Jake drove back to the cabin. He had gotten behind on a few carpentry projects that would soon be due and needed to make up for lost time. Shannon’s parting words kept pinging around in his brain like a pinball, “You were our Godsend.” Was that all it had been? God finding a way to use him out here in the middle of nowhere? Or was it the other way around? That Shannon was sent to show him his true path, to give him the clarity he needed to choose his future.
If that was the case, it hadn’t worked. He was more confused now than ever. He got out of the truck and stood for a moment, staring at the cabin. It was empty. And it would be empty when he went inside at the end of the day. He wished to hell they’d just capture Lou Crowley and Sara Martin, find out about their possible international trafficking connections, and let Jake go back to New York and testify. It was time to end this. Maybe Caleb’s men had been able to get something out of the biker.
Jake unlocked the garage door and stepped inside, turning on the lights and the fans. He looked at the three specialty pieces he needed to finish, chose an ornate headboard a newly-married couple had ordered, and set to work. It felt good to focus on the intricacies of the carving and keep all other thoughts at bay.
Three hours later, Jake stopped for a much-needed break. He went into the cabin and was assaulted with the softest hint of Shannon’s shampoo. He popped the tab on a can of soda before realizing it was her diet soda, not his Coke. She’d only been here for a little more than a week. How could she still be everywhere?
He checked the phone to see if Caleb had called the house instead of his cell. But he knew better. Caleb only called his cell. In the living room, he found the little pink stuffed lamb that Bailey liked to cuddle with. She was going to want it. Perhaps he should take it to her, make sure they were okay.
But he stopped himself. He needed to back off, give her time to get settled on her own. She needed more than he could offer. Hell, for all he knew, once they caught up with Crowley and Jake was called back to testify, he might be put back into the program under yet another identity. If not, he’d be returning to his life as Father Steve Avery.
He chugged the soda and crushed the can with his hand, tossing it into the recycling bag. He pulled the door shut behind him and returned to the garage. He needed to work with power tools, maybe drill something.
~ * ~
Shannon rearranged the kitchen cabinets while the tech set up internet service. Since she didn’t have a valid ID, she’d arranged with Abe to get the service added onto the phone with the understanding she’d pay the bill. He was more than happy to do so. She was anxious to get online and check email. She glanced at the phone every five minutes, willing it to ring, expecting Jake to call to see how things were going. He didn’t.
The technician tapped keys on her laptop. “There you go. You’re connected. I’ve jotted down your web key in case anything happens and you have to log on again. You might want to change it to something you’ll remember.”
“Thank you. Do I owe you anything?”
He shook his head. “The charges will be added to your next phone bill. You have a good day.”
The minute he was out the door, Shannon logged into her Gmail account. A new message from Brooke popped up: Hi, Eve. Mom and I will arrive tomorrow. We’re staying at your second favorite motel. Having a good trip so far. Will talk to you soon? Love, Babs
Shannon hated that her mother and her best friend got dragged in her mess. But Brooke never took all of her vacation time and her mother was probably enjoying the trip. The clue was too easy—her second favorite motel. Holiday Inn. She preferred the Sheraton when she traveled, which wasn’t that often, but Holiday Inn was always her next choice. She looked up motels in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and found the listing for one Holiday Inn, jotting down the phone number.
When the phone rang, she startled. She stared at it for a moment before answering as if it might bite her. “H-Hello?”
“This is Jake’s friend, Caleb. I’m sending someone with the items you requested. I’ll call once I know they’ve been delivered, in case you have any questions.”
“Caleb? Hello?” But the line was dead.
Twenty minutes later, footsteps sounded on the stairs and someone knocked on the door. Shannon peered between the blinds. A young man peered back and held up an envelope. Shannon opened the door and unlatched the screen.
“Delivery for Ms. Chase,” he said.
“That’s me.” She accepted the envelope. “Thank you.”
“Have a nice day.” He turned and hurried back down the stairs.
Shannon locked the doors again and sat at the small dinette table, ripping open the manila envelope. She was astounded at what was inside—birth certificates for herself and the baby as Shannon and Bailey Chase, a social security card, a Washington State driver’s license, a diploma showing she’d graduated from high school in Akron, Ohio and a liberal arts degree from the University of Akron. Birth records showed that Bailey Chase was born at Akron General Medical Center—father ‘unknown.’ Shannon winced at that one.
She sat back and stared at the table, the papers that made her a legal person. Everything except passports. She could open a bank account, eventually get another job. More importantly, she could apply for health insurance for Bailey. The one thing she’d have trouble doing was to leave the country.
She went to the phone and called Jake’s cell.
“Hi, Abe,” he answered.
“It’s me,” she said. “The phone’s still in Abe’s name. Your friend, Caleb, is a miracle worker. I just got my identity delivered in a manila envelope. Everything Bailey and I need.”
“Great. I knew he’d come through for you.”
“Yes, well….” She paused. “I just wanted to thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, Bailey’s stuffed lamb is here. I’ll try to drop it by sometime this week.”
“I could pick it up. Would you believe Abe gave me keys to his car so I can use it?”
“Good, because he shouldn’t be driving.”
This new awkward tension between them was almost worse than the previous sexual tension when they were together.
“Everything’s okay with the apartment?”
“It’s great.” She paused. “I won’t keep you. I’m sure you have work to catch up. I’ll call you about dinner soon. I need to see what my schedule will be with Helen.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Okay, then. Bye.”
“Goodbye, Shannon.”
His goodbye sounded much more formal and definite than hers. Maybe Jake had done all he intended for her and now she was truly on her own. And maybe that was for the best. But the thought squeezed at her heart. She liked Jake. She could fall in love with him, but that could not happen.
The phone jangled, startling her. “Hello?”
“I trust the papers are all in order?”
“Yes. Oh, God, yes. Thank you so much.”
“There is one thing. Do not leave the country. Don’t even try to obtain a passport. It was fortunate you happened to take the name of someone who died without a police record and without leaving much of a trail. This is a temporary fix until your situation is resolved and you can return to your former identity.”
“I understand.” There went her plans to run to Canada if necessary. “Thank you, again.”
“No problem. Good luck, Ms. Chase.”
Luck. Her luck did seem to be turning in her favor. Maybe she’d get through her first night alone in the apartment and tomorrow morning would be a new day, the start of a new life.