them ice cream cones the remains of which could be seen smeared on their smiling faces. The sun had been shining and for that brief moment all had been right with the world.

  It simply hadn’t lasted. Nothing ever did.

  But Gigi couldn’t defeat the optimist deep inside and now she had a lead on her older brother’s whereabouts. If she could find Zach, it would be one step closer to reclaiming her life. She’d never give up.

  Chapter Four

  ‡

  Gigi popped a French fry in her mouth letting the salty flavor melt on her taste buds. It was another night on the campaign trail with West and tonight he was doing a Town Hall style meeting at the barbecue joint in Tremont. Lots of good food and mostly friendly people. There were a few potential voters that had shown up clearly to cause trouble and heckle West while he answered questions. More shenanigans by the current mayor but West didn’t seem all that perturbed. He stayed calm and talked to the crowd until finally a few persons from the audience yelled the hecklers down.

  She was glad to be here with West. After finding the possible link to her brother last night, she’d known her time in Tremont was coming to an end. This was it. Her last date with West. All along she’d planned to tell him when she was leaving but now that the moment was here she was too spineless to do it. He’d probably try and talk her out of it and when it came to him… She’d let herself care too much.

  She’d write him a letter and say goodbye. It was the coward’s way out but at this point she didn’t feel like she had much of a choice.

  “He’s up ten points,” Travis observed, settling into the seat next to her as West finished the last question. Residents of the town pressed forward to get a few minutes of personal conversation with the candidate. Luckily he seemed to take it all in stride, enjoying it. Gigi would have climbed up into the rafters to get away. She didn’t like crowds or feeling hemmed in. “
He’s got a damn good chance at winning. We just need to keep the momentum going for the next three weeks.”

  “Mayor Cavendish might have something to say about that. Every day he’s planting some smear story in the papers.”

  Today’s tall tale was that West discriminated against women because there were no female detectives. It didn’t matter that none had ever applied for the job.

  “That man is a menace,” Travis snorted. “He’ll lie, cheat, and steal to get what he wants. Completely amoral.”

  Gigi had some experience with people like that.

  “Yet he’s been elected twice.”

  “Don’t even get me started on voter apathy. If we can get the turnout we need, West will win by a landslide. If they don’t show up, we’re screwed.”

  Gigi let her gaze wander up and down West as he chatted with the owner of the grocery store on Main and Maple. Dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and red tie he looked every inch the prosperous business man. In fact the only difference between the way he was dressed and his brother Travis was the color of the tie.

  She hadn’t realized when she started seeing West that his family was loaded. She’d heard about his reputation and prowess between the sheets but no one mentioned that the Andersons owned a good portion of Montana and part of Wyoming. When she’d found out it had made her slightly uncomfortable but she had quickly realized West was simply a regular guy. He played pool and darts, watched sports, and drank beer. He loved the outdoors and drove a truck. He was just like everyone else. Except he was gorgeous.

  “I think he’ll win. People seem really excited about his candidacy. I hear people talking about it at the diner every day.”

  Travis rubbed his chin and smiled. “I guess you would hear just about everything that goes on around this town. Is there anything that I need to know about me?”

  Gigi had heard quite a bit about the oldest Anderson son. Mostly he dated women out of Tremont but the few that he had spoke of him with wistful sighs. An amazing lover, he was an intelligent and dynamic man who also had a daredevil streak. Few people wanted to go up against him whether it was in business or on the playing field. Travis Anderson was a winner and it oozed out of every pore.