Page 84 of Protecting Peyton

The news on the bus front wasn’t good. Time was short if I planned onmaking the bus to either Santa Barbara or Sacramento on my way north. I’d have to hurry. I quickly checked for businesses near B-B Pawn and found what I needed.

“Here you go,” bubbly Marci said as she set the new vase down next to the other one. “I wish I’d meet someone who would send me flowers.”

“Yeah. I’m lucky,” I agreed. Lucky with the sender of the first roses. More unlucky than anyone would believe with the second set. “Hey, you have a car downstairs, right?” If I didn’t start right now, today would be out of the question.

She smiled. “Uh-huh.”

“I could really use a ride,” I said, making a show of checking the time on my phone. “I need to get to the cleaners, and March drove me in, so I don’t have my bike.”

“Sure. Now?”

I nodded and picked up my purse. I was going to be leaving with only the clothes on my back, just like Atlanta.

We stopped by her desk, and just as the elevator doors opened, I gasped. “I forgot something. You get the car, and I’ll meet you at the back door.”

“I can wait,” she offered.

If she waited for me, it would mean going out the front door and that could be catastrophic.

“No. You go ahead, and I’ll meet you at the back door.”

She relented, and I made a quick trip to my desk and back, picking up a pen and notepad in case anyone was watching.

Downstairs, she was waiting outside the back door. Thankfully, she hadn’t asked why. “Which cleaners are you using?”

“Everbright.” I gave her the address two doors down from B-B Pawn. As soon as she approached the parking lot exit, I ducked down, fingering the carpet. I couldn’t take the chance that he was watching the building.

“What’s wrong? I can stop.”

“It’s just my earring. Keep going. I’ll find it in a second.” I didn’t sit up until we were a good two blocks away from work. “Got it.” I pretended to replace the earring in my right ear.

When she pulled up to the cleaners, she surprised me. “I’ll wait.”

Crap.I hadn’t planned for this wrinkle. “You don’t need to.”

“Go ahead. Pick up your stuff. I’ll drive you home.” She was too damned nice.

I got out of the car and marched into the cleaners where I talked to the lady behind the counter and asked about various prices before returning toMarci. “It’s not ready yet. You go on, and I’ll catch an Uber when it’s done.”

After a short argument, she disappeared around the corner.

Only then did I walk down the street and into B-B Pawn, where there were three people ahead of me waiting to talk to the pair behind the counter.

Judging by their interactions, I guessed the pair to be husband and wife. A pang of jealousy ran through me. I’d never had a relationship like that, and wouldn’t for as long as the Strangler was loose.

Pulling out my phone, I saw a missed call from March. To avoid playing the message, I opened the secure message from Rhonda. I hadn’t responded quickly to her last set of messages, and it was unlike me to cause her worry like that.

RHONDA: HE KILLED ANOTHER GIRL LAST WEEK. This time from Salem. It was in the news. I don’t think they’re any closer to catching him. I hope you’re staying safe.

I responded.

ME: I’m safe.

I didn’t need to worry her by including that I had to move again.

The proprietors finished with a man who wanted to buy a ring, and I moved forward in the line.

The girl ahead of me introduced herself to the couple as Iris. She wanted to pawn a watch, which only reminded me of the watch Cassie had given me, the only thing I had left from her. I’d had to leave behind the charm bracelet she gave me when I ran from Atlanta. Now I’d have to leave the watch behind as well.