Part 22 (1/2)
”We-ell, I don't normally pick up on the road, but since you're stuck.” The driver spread his hands. ”A hundred bucks each. ”
”Great. Thanks, man, you're really helping us out. ”
Adam couldn't wait to see Gretchen's expression when she found out that in the last few minutes they'd become engaged and he'd impregnated her.
Adam tried to ignore the p.r.i.c.kle of unease at the back of his neck as the minutes ticked by. He'd handed over the cash, no mention of tickets or receipts had been made, and he wanted nothing more than to get on the friggin' bus and get out of here.
After about a quarter of an hour of small talk, an old couple tottered out of the door of the complex. Seconds later a trio of old ladies.
Within five minutes, they were swarming like so many white-haired bees back into the hive, as they congregated round the open door into the bus and one by one climbed into it, some spry, some arthritic.
Adam had taken a step toward the building to look for Gretchen when she emerged chatting to a couple of old women. One with a walking stick leaned on Gretchen's arm as though they were relatives or old friends. He stood there blinking as she spotted him. Her other hand held a tray with two take-out coffees and a couple of Danishes.
With a significant glance at him, she said, ”Oh look, Sadie and Verna. There he is. Hi, honey. ”
She'd obviously come up with the same idea he had. ”Hey, darling,” he replied.
”I was just telling these ladies that we're on our way to Las Vegas.” She dropped her gaze and wouldn't look at him. ”To get married. ”
”That's right,” he told them cheerfully. ”I'm hoping we can get the King himself to marry us. ”
”Oh, Elvis. How romantic. ”
”Are you in the family way, honey?” asked her new friend Sadie.
”Of coursea””
”Of course she is,” he said loudly, enjoying Gretchen's sudden blush and the glare she sent him.
”How dare you make me pregnant!” Gretchen whispered in a furious undertone as they snuggled together in two high-backed padded seats near the back of the bus.
It wasn't a popular place to sit, as it was across from the rear exit, and drafty, as one of Gretchen's new friends had warned her. But being close to the exit held enough advantages to overlook a hurricane coming through the rear door.
Within minutes of them boarding, it became clear that their story was being whispered throughout the bus. Heads turned and they were checked out, slyly by some, and with nods and smiles by others.
Adam felt the least they could do was act out the part of eager lovers he'd forced them into. Besides, there were hours to kill until they got to Las Vegas, and the skin of Gretchen's throat was so soft. When he kissed her there, she sighed and her curls tickled his face.
In spite of the number of hearing aids in the vicinity, and the roar of the bus engine, he wasn't taking any chances on being overheard.
He ran his lips up the column of her throat and bit the lobe of her ear. He tried not to let her s.h.i.+ver of reaction arouse him as he pressed his lips to her ear. ”These guys are all staying at the same hotel. When the bus pulls up, get out with them and get yourself a room. False name. Pay cash.” He stuffed some bills in the pocket of her jeans.
She dropped light kisses of her own on his jaw and cheeks. ”And what will you do?” she whispered as softly as he had.
”Pick up the stuff and go straight to the FBI. ”
”It's Sunday. Not open to the public. ”
”I've got Wilks's home number. He'll meet me there. ”
”Is he the one you knew in college?”
”Yes. ”
”You trust him?”
He nodded. ”That's why I chose him. ”
After a while, the glances and whispering stopped. Knitted slippers were donned, along with some of those night masks movie stars wore. He smiled. These were obviously experienced bus travelers.
”You should get some sleep,” he said to Gretchen. ”I'll keep watch. ”
She nodded, but her eyes stayed open. Finally she said, ”Why didn't you tell someone in Houston what you suspected? The authorities?”
”I told a company vice president I trusted.” His voice sounded odd, and he dropped his head as his fingers played with the b.u.t.ton of her sweater.
”And the VP didn't believe you?”
”I think she believed me enough to tell someone she shouldn't have. She's dead. ”
Gretchen's eyes went wide. ”What?”
”Car accident. Hit-and-run. Terrible tragedy. These things happen. That's when I knew I had to get out of there and fast. ”
”You think it wasn't an accident?”
”I knew her. Barbara would have started checking. She probably asked questions. Maybe she found something. All I know is two days after I met with her and told her my suspicions, she died. If she told them there was a whistle-blower, she didn't mention me by name or I'd be dead, but it was only a matter of time until they caught up with me. I decided to get out first. ”
She must have heard the guilt and pain in his voice, for she hugged him to her like a mother comforting a hurting child. ”Adam, I'm so sorry. ”
”The only thing I can do for her now is to bring those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds down. ”
One of her blond curls tickled his nose, so he scooped it out of the way, resisting the impulse to bury his face in her hair. Maybe he just wanted to escape the memories, maybe he knew he and Gretchen didn't have much time together, but he wanted her with a fierceness that had him s.h.i.+fting against the seat.
While they held each other, he kissed her ear, her hair, the curve of her throat. Based on her shallow breathing and the pulse jumping under his lips, she was similarly afflicted.
”I'm not staying in the hotel alone. I'll come with you. Cover your back. Two headsa””
”No.” His voice was sharper than he'd intended and a couple of heads turned. ”No,” he repeated in a softer tone. He ran a hand over her hair, enjoying the wild bounce and curla”her hair suited her. It had personality, life, and it most certainly had a mind of its own.
He'd entangled her in this mess and already caused her more than enough trouble. Now he needed to keep her safe, not because of his guilt over Barbara, although that was certainly part of it, but because he knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate on keeping himself alive if he was also worried about Gretchen. He stared deeply into her gorgeous green eyes, realizing quite suddenly that he was no longer pretending to be a lovesick fool.
They hadn't known each other more than forty-eight hours and yet they'd achieved an intimacy he'd never found with another woman. He supposed running for your lives together could speed up the getting-to-know-you process considerably.
He glanced away, out the window, where stars burned in the blackness of the predawn sky.
They had a few hours left before they reached Las Vegas. Then, who knew? He wanted something to take away with him, the way a knight heading for the jousting field might ask for a token of his lady's affection and keep it near his heart. ”Tell me a secret,” he said.