False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [69]
She thought back to the dreadful moments in the woods when he held a knife to her cheek and cut it ever so carefully, just to make his point. Was that the action of a man who was bluffing? She shuddered.
“Look, I know we’re all scared,” Ethan said. “I think this plan will give you a way to stay under the radar until the sheriff can advise you what to do. If we do it right, I don’t see how Shapiro could know where you are. It’ll buy you some time.”
“Or we could just go to the sheriff and trust him to protect us.” Pierce folded his hands on the table.
“For how long?” Vanessa said. “The authorities are focused on the hate crimes. I’m not sure they have the personnel to protect you—or even to look for Shapiro, since he claims that’s not his real name.”
“Do you have a gun?” Ethan said.
Pierce shook his head. “I’ve never even fired one.”
“I’ve got pepper spray,” Zoe said.
Ethan leaned forward on his elbows and moved his gaze from Pierce to Zoe and back to Pierce. “You need to decide if you want to do this or not. I can borrow the van until five. I probably should go get things ready.”
Vanessa put her hands on Zoe’s. “I know it’s not foolproof. But it could be the last thing Shapiro’s expecting you to do. If we act quickly, we might pull it off.”
“It’s the might part that worries me,” Pierce said.
Vanessa glanced over at Ethan. “We aren’t without help. I think we should pray.”
“God isn’t going to bail us out,” Pierce said. “It’s Zoe’s lies that got us into this mess.”
“Well, the Lord specializes in messes,” Ethan said. “It’s when we’re rendered helpless that we can really see His power at work. When we can’t, He can. I say we ask Him.”
Vanessa and Ethan held hands and extended their free hands to Zoe and Pierce.
“Father,” Ethan said, “You are mighty and powerful and stronger than anyone who would seek to hurt us. We feel scared and vulnerable. And yet we know that we’re never out of Your sight—not for a second—and that Your plan for us cannot be thwarted. Mistakes have been made, Lord. We admit that and know those things will need to be dealt with later. But right now we need Your help. Father, guide us. Protect us. Give us wisdom to act responsibly—to be gentle as lambs and shrewd as serpents. Let Your power be made evident in our weakness. Let there be no doubt that You are Lord of everything, even our messes, and will use even those to accomplish Your purposes. We pray these things in the name of Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Zoe opened her eyes, aware that Pierce instantly let go of her hand. She looked over at Ethan and Vanessa, more curious than embarrassed. She had never prayed like that before—not holding hands, and certainly not as if she actually expected God to act.
“All right,” Ethan said. “To borrow a now-famous phrase from a brave American: ‘Let’s roll.’”
CHAPTER 22
Pierce went downstairs to the kitchen at Zoe B’s, where Dempsey Tanner was focused on finishing up the last of the Sunday brunch orders.
“What are you doing here?” Dempsey said. “I thought you and Zoe were dealing with a family emergency.”
“We are. I just wanted to come tell you how much I appreciate your taking my shift. It’s no easy task taking on the Sunday brunch crowd. I owe you one.”
“Or two.” Dempsey flashed a crooked smile. “You know I’m glad to help. What’s the plan?”
“I’ve arranged for Benson Surette to cover my shift in the morning.”
“Savannah’s husband?” Dempsey glanced up, his hands still arranging food on the plates. “He hasn’t worked here in over a year. Are you confident he can handle the kitchen?”
“I don’t really have a choice. Needless to say, I’m more comfortable with you back here, but I can’t expect you to work a double shift today and tomorrow.”
“How long did you say you’ll be out?”
“I didn’t.” Pierce popped a mushroom into his mouth in an effort to look natural. “We