Page 39 of Shadowed Witness (The Secrets of Kincaid #2)

Allye drove toward the pharmacy on autopilot.

Her doctor’s office had finally returned her call and let her know they’d sent in her new prescription, but she only had a short window to reach the pharmacy before it closed.

She’d wanted to ask them about the research that had been dominating her thoughts the past couple of hours, but she knew the office staff wouldn’t give her any advice.

She’d need to send her doctor a message or book another appointment.

She was still reeling from the possibility that her home could be basically poisoning her.

Could her issues of the past months be something so simple?

Of course, simple might not be the right word for it.

Though medical opinion seemed to be split on the matter, there seemed to be at least a decent possibility that prolonged mold exposure could cause all sorts of long-term problems, including triggering autoimmune issues in some people.

The possibility that permanent damage could have been done was frightening.

Still, if they could determine the cause, they could better treat it.

Red and blue lights flicked on in the car behind her. She groaned and glanced at her speedometer. Five over. Not too bad, but bad enough to get ticketed if the officer was in the mood to hand one out.

She pulled to the side of the road and turned off the engine.

A ticket was the last thing she needed right now.

She checked the clock. If this stretched out, she might not make it to the pharmacy in time, and she really didn’t want to have to decide between a migraine and risking another dose of hydrocodone if the pounding in her head ratcheted up again.

Movement caught her eye, and she returned her attention to her mirror.

The door to the unmarked car opened, and a man stepped out.

Allye stiffened. Why was Eric making traffic stops?

He wasn’t a patrol officer anymore. And why had he pulled her over?

No way he wouldn’t have recognized her car with the huge Allye’s Photography logo on the rear windshield. He knew it was her.

She lowered her window as he approached but kept her eyes straight ahead.

“Everything all right?”

“Everything is fine, Detective.”

He hesitated as if her use of his title had thrown him. “You haven’t answered my calls.”

“Is that why you pulled me over?” She wasn’t in the mood for this.

“You were speeding.”

“I’m aware.”

“Allye, I need to—”

She finally met his gaze. “Are you going to give me a ticket?”

He stared at her a long moment, regret in his eyes. “No.”

“Then may I go?”

“We need to talk.”

“I need to get to the pharmacy before they close and pick up my migraine medication.”

He winced and stepped back. “Later?”

“Later.” Sometime. Maybe.

She waited until he was almost to his car before screeching back onto the road. Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to look in her rearview. She felt a little bad for being so short with him, but his accusations from this morning still stung.

She punched the radio on and turned the volume as high as she dared to drown out his voice.

It silenced her mental replay of the encounter but did little to lift her spirits.

Despite her long break from dating, she’d never let go of the hope of one day finding someone to spend the rest of her life with. Until she’d gotten sick, anyway.

But despite her reluctance to pursue anything when her health hung in the balance, Eric had made her hope that a relationship might be possible.

Then today he’d shown her a side she didn’t know he possessed.

And she wasn’t about to let herself get drawn into a relationship with someone who couldn’t trust her or felt he had to control her.

She made it to the pharmacy with minutes to spare.

“Thank you, Lord,” she murmured, throwing her seat belt off.

She hurried inside and to the back. Thankfully, the line was short.

Only two people waited ahead of her, and she recognized the tech behind the counter.

Michelle would get them through quickly.

When her turn arrived, she mustered a smile and approached the counter.

“Hey, girl!” Michelle’s grin was wide. “It’s been a bit. We missed you at Bible study this week.”

She felt her smile slip. “I totally forgot. This week has been so hectic, it didn’t even cross my mind.”

“Oh right! You’re prepping for the festival, aren’t you? I’m looking forward to visiting your booth. Hold on and I’ll grab your prescription.” She rushed off before Allye could respond.

Maybe it was better that way. Wool Fest, as much as she loved it, was the least of her concerns at the moment. But she had no desire to go into the details of the last week and especially not in a public place.

“Here you go.” Michelle set a paper bag on the counter and stated the copay amount.

Allye paid, trying not to wince at the price. “Thanks, Michelle. I’ll look for you at the festival.”

