patience the hard way, and waiting no longer bothered him.
“Jace, come on back.” She rounded the doorframe leading into the back with her usual sunny cheer. All smiles and smelling of roses like the rest of the place, Kitty motioned to him. “Did you finish the roof? I have a check for you on my desk.”
He stepped around the display case, avoiding Uncle Sam’s stare. “I didn’t come for that.”
“No?” She paused next to Dave Wainright’s flag.
“There’s damage on Unit 8.”
She made a small sound of dismay and bunched her shoulders. She was so cute when she did that. “Can you fix it?”
“Sure.” He smiled, wanting to reassure her. “No worries.”
Her smile returned, lighting him up inside. “Worry’s a sin.”
Right. And he was a sinner.
Kitty laughed, a merry sound like wind chimes. “I have trouble with that one.”
“Me, too,” he admitted, feeling ridiculously pleased to share such a thing with her. Fact of the matter was, he worried all the time. Though over the years he’d begun to feel safe, a man in his shoes knew not to get too comfortable or too close.
“I’m glad you came in. There’s a man in my office who wants to see you.”
“Someone needing a remodel?” It happened all the time. He’d be working on one project and someone would stop in and ask him to look at another.
Before she could answer, they stepped into the inner office. The skinny man he’d seen from a distance rose from a chair and turned toward him with a toothy smile.
“Well, there you are. The famous Jace Carter.”
All the blood drained from Jace’s head. His ears roared and he thought he might pass out, something he’d never done. Not even when he’d been bleeding to death on a cold concrete floor.
He couldn’t believe his eyes. He blinked, prayed he was wrong.
He wasn’t.
Fourteen years of clean living fell away as he stared into the face of Donny Babcock. A face he’d tried to forget. From a past that had finally caught up with him.
Chapter Three
Somehow Jace managed to shake Donny’s outstretched hand. The skin was soft, a clear indication that Donny wasn’t doing any manual labor. Donny had always been good at other things besides real work.
“Remember me, old buddy? Donny Babcock?” The toothy grin shone at Kitty in explanation. “Me and Jace go way back. He’s surprised to see me after all this time.”
A real understatement.
Jace struggled for composure, careful not to reveal too much or to alert Kitty to his discomfort. He stood like a robot, unaffected on the exterior, writhing inside. Dread, deeper than the Redemption well, seeped into his cells.
“A real surprise,” he managed.
Donny slapped Jace’s shoulder and laughed. The slap was a reminder of what lay beneath his shirt and of the past he shared with Donny Babcock.
“Saw you on TV, Jace old pal. You’re famous. A real hero from the sound of it.”
Jace regretted every minute on that bridge with TV cameras rolling around him. He wanted to ask straight out what Babcock was doing in Redemption, but he couldn’t. Not with Kitty in the room.
“Just doing what neighbors do,” he said. “For what little good it did.”
“I heard they never found the body.” Donny pulled a long face. “Poor man.” He glanced at Kitty. “Such a tragedy.”
The words were insincere enough that Jace cringed. Kitty didn’t seem to notice. She nodded, one hand against her heart in empathy. “I know.”
“What brings you to Redemption, Donny?”
“You, Jace old buddy. Well, that and business. I’m in real estate investments now and this area has some interesting possibilities.”
“Someone in town told him you might be here,” Kitty injected. “Can I get the two of you a soda? Or some tea?”
“Sweet tea from a sweet lady sounds mighty refreshing.” Donny dazzled Kitty with another smile. He must have had veneers attached since Jace had last seen him. The smile was too white and big to be natural.
“Nothing for me,” Jace said. “I’ve got to go.”
“What’s the rush, pal? We need to catch up.” Donny slapped Jace’s shoulder again. “For old times’ sake.”
Jace clenched his teeth. If Babcock whacked him again, there would be trouble.
“Of course you do. You two sit down and talk. I’ll get some tea.” Kitty bustled from the room, leaving Jace alone with his nightmare.
“What are you really doing here?” he growled softly.
“Now, Jacey boy, mi amigo. Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Babcock held up two fingers. “Scouts’ honor. My intentions are on the up-and-up. I saw you on TV and figured I’d come down and say hello.”
“You’ve said hello. Now say goodbye.”
“Jace, Jace, Jace. You’re starting to hurt my feelings. We were good buddies back then. Remember? You and me against the world. Not that I’m one to collect on old debts, but I saved your hide a time or two.”
Dark shame flushed through Jace’s system. The place on his side began to ache the way it did when he remembered.
“I appreciate it, Donny, I do. But I’m not that stupid kid anymore. I’m a new man, with a good life.” Fourteen years of being the best man he knew how to be, of seeking God with all his heart. Of paying penance with every breath in his body.
“And you don’t want anyone messing it up. I’m cool with that. I didn’t come here to cause trouble for you, Jacey boy.”
“Why did you come?”
The toothy smile came again. “To do you a favor.”
The sound of soft footsteps stopped the conversation. Jace paced to the door and opened it for Kitty. She carried a tray with two glasses of tea and a plate of cookies. His heart pinched at the kindness. This was the life he’d chosen, the life he’d worked for. Donny was right. He didn’t want anyone destroying the respect and friendships he’d gained in Redemption. And Donny’s presence threatened everything.
Was he selfish to want him gone? After Donny had been there when he needed him most?
“Let me take that,” he said.
Kitty’s mouth curved. “Thank you, Jace.”
She
