False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [71]
A police car sped past her, lights flashing. Vanessa thought about her mother and wondered how disappointed she would be when this was all over and she realized that Vanessa and Ethan had not called her and asked for advice. Vanessa already knew her mother would insist they go to the authorities rather than attempt to outsmart a dangerous criminal. But conventional protocol didn’t apply here, and they had to act swiftly.
Vanessa picked up her pace as if that would somehow erase her doubts that this was the wisest decision. Wasn’t it a moot point anyway? She had left her cell phone locked in the glove box as Ethan had instructed her. Two minutes from now, everything would be set in motion.
Zoe stood behind a huge live oak, one of many that shaded the grounds of Grace Creek Bible Church. She spotted the blue and white van with the church logo on it. She glanced at her watch, her heart thumping so hard that her arm shook. It was three o’clock. She didn’t see Ethan behind the wheel of the van—or any sign of the other two. Had something gone wrong? Had she misunderstood what she was supposed to do?
“Zoe … over here.”
She jumped, her hand over her heart, and turned toward the familiar voice. Pierce waved at her from behind a tree about twenty yards away.
“Have you seen Vanessa or Ethan?” he said.
Zoe ran over to him. “Not yet. I just got here. Isn’t that the van over there?”
“I think so. I wonder what’s keeping them.” He looked around nervously. “Did you have any problems?”
“Not really. Some guy in a blue car pulled up next to me and seemed to be looking for an address. I didn’t recognize him, but I ditched him immediately. I cut through some yards and ran over a couple blocks. I’m sure he didn’t follow me. I’m probably being paranoid anyway.”
“With good reason.”
She looked into his eyes and saw fear—and pain. “Pierce, I—”
He put his hand to her lips. “There’s nothing left to say. Let’s just do what we have to do to keep from getting our throats slit.”
Nothing left to say? Was he unwilling to let her explain herself? Did he think she had no remorse?
The sound of feet pounding the ground caught Zoe’s attention, and she spun around just as Vanessa came to a stop.
“Sorry I’m … a little … late,” Vanessa said, sounding out of breath.
“Actually it’s right at three.” Pierce glanced over at the church van. “I wonder what’s keeping Ethan?”
Vanessa started to reach into her pocket and then stopped. “I’m not used to not having my cell phone. I’m sure he’ll be here any minute. Did either of you see anyone suspicious?”
“I didn’t,” Pierce said. “Zoe ditched some guy in a blue car who appeared to be looking for an address.”
“Did you see his face?”
Zoe nodded. “It wasn’t Shapiro. And the guy made a U-turn and headed the other way. I cut through some yards and never saw him again.”
“There’s Ethan.” Vanessa’s eyes grew wide as she pointed to the van. “Let’s go.”
Zoe climbed into the backseat of the Grace Creek Bible Church van, glad that the tinted windows made her feel invisible. Pierce came in and sat beside her. Vanessa sat up front with Ethan.
“Thank you, Lord, that we all made it okay.” Ethan buckled his seat belt. “Please get us there without incident.”
Zoe liked the way Ethan talked to God as if He were right there with them. She noted how tenderly Ethan held Vanessa’s hand—and that Pierce’s hands had turned to fists, his arms tightly folded across his chest. Didn’t his body language say more than the harsh words he was holding back?
Zoe willed away the tears. If she started crying, would she ever be able to stop? Pierce would never forgive her. How was she going to let go of her best friend—her partner—her lover? How ironic it was that the lies she told in order to keep Pierce were now the very reason she had lost him.
Ethan started the van and drove slowly to the exit, then pulled onto Grace Creek Boulevard and headed west out of Les Barbes.
No one spoke for perhaps an entire minute.
Finally Ethan said, “In case you haven’t