She thought she heard the shower running as she reached for the phone. "Stay predictable, Margo," she whispered. "Don't get spontaneous now."
She dialed information, got the number she needed, then hung up and waited, her gaze locked on the time.
At exactly seven-fifty, Avery dialed. The phone was answered on the third ring.
Avery made up a name, told the employee it was an emergency and that he needed to put Margo on the phone. She described
her friend and added, "She comes in every morning at seven-fifty."
"Yeah, the short lady, right?"
"Yes."
"She just left."
"Go after her," Avery shouted. "Hurry. Get her back. Go."
The phone clattered against the wall when the employee dropped it. She heard him shouting Margo's name, and then a minute later, she could hear Margo arguing.
"No one knows I'm here. What do you mean it's an emergency? Hello," she said.
"Margo, it's me, Avery."
"Oh, my God, Avery. How did you know I would be here… how did you…" She was rattled.
"You always pick up doughnuts on your way into the office."
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?"
"I haven't done anything wrong," Avery countered.
"Why did you leave that police station in Colorado? The agents are there to protect you."
"I have protection."
"Renard?"
"Yes," she answered impatiently. "Tell me what you know."
The bedroom door opened, and John Paul stopped in the doorway, staring at her incredulously. She put her hand up when he started toward her.
"Hold on, Margo." Cupping the receiver with her hand, she said to John Paul, "Trust me." Then she raised the phone to her
ear again. "Okay, Margo. Start talking."
"The trial begins July tenth," she said. "But Avery, the parole hearing is still on too. Skarrett might pull it off this time. He could
get out."
"Over my dead body."
"Jeez, don't talk like that."
"Is the hearing still scheduled for the sixteenth?"
"I think so."
"Are you sure or not?"
"I'm sure," she said. "Don't get all hostile on me, Avery. They know about Jilly. Your aunt told them. That had to have been a
hell of a shock. I'm so sorry-"
Avery interrupted. She didn't want sympathy. "Do they have any idea where Jilly and Monk might be?"
"Not a clue."
"What about my aunt? Have they moved her from the hospital yet?"
"No, not yet. Don't worry about her. A gnat couldn't get into that hospital. Security's unbelievable."
"I'm not worried," she said. "Monk can't be in two places at once."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm going to keep him busy. He's going to have to try and stop me from testifying at Skarrett's trial."
"What does he care about Skarrett?"
"He doesn't," she said. "But he's working for Jilly now, and she wants Skarrett out of prison. I'll bet, if you check the records
at the prison for visitors over the past year, you'll find that Skarrett had a female visitor listed more than once. I think she's
made some kind of deal with him."
"For the millions in uncut stones that he stole," Margo said.
"I'm sure Skarrett thinks they'll share the loot and that he'll live happily ever after with Jilly. But when they have what they
want, Jilly will let Monk kill him."
"Avery, you're in over your head."
"Maybe," she whispered. "I can't stop now, though. About the trial…"
"Yes?"
"Find out who the prosecutor is, and make sure I'm on his witness list."
"Okay," she said. "Can I tell Carter I talked to you?"
You're going to tell him anyway, she thought. Margo was her friend, but Avery knew she would believe she was being helpful
by filling Carter in.
"Yes, please do."
"Where are you now? He's going to ask."
"Alabama," she lied. "I've got to go now. Tell Carter I'll call him."
"Wait," Margo cried. "What are you going to do?"
Avery knew what she wanted to do. She just didn't know how yet. The conversation with Jilly popped into her head. What had she called her? Oh, yes, how could she forget?
"I'm going to be a killjoy."
John Paul trusted her. Otherwise he would have ripped the phone out of her hand and hung it up. He'd sat down on the sofa beside her and impatiently waited for her to finish her conversation. He looked relieved when she told him she'd caught Margo
at the doughnut shop.
"Clever," he said with approval.
"She's a creature of habit."
She told him what Margo had said. "I promised I'd call Carter," she added, "when we get to Florida."
"But not before."
"You better think hard before you agree to go with me, John Paul. It could get…"
"Bloody?"
She nodded.
"I'm in," he said. "For the long haul."
He reached over, cupped the back of her neck with his hand, and drew her toward him. He kissed her possessively and said,
"Did you hear me? I'm in it for the long haul. And like it or not, babe, so are you."
"Until we get Monk and Jilly."
He let go of her. "That's not what I mean, and you know it."
She pulled away and went into the kitchen. She fixed breakfast, cereal and toast, and then, because she was feeling restless,
did the dishes while he looked over the map, figuring their route to Sheldon Beach.
She was putting the bowls back into the cabinet when he called out to her.
"We've got company."
She dropped the tea towel and ran into the living room. John Paul was standing by the front window, cautiously looking out.
He held his gun at his side, pressed against his leg.
He saw the car when it came around the grove of trees and relaxed. "Better get packed," he said as he flipped the safety back
on the gun and tucked it into the back of his jeans. "Our ride's here."
What ride? "You were expecting someone?"
He nodded. He couldn't see the driver yet because the sun bouncing off the windshield obstructed his view, but the make and model were right. It was a new, gray Honda.
"Who is it?"
He shrugged. "I told Theo I needed transportation. The police will be looking for my car, and I figured you didn't want them to
hold us until the FBI took you into custody."
"The FBI wouldn't do that unless they had my permission."
He snorted. She assumed that meant he didn't agree. "They would not trample all over my rights as a citizen."
"Sure they would," he said. "And they'd tell you that they were only doing what they felt was best for you."
She wasn't going to get into a full-blown argument about the Bureau now. Besides, deep down, she was
concerned that there was a kernel of truth in what he'd said. She wasn't willing to risk it.
"Theo drove all this way from Louisiana?" she asked.
"No," he answered. "He wanted to come, but I talked him out of it. I reminded him that he's going to be a father and that he's
a lousy shot. If he gets himself killed, then I'll have to become the kid's father figure. Said I'd raise his son or daughter to be
just like me."
"And that gave him chills?"
"Yep," he replied. "And like I said, he's a lousy shot. He'd probably shoot himself getting his gun out of its holster."
"And you don't want him to get hurt. You better watch it. You're beginning to sound nice."
He squinted against the sunlight trying to see the driver. "Theo said he knew someone who could keep quiet and help. Who wouldn't mind breaking some rules. Ah, hell," he groaned when he finally saw who was behind the wheel. "Not him. That son
of a…"