26. The Offer #2
“I’m not going to meet him alone in some parking lot.”
“You’re damn right about that. You’re not meeting him alone anywhere.”
I know I can take care of myself. But it's pretty damn hot when he’s all protective.
“I agree. I also think it's time to get Alvarez involved.”
“Can’t say I’m upset about that.”
“My plan is not to run him out of town, Doc.”
Doc takes my hand. “You want to destroy him.”
“I want him gone. And someplace he won’t ever hurt people again.”
“Okay then. Let’s hear the game plan.”
“First we talk to Alvarez,” I say.
“Of course Annie.” He kisses my cheek. “What’s next?”
“I want a public place, quiet enough to record, but not isolated. Somewhere I can still be seen.”
“How about the library?” Doc says slowly. “The last time Ellie and I were there, I saw little rooms off the main room. They have glass walls, so you could have privacy, but still be seen.”
“Great minds. I was thinking about the library as well.” I squeeze his hand. “I want to figure out how to set up two recorders. I’m thinking if we have a video recorder and another audio, we can be sure at least one works, right?”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve got the perfect guy for this. This is right up his alley. I’ll coordinate with him and Alvarez so we stay legit and legal.”
“I want Ian to think I came because I’m afraid of what he’ll say at the town meeting,” I say. “I want to get him to talk. And I think he will if he believes he has me cornered.”
Doc scoots over so he is in front of me. He cups my jaw with both hands. “If he puts a hand on you even once...”
“I know. I’ll keep my promise to Ellie and will be loud. Then you and the cavalry will come.”
“Where am I while this is happening?” The question is careful.
“With Alvarez,” I say. “Nearby. Not visible. Listening.”
He winces as he processes that.
“If he sees you, it’s over, Doc,” I say. “This is the only way.”
“I hate it.”
“I know.” My hands are shaking, but not from fear alone. Some of it’s the strange, hard relief of not being the only person in the room who recognizes the threat.
Doc reaches for my hand. “And then what?” he says.
“For this to work and show people how dangerous he is, we need to expose him in front of the whole town.”
Doc nods and waits patiently for me to finish.
“The town hall meeting on the vote is the day after tomorrow. I say we do it there.” I’m more confident than I’ve been in a while. “We’ll show everyone the evidence, hopefully play a video and put Ian away and show a town it has to be more cautious with big words and beautiful promises.”
I pick up my phone before I can change my mind.
Alvarez answers with noise behind him. “Annie.”
“Sheriff. I have a situation and I need to file a complaint.”
“Okay Annie. Come on in and we’ll fill out the paperwork.”
“I can’t. I’m being watched.”
He pauses. “Are you safe?”
“Yes. I’m at my house and Doc is with me.”
All right. You have my attention.” He sounds exasperated. “Tell me what’s going on and we’ll go from there.”
I bring him up to speed about Ian: former boyfriend, shady businessman. The old project. The investigation. Ian showing up here as Danvers. The cannery. The clinic. His hand on my wrist. The town meeting coming. Admiral looking into Ian.
Alvarez does not make a sound for so long I check the phone.
“I’m here,” he says.
“I think he’ll talk if he thinks I’m alone and scared,” I say.
“No.”
I explain the plan.
“There’s a small meeting room by the research computers,” Alvarez says. “Glass from the chair rail up. Closed doors. People can see in, but conversations stay contained unless someone gets loud.”
“I’ll reserve it,” I say. “For clinical medical research.”
“You reserve it. I’ll handle the rest.”
“The rest, meaning what?”
“Meaning you don’t need to know where I put my recorders.”
“I also have Meta sunglasses. I can put them on the table.”
Doc looks at me.
“What?” I ask him.
“You own recording sunglasses?”
“I’m full of surprises.”
“Evidently.”
Alvarez chuckles. “Bring them. Put them on the table like you took them off when you sat down. Don’t fiddle with them.”
“What do you want me to say to Ian?”
“As little as possible at first,” Alvarez says. “Let him fill space.”
Doc’s eyes meet mine.
Alvarez continues. “You’re scared. You’re worried about the town meeting. You don’t want Portland dragged through town. You want to know what it would take for him to leave you out of it.”
“He’ll enjoy that,” I say.
Doc’s hand closes over mine.
“I’ll be close,” Alvarez says.
Doc’s voice is clipped. “And I’ll be with you.”
“If you can’t handle staying put, don’t come.”
“I’ll stay put.”
Alvarez accepts that. “Annie, if anything goes wrong, you need a code word so we know to shut it down and just come in.”
“Cooper. My code word is Cooper.”
“Good one. Your dad’s old coon hound. I like it.” Alvarez says, “I’m hanging up now to start making preps. I’ll be in touch.”
The call ends and I look at Doc. “Well, no time like the present, right?”
“You can take a breath first.”
“No.” I pull out my phone. “If I take time to think about it, I’ll lose my nerve.”
“All right. It’s your call.” He moves behind me and slips his legs on either side of my hips and wraps his arm around my torso. “I’m ready.”
It makes me laugh, and feel safe all at the same time.
Ian can’t touch me here.
I dial the number for the hotel. A sweet woman’s voice answers and agrees to put me through to Ian’s room when I ask.
“Hello,” he says.
Panic suddenly thumps me in the chest and I lose my words for a split second. Doc feels it and pulls me tighter to him.
“Hello?”
“Ian.”
“Ah, Kitten. I knew you’d come around.”
Every inch of my body recoils and my skin shrivels at the word.
I find a part of my voice that won’t protest. “You win.”
Simple, straightforward. The hook is baited.
“Perfect timing. I was just finishing up the presentation for the town hall meeting.”
“Okay.”
“I think we should talk. You know, rehearse our lines before the town meeting. How about you come on over here and we’ll smooth out the edges together. Polish it until it fits together like it used to.”
“No,” I say too sharply. “I am not coming to your hotel room.”
Doc stiffens against me.
“Kitten, don’t you trust yourself alone with me anymore?” He moans a little into the phone.
“No. Library meeting room tomorrow. 5:30. After I get out of work. Take it or leave it.”
“It’s a date, Kitten. See you then.”
When he hangs up I feel dirty and disgusted. I put the phone down.
“He went for it.”
Doc hugs me hard and nuzzles in gently and kisses my neck.
I turn my head over my shoulder and breathe out, “you have exactly thirty seconds to get me in the shower. I need to scrub him off of me. And I want you to do it.”
He doesn’t hesitate and is up and dragging me by the hand to the bathroom.