Karl. Karl Adams. That was it. “Could you tell me where I could find Marshal Mast?”
“Sure. Come with me.”
Tyler walked beside the agent, his nerves on edge. What was happening at Annabelle’s house right now? Was someone watching her? What about his daughter? Fear rose up inside him. How much danger was Bethany in? He was helpless to protect her, and it ate at him. He followed Karl Adams. A female agent with a tight dark bun smiled at them as they passed. He saw her gaze lingering on Karl. Karl left him at the office, then retreated to talk with the woman.
Marshal Mast was sitting at a laptop in an office at the back of the house. He glanced up from the screen as Tyler entered. Pushing back the headset, he allowed it to settle around his neck. “Something on your mind, Tyler?”
“Yes, Marshal Mast.”
The marshal waved his hand. “We’re going to be working together, Tyler. You need to get used to calling us by our first names. We don’t want to announce to others that we’re US marshals.”
Tyler nodded. “Jonathan, then. I called my wife to tell her I was going into witness protection.”
Jonathan frowned. Tyler had told the man that he and his wife were separated and wouldn’t be getting back together. He could practically read the man’s mind: So why is he calling her? He quickly headed off any questioning.
“She informed me that she and my daughter were being followed today.”
At this information, Jonathan jumped to his feet. “Karl!”
Feet pounded in the hallway. Karl Adams entered the room at a brisk pace. “Jonathan? What did you need?”
Jonathan glanced up at Karl, a frown creating grooves in the flesh beside his mouth. “Karl, I need you to make a trip for me to pick up Tyler’s wife and daughter. They may be in danger. Take Stacy with you. What’s the address, Tyler?”
Tyler recited the address. Would Karl and Stacy get there in time? How he wished he could go with them.
“Call her back, Tyler. Let her know he’s coming.”
She wouldn’t be happy. Nevertheless, Tyler dialed the number. Annabelle answered on the first ring. He knew at once she was steamed.
“What’s going on, Tyler? You call me out of the blue, tell me you’re going into hiding, hang up on me and now you’re calling me back? Do you know what time it is? What have you gotten yourself into?”
“Annie—”
He stopped. Jonathan held out his hand for the phone. Fine. Let him deal with her. She was too stubborn to listen to him, anyway. And too angry.
“Mrs. Everson? This is US Marshal Jonathan Mast. I am in charge of your husband’s case. He tells me you thought someone was following you today?” He listened for a minute. It drove Tyler crazy not hearing her side of the conversation. What exactly had happened? Had it been an actual threat, or some freaky coincidence?
He didn’t believe in coincidences. And he doubted that the marshals would buy that theory, either.
“Mrs. Everson, I need you to listen. I am sending a marshal to come get you and bring you to a safe house. Yes, it’s necessary. I have every reason to believe that your life and the life of your daughter are in grave peril.”
Grave peril. He’d failed his family again. Despite his best efforts, he’d brought danger to their door. If Annabelle was scared, his daughter was probably terrified.
The daughter that he hadn’t seen in two years. Guilt swamped him. He knew why he’d made the choice not to be a part of her life. It had hurt more than anything he’d ever done to distance himself from his family, but he knew it had been for their own good. He was saving them from heartache and disappointment. And possibly from danger.
Except now he wasn’t sure if he’d done the right thing, because danger had found them, anyway.
Jonathan got his attention when he set the phone back down.
“So, what’s the plan?” Tyler asked. “You’re going to protect them, right?”
“Let’s bring them here first. Then we’ll decide. I will do my best to see that you are all protected.”
It was a long night, waiting for Annabelle and Bethany to arrive. His nerves were stretched tight as he paced through the house. He couldn’t eat, and he was too wound-up to relax. He forced himself to try to sleep, but it was useless. In his mind, every possible scenario played out, each one worse than the one before. Finally, he gave up trying to sleep and decided to watch a movie to help pass the time.
It was a little after two in the morning when a car pulled up the lane. He shot to the window and peered out. Was that Karl? It was too dark to see, but who else would it be? The grating noise of the garage door opening seemed overly loud in the silent house. Jonathan walked out of the office.
A minute later, the door connecting the kitchen to the garage opened up. Stacy walked in, her dark brown hair starting to escape from the bun at the nape of her neck. She held the door open. Karl walked through the open door and flashed her a tired smile as he passed her. He was carrying a sleeping Bethany against his chest. Tyler was startled by the surge of jealousy that shot through him. That should have been him carrying her. Immediately, he felt ridiculous. The man was protecting his daughter, after all. He should feel grateful, not jealous.
His attention shifted to the woman who had entered behind Karl.
Annie.
Even exhausted and scared, she was beautiful. Her hair was shorter than it had been the last time he’d seen her, brushing her shoulders in straight waves. But it was still a lustrous deep brown with hints of red in it. And her eyes... He’d never forgotten those toffee-brown eyes. Eyes that were guarded as they met his.
He’d hurt her badly during their marriage. How could he expect her to understand, much less forgive him?
“Tyler.” Just that one word, said in a voice devoid of emotion, told him that forgiveness wouldn’t come easy. As she stepped farther into the room, she swayed once.
Jonathan moved forward. “Annabelle. We can talk in the morning. I have you and Bethany in a room in the back.” He led them away, glancing back once at Tyler sympathetically.
Tyler was left standing alone. He was always alone.
But at least he could sleep now.
* * *
The next morning, Tyler was reunited with his daughter. Unlike her mother, Bethany was overjoyed to see her daddy. She was a little shy at first, hanging back. A tight sensation crept into his chest. She didn’t know him. Why should she? After a few minutes, though, her natural curiosity and her happiness at seeing her father overruled her bashfulness. His heart melted as the bright child snuggled up to him and told him all about her two best friends, identical twins who lived down the street, and her excitement to begin kindergarten.
He glanced at Annabelle. She listened, her face strained. She didn’t have to say that she wasn’t pleased with the turn of events. It was clear on her face.
Karl
