Page 97 of Traces Of You

“That’s nice, but I still need to run everything.”

Shit, shit, shit.

The panic was oozing out of her pores like dirty water from a broken faucet, the back of her shirt gathering sweat.

She’d been here one month. One stinking month and life was settling into a place she could live the rest of her days.

The minute Deputy Dugen walked away, she hit the button to call Ford. It kept ringing and went to voicemail.

She didn’t want to do this, but had no choice.

She called Clay next. He didn’t answer either.

Oh my God. This couldn’t be happening right now.

She texted Ford and Clay next. Both at the same time. The third text went to Ash and Gale. It was too late now. Her information was run, but if they were alerted, she needed her attorney.

How the hell could no one be available?

“Do you know you’re reported missing in Florida?”

She jumped in her seat with a startled squeak, then turned to the deputy. He stood there holding her license and registration, eyes flicking between her face and the ID, studying her closely to see if they matched.

“No,” she said.

She hated lying, but she didn’t know firsthand other than what the people who helped her said when they reported her. People had lied to her for most of her life. It left a mark, a part of her that might never fully trust anyone’s truth again.

“Is there a reason they’d think that?”

“I left suddenly,” she said. She’d give as much truth as she could. “A bad breakup.” There obviously wasn’t a warrant out for her arrest or he’d be detaining her.

“No other reason?”

“No.” Her phone rang on the seat, she saw it was Ford and grabbed it quickly. She held the phone up to the deputy to see Ford’s name and saw the frown.

“Why is the sheriff calling you?”

“He’s my boyfriend,” she said.

The deputy’s lip curled some. “You should have told me that. Answer it.”

She planned on it. “I got pulled over for a brake light,” she said, the tears falling, her voice catching. The minute she knew he was there, she fell apart.

“Fuck!” Ford yelled. “By who?”

“One of your men. He’s right here. He ran my information.”

“Give him your phone, Reenie. Deep breath. Another.”

She was sucking it in and out and Deputy Dugen flushed. “He wants to talk to you.”

She couldn’t hear what was being said by Ford, but the deputy, said, “I followed procedure.” There were more words spoken by Ford, then Deputy Dugen said there was another call coming in, pulled the phone back and said, “It’s your brother, Clay.” The deputy handed her the phone. “Ford said for you to answer Clay.”

She grabbed the phone and switched to Clay. “Did your information get run?” Clay asked before she could say another word.

She’d just texted them both that she was pulled over, adding nothing else, before putting down her phone.

“Yes. Ford’s on the other line talking to the deputy now.”