Yes, I’m sure, Detective West.” After pacing for ten minutes, Rachel parked herself on the coffee table as Bobby jotted in his notebook. “I don’t need the police’s help. I’m fine.”

“Fine?” He held his waist, beside his badge. “Someone just shot at your house and I bet they didn’t intend to miss.”

Scott stood beside the TV with his elbow on top of it.

“Miss Howard, you can’t deal with this on your own.” Bobby stood over her. “What happens if they don’t miss the next time?”

“That’s what I told her.” Scott moved beside his brother. “You’re not superwoman, Rachel.”

“What about this don’t you get, Scott? Even if I wanted the police’s help, I can’t accept it.”

“Because these people have threatened you against going to the cops, right?” Bobby asked. “Who is after you, Rachel?”

She shoved her hands between her shaking thighs.

“Can we make a deal?” Scott knelt beside the table. “What if you told Bobby? He won’t have to make an official report.” He looked at him. “Right?”

“Right.” Bobby put the notepad in his pocket. “Whatever you tell me is off the record unless you say otherwise.”

“I can’t.” Rachel ran her hands through her short hair. “If the person doing this found out I involved the police, then I’m dead.”

Bobby exhaled, shrugging. “Looks like that’s it then.”

“That’s it?” Scott stood. “Bobby—”

“She doesn’t wanna pursue anything and I’ve got a case I’m being paid to solve that I need to focus on.” He waved to Rachel as he left the den. “Goodnight, Miss Howard.”

“Bobby, wait.” Scott pulled him back when they reached the front door. “I need you, man. She needs you.”

“Let it go.”

“How can I?”

“Scott.” Bobby flashed his palm. “You heard her. She’s in some deep shit, and I’m telling you to walk away while you still can. Now, she’s definitely a fox.” He pulled up his pants. “But no woman is worth risking your life for when you don’t know why. Besides, I’m not convinced she’s so innocent. This might be a game she’s playing.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.”

“I hope I am.” Bobby opened the door as Rachel walked from the den. “If you change your mind about help, let me know, Miss Howard.”

“Thanks.”

“See you.” Bobby gave Scott a macho pat on the arm and left.

“You need to go too.” Rachel touched Scott’s arm. “Like I said earlier, you’re a sweet man, and I’m not putting my burden on you.”

“Please reconsider my offer.” He straightened his posture. “If you need me then call me.” He got the little notepad from the console table and jotted his name and number in it. “This is my cell phone number. Call me any time, okay?”

“Thanks again.” She clasped her hands. “For trying to help.”

He nodded on his way out.

* * *

After Scott left, Rachel got her cellphone but it buzzed before she could call her brother. “Unknown Number” popped up on the screen. She held her breath and answered, “Hello?”

“Rachel.”

She shivered from Dario Fusco’s hoarse voice that sounded threatening no matter what tone he took.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “I heard someone just shot at your place. Isn’t that strange?”

“Mr. Fusco, please.” Her voice shook. “Please don’t do this.”

“Do what? Try to get what your brother stole?”

“Please.” She sobbed. “How am I supposed to get seven hundred grand? There’s no way.”

“That’s your problem, not mine. Your brother stole my drugs and you’re gonna pay his debt.”

“You don’t have to do this.” She pulled at her hair. “Seven hundred thousand is like five dollars to you.”

“I don’t care if it’s one dollar. It’s the principle of it.” He groaned. “I’m a powerful man. Do you think I got that way letting low-level thugs like your thieving brother make a fool out of me? If I let him get away with stealing then everyone else will think I’m a pussy and I’m not going down like that. Now, you can give me the money or give up your brother.”

“I don’t know where he is. He won’t tell me.”

“Sh.” He chuckled. “I believe you. You’re the honest one in your family. A shame Stone dragged you into this. Shows you he only cares about himself. Why can’t he face me and let this be over with?”

“Stone said you were a fair man. I’m begging you to let this go.”

“I will as soon as I get my money.”

Rachel shut her eyes as more tears fell. “I can’t get seven hundred thousand dollars.”

“You work in a bank, right? Shouldn’t be that hard for you to grab some bills.”

“Are you crazy?” Her knees knocked. “You want me to steal the money from the bank? I’m not doing that.”

“I’ve been nice to you. That stash Stone stole is worth more than seven hundred thousand on the streets, but I cut his dumb ass a break. I can ask for the entire two million if you want though.”

“Two million?” she shrieked.

“Get the money, Rachel.”

“I’m not stealing from the bank.” She shook her head, frantic. “No way.”

“Then you’d better come up with another option or the next time my guys shoot at your place…they won’t miss.”

* * *

Three days later, Rachel awoke from the loud buzz of her cellphone in the middle of the night. She checked the caller ID and answered, “Stone?”

“Hey.” He sounded tired but seemed okay. “Did I wake you?”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m in town, Rach.” He coughed. “I’m back in Willowick County.”

“What?” She kicked the covers off and sat up in bed. “Are you crazy? What if Fusco finds out you’re here?”

“He’s in Miami.”

“But, he’s got people here watching, remember? What if they find out?” She touched the back of her head. “How long you been back?”

“A day. Don’t worry. Fusco won’t find me if I don’t want him to. Has he threatened you again?”

“Someone shot at my place the other night.”

“What?” Stone’s voice exploded with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What would you have done about it?” She hung her legs over the side of the bed. “Then Fusco called me and—”

“I’m gonna kill his ass. He has no business putting you in this.”

“He thinks you put me in this.” Her pajamas twisted around her thighs. “I have to see you.”

“You can’t.”

“I can’t go another day not knowing you’re all right. I gotta see for myself. You owe me that.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Why? You claim no one can find you if you don’t want them too, right?” She sniffled, tears emerging. “I wanna see you and touch you and make sure you’re okay.”

He sighed. “Guard this information with your life.”

“Wait; let me put you on speaker so I can add the info to my phone.” She clicked speaker and got to her contact information list. “Okay.”

“It’s the Moonrise Motel.”

She searched it on her phone. “That’s outside town.”

“Yeah on East Lane so it’ll take you a little while to get here. I’m in room ten under the name Gaffney.”

“Gaffney?”

“Yeah.”

She jumped off the bed, racing to the closet. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Be careful when you get here. This isn’t a part of town you wanna be hanging around in at night.”

“Stone.” She got her light blue jeans and beige top out the closet. “In the last week I’ve been attacked at the park and shot at. Believe me, I’ve learned to keep my guard up.”