24. Chapter 24
Chapter twenty-four
For eight weeks, Isla held her breath. She kept to herself.
She learned the logistics of her new life.
She stayed numb and slept often. Her living space was minimalist and too gray.
Food had no taste, and she didn’t paint anything.
She didn’t even see color anymore. Ciara and Steve were always around, but she didn’t start conversations.
They were fine people, but she didn’t dare get close to them.
And now the day had finally arrived. Isla was set to testify against Marcus Hernandez.
Hopefully her testimony would send him away for the rest of his life.
Tomorrow she would start her new life as Siobhan O’Grady and she would be moving to Hardin, Montana.
She would be working on the Crow Indian Reservation as a nurse practitioner, part-time at the Green Lake Clinic and part-time at the St. Vincent Healthcare ER in Billings.
At least she would be able to use her degree.
Her parents had been relocated to Billings the week before.
She had been told they had settled nicely in their new home with their new identities as William and Sadie Murphy.
She could visit them twice a week after her shift at the hospital.
It was close to an hour away, but she had been told that wasn’t unusual in Montana.
She would leave her old life behind to start a new one.
She cried herself to sleep most nights dreaming about what would have been if she could have started a life with Mitch.
She was anxious to start her new life. If she could just immerse herself in her work, she could survive the loneliness that haunted her.
The team that had been assigned to her had been good to her, but she missed Mitch and his team.
She knew they had a special bond. The kind that only happened once in a lifetime.
She missed the playful banter back and forth between Lara and Colt.
And the quiet thoughtfulness that Max had always shown her.
And the constant jokes that Dirk insisted on telling even though they were foolish and silly.
It killed her to know she’d never see them again. But it made her feel relief to know that they could no longer get hurt protecting her.
Ciara knocked on Isla’s bedroom door. “Can I come in?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to touch base with you about this afternoon,” she said. “Do you have any questions?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just ready for this whole day to be behind me.”
“Well, you know the routine. You’re due to testify at one and afterward we’ll be leaving for Billings. How did your appointment with the DA go?”
“It went well,” said Isla, with a shrug. “I’m ready.”
“Good,” said Ciara. She started to leave the room, then stopped. “I just wanted you to know that we’ll always be here for you. We’ll be in touch and available to you 24/7. I know you got close to your old team and it’s hard to leave them. But we’re on your side, always.”
Isla nodded. She couldn’t talk past the lump in her throat.
“Are you okay?” Ciara asked. “I heard you this morning in the bathroom.”
Isla had spent her day thus far throwing up. “I’m fine,” she said. “It’s just my nerves. I get queasy when I’m anxious. I’ve been that way since I was a kid in foster care. I’ll be fine when this is all over and I can get back to a routine. Thanks for your concern though.”
Ciara gave a small smile. “Not a problem. I was just worried about you.”
“Thanks, Ciara,” said Isla. “I think I’m going to take a quick nap before we leave. I’m exhausted.”
“I’ll wake you at noon,” promised Ciara. “It’s only thirty minutes to the courthouse.” She turned and closed the door.
Isla curled up on the bed and cupped her belly, a tear rolling down her cheek.
The thing was, Isla had missed her last two periods. If she couldn’t have Mitch, at least she’d always carry this part of him.
She just wondered how long she could hide it.
Isla dressed in a pale suit for the trial. She slipped the purple sea glass Mitch had given her into her pocket. It was smooth and round. It fit in the palm of her hand. Its warmth comforted her and reminded her of the peaceful walks they’d had around the compound and the beach.
She stuffed her jeans and T-shirt into her bag and looked around one last time.
She hadn’t been in this safe house long.
Just long enough to meet with the DA and then testify.
In the weeks leading up to the trial, the Marshals’ office had been drilling her about her new life and her new past, along with all the rules she needed to follow.
She found Ciara and Steve in the kitchen going over the route they would be taking to the courthouse. Ciara looked up and smiled. “Are you ready to get this over with? Just think—in a few short hours you’ll have your life back.”
“Thank you,” she said, but didn’t return the smile. She was done smiling for show. “But we all know I’ll never have my life back.”
Isla waited in a room in the courthouse, feeling numb. Her stomach rolled as she waited for her name to be called. She kept expecting that at any moment, Mitch might walk into the room and take her in his arms.
She knew she had to accept that Mitch was out of her life forever.
She placed her hand on her belly and thanked God for giving her this gift.
This child would never replace the love she had for Mitch, but it would make her life tolerable.
She would love their baby with all her heart.
She would tell their baby about its wonderful father.
The bailiff opened the door leading into the courtroom. “Are you ready?”
Isla stood up tall. When she came face to face with Marcus Hernandez, he would not intimidate her. She was standing up to a monster who was responsible for countless deaths. She was ready for this to be over. She wasn’t just fighting for her own life anymore. This was for her child.
Isla walked into the courtroom. Instead of avoiding Marcus Hernandez’s gaze, she locked eyes with him.
She stood next to the witness stand and swore her oath, once again.
She sat in the witness chair for an hour answering both the DA’s and the defending attorney’s questions.
She answered them without emotion, to the best of her ability and with confidence.
She would not let anyone intimidate her anymore.
She was done. So much had been taken away from her, but no more.
Finally she was led out of the courtroom. It was over.