“Can’t wait! See you there!”

Bag in hand, she headed for the front of the store.

Her steps slowed as she passed through the candy aisle.

She eyed the Ghirardelli squares. She really shouldn’t .

.. but she could use a bit of chocolate tonight.

Grabbing a variety pack, she rushed to the checkout counter.

The cashier waved off her apology for the late purchase.

“No worries, hon. It’s only five past.” She counted the change back to her and stuck the receipt in the bag. As she pushed it across the counter, she nodded toward someone behind Allye. “You’re not the only one still here anyway.”

Allye took the offered bag and slipped her prescription into it before turning in the direction the woman indicated. A young man, his face obscured by a baseball hat, lingered by an endcap featuring an assortment of protein bars. At that moment, he glanced up. Their eyes met, and his widened.

“Dion.”

Before his name left her mouth, he was darting for the exit. She ran after him, but he had a few seconds’ lead, and he was fast. By the time she cleared the doors, he was nowhere in sight. Had he circled the building? She jogged to the nearest corner and poked her head around.

Nothing.

She spent several minutes searching, even combing the lot to see if he’d taken cover behind a parked car, but it was no use. The teen had given her the slip.

Exhausted, she slumped against the building, chest heaving. She needed to call someone. Dion couldn’t have gone far. Maybe there was still hope of finding him if help arrived quickly. She fished her phone from her purse. For the briefest of moments, she wished Eric were here. He’d know what to do.

Should she call him directly? He’d probably come himself. But part of her shrank at the thought. She still wasn’t ready to face him. But that was selfish, wasn’t it? Dion was more important.

Steeling herself, she entered his number and held the phone to her ear.

It rang. And rang. Finally, it dumped her to voice mail.

She didn’t bother to identify herself. “I just saw Dion at the pharmacy. He ran when he saw me. Not sure which way he went, but he was on foot, so he has to be close by somewhere. Uh, that’s it. ” She hung up.

Now what? Should she call 911? She glanced around to make sure the teen hadn’t come back into view.

He hadn’t, of course. Wait. Wasn’t there a tip line?

She pulled up a browser and searched for the alert she’d seen the other day.

There it was. The instructions said to call the PD’s nonemergency line.

Should have thought of that first. She entered the number and identified herself. Her phone signaled an incoming call, and she pulled it from her ear long enough to glance at the screen. Eric. He could wait. Forever, for all she cared.

She gave the little information she had and was assured an officer would be dispatched.

After the call ended, she dropped her phone into her purse.

She could go now, but she hated to leave before an officer arrived.

If Dion was merely hiding out, she didn’t want to risk him slipping away in the interim.

But she needed to get off her feet before her legs decided not to hold her any longer. She eyed her car. She could wait inside. Forcing herself to take the first step, she trudged across the lot and climbed in.

Please, Jesus. Help them find him this time. Her energy might be too depleted to continue searching, but she could pray while she kept watch.

Dion still hadn’t reappeared when Eric’s car turned into the lot several minutes later, but that was her cue. Time to go.

DION CROUCHED BEHIND A DUMPSTER that smelled like something was rotting in it. He wanted to kick himself. He’d known it was a bad idea to show up in the pharmacy right before closing when people were picking up last-minute meds.

But he’d taken the risk because he was hungry and didn’t want to walk the extra half mile to the gas station. Stupid decision.

He glared at the protein bar in his hand. He hadn’t meant to steal it. But when Allye recognized him, he’d panicked and taken off. Too bad he hadn’t had time to pay for it—and a few more. It would have to last him until tomorrow at least.

He shoved the bar into his pocket, then peeked around the dumpster. Looked like the coast was clear. He needed to get out of here before someone decided to look a little closer.

Pulling his cap low, he emerged from his hiding place. He glanced around. A car that looked like Eric’s was parked in the pharmacy lot. No one inside. Maybe he was in the pharmacy asking questions. If so, Dion needed to be gone before he came back out.

He forced himself to walk casually until he was out of sight of the store and its parking lot. Then he broke into a sprint and didn’t slow until he reached a wooded area bordering the road out of town.