Dream Runner by Gail McFarland

Author:Gail McFarland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-58571-574-9
Publisher: Genesis Press, Inc.
Published: 2012-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Belted into the jeep’s passenger seat, Marlea sat stock-still and tried to think grateful thoughts. As Libby said last night; Yes, the doctor lied. And yes, a lie by omission is still a lie, but you’re going to have good care and good company—even if his sister IS the nosiest creature on two legs. He promised to take care of you, and he will do right by you. For some strange reason, Libby had faith in AJ. You said yourself, AJ and his sister are not to blame for anything, didn’t you? Yes, she had. So be thankful