Long Road Home(11)

When she was dressed, she began washing the heavy makeup off her face. Then she pulled off the platinum blonde wig she had stolen off a mannequin and brushed her red hair behind her ears.

The reflection in the mirror was of a young college student, not the siren who had flirted with a trucker to get a ride to Denver. Now all she had to do was go to the building where she had rented an apartment and recover the locker key. Not so easy when she was sure the apartment was staked out.

Stuffing the clothes into the garbage can, she eased out of the bathroom and headed back outside. As expected, no one paid her any attention. She was scruffy compared to the blonde bombshell who’d just come in.

Manny. Her insides twisted. Was he looking for her? She knew the answer to that. He was probably frantic with worry. Guilt riddled her gut for what she had done.

You didn’t have a choice. He was someone Northstar would use against her to gain her compliance. Just as he had done for the last three years. And if she refused, Manny would die. Just like her parents had.

Still, it didn’t make her feel any better about betraying him. She wondered if he used the same cell phone. She had long ago committed the number to memory. No. She couldn’t chance it.

What would it hurt? At least he would know she was safe. It wasn’t like calling Northstar, where he’d know where she was inside of five seconds. This was Manny. And it was killing her to imagine the agony he must be enduring. He’d already lost the Trehans.

She closed her eyes. She’d call him from the bus station. For now, she had to get going.

She put several blocks between her and the truck stop before stopping at a pay phone to call a cab. After fifteen minutes, the cab pulled up, and she instructed him to drive to the downtown high-rise apartment building she’d briefly stayed in.

Denver. The Mile High City. Even in her circumstances, she’d appreciated the beautiful city when she had first arrived weeks ago. It was a study in contrast. So modern and sleek against the backdrop of the rugged Rocky Mountains.

Something about those mountains called to her. They had told her she could hide in them and never be found. But they had lied.

She blinked when the cab came to a stop. “Can you wait for me? I’ll just be a minute.”

The cabbie grunted a reply, and she quickly got out. Though it appeared she stared straight ahead, she took in her surroundings, relying on her instincts.

She headed for the concierge’s desk. His eyes flickered in recognition when he saw her. She leaned in close. “The envelope. Do you still have it?”

His wary gaze went beyond her as he surveyed the room. Reaching down, he dug a manila envelope out of a drawer and slid it across the counter to her.

She thanked him then took the envelope and hurried out to the waiting cab. “To the bus station on Nineteenth Street,” she instructed.

She settled back against the seat and tore open the envelope. To her relief, everything she had put in it was still there. Money, multiple passports and, most importantly, the key. She wouldn’t feel totally safe until she had retrieved the contents of her locker.

Several long minutes later, she got out at the bus station and hurried inside after paying the cabbie. She shouldered through the people in the terminal and walked in the direction of the lockers. Two people were there storing away items, and so she waited until they were finished before she scanned the numbers, looking for fifty-four. She inserted the key into the lock and yanked it open. A large black bag hung from a hook. She glanced around again to make sure she wasn’t being watched then reached in and grabbed the bag.

She stuffed the envelope inside the bag, not taking the time to survey the contents. It was all there, and with the security cameras present all over the depot, she couldn’t afford to raise any suspicion.

Slinging it over her shoulder, she walked in the direction of the pay phones, warring with herself over whether to call Manny or not.

She stood in front of the booth holding the receiver in her hand. A few seconds wouldn’t hurt. Just enough time to let him know she was okay. And that she was sorry.

She punched in the numbers to a long-ago memorized calling card and waited with a sick stomach.

He answered on the second ring.

“Manny?”

“Jules. Where are you?” He sounded angry.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“I see. And what can you tell me?”

“That I’m sorry,” she said after a long pause. “I know you don’t understand, but I just wanted you to know…”

“What do you want me to know?”

“I love you, Manny, and I don’t want you to get hurt. And if you’re anywhere near me, I can’t guarantee that you won’t die just like…like Mom and Pop did.” She closed her eyes and bit her lip.

“Jules, baby.” His voice softened. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“There’s even more you don’t know about me. And I won’t be responsible for your death. You’re the only person I have left in this world, and if it means never seeing you again, then I can accept that. At least you’ll be alive.”

“Just tell me where you are, Jules. I’ll come and get you.”

“I’ve got to go, Manny. I love you.”

“Damn it, Jules—”

She hung up and leaned her forehead on the receiver.