Chapter 220
878 Words
Cordelia burst into Dallas’ office without knocking. He and Sully looked up at her, shocked at her totally out-of-character behavior. Then they saw her face and both men got to their feet.
“What?” Dallas said. “Is it your son?”
“No,” she said. “It’s Michael Ferguson."
“What about him?”
“He’s on the run.”
“What the actual f**k?” Sully demanded.
“He was released on bail late yesterday morning,” she said. “Ellen had no idea, but she found out this morning. She sent out a patrol car to Ferguson’s place to check on him, and he’s gone.”
The men stared at her.
“Gone?” Dallas’ voice was a snarl. “Gone where?”
“Nobody knows.” Cordelia twisted her fingers. “Any chance he’ll come here?”
“Why would he come here?” Sully asked.
“Why wouldn't he?” she responded. “Look, he followed Beth as far as the previous state she was in, and we know he was still looking. Her name came up again a few days ago, when those local women started coming forward and reporting him for rape and assault. Right?”
“Yeah,” Dallas said.
“Well… how much did he hear about where Sully and I came from, and where we work, and what sent us to Foxburg Falls? We had to make a bunch of statements to the police there, explaining our even being in the town, and why we had all those photos and surveillance notes.” Cordelia shrugged. “The whole reason he got bail was because the man still has friends in the legal system. He was allowed to go home unsupervised last night, no ankle bracelet, no follow-up this morning with anyone. Nobody even informed the cops that he was out – Ellen found out by accident when she saw some paperwork from the court.”
“Goddammit,” Dallas said softly.
“Yeah. So, in effect, the man has a twenty-four hour head start, and he could be anywhere right now.” Cordelia looked helpless and angry. “Who’s to say he hasn’t been tipped off by someone inside who's read all the paperwork that Sully and I had to fill in? He can fly here in less than two hours, drive in about eighteen hours. He could be here right this second.”
“Shit.” Dallas spun on his heels and grabbed his cell. “Sully, you and Mark get your asses out to Oregon now. Find out what the local cops know, what they don’t know. What they’re doing to watch the state lines, if they’re sending out APB’s. Work with them, OK? You and Cordelia had a good relationship with them, so build on it.”
“OK.” Sully walked out, his face tight.
“Thanks, Cordelia,” Dallas said. “I need to call Beth now – you mind closing the door?”
“Sure.” She shut it quietly behind her as she left. She didn’t envy Dallas having to make that call; she knew it would break his heart to break Beth’s heart.
She thought she was safe at last, and she’s just relaxed enough to start all over again. How the hell is she going to react to this? I can’t even imagine.
**
Jim almost exploded into Beth’s apartment, frantic with worry.
“Beth!”
“I’m here.”
She was sitting in the armchair, looking small and shocked. He came over to her right away, dropped to his knees in front of her.
“I am so, so sorry…” He pulled her close. “You OK?”
She nodded. “Yeah. But… we need to talk.”
Jim leaned back, not liking the numbness in her face and voice. “Beth? Look at me.”
She raised those amazing green eyes to his. He stared into them, and he just knew.
God, in her mind, she’s already gone, already running. She’s checked out, moved on, eyes wide open and waiting for the first moment that my back is turned. I’m going to lose her after all.
“Don’t, baby.” His voice was barely above a whisper, and it was laced with pain. “Please, please don’t.”
“Jim…”
“No.” He stood up, backed up. “Don’t say it. Just – just lie to me if you have to, OK? I can’t – I’m not ready to hear what you’re planning to do.” He sat on the sofa across from her. “But I’m not letting you go without a fight. You hear me? I’m not just going to let you walk out that door.”
Beth looked at him, shook her head. She reached for the glass of wine in front of her on the coffee table and took a sip. “We’ll talk about it, OK?”
Jim saw now that she’d poured him a beer, and he picked it up, grateful that she’d thought of it. He took a big gulp, then another.
“OK. What’s to talk about?”
Maybe I’ve got this all wrong… maybe she’s going to stay after all.
- Writer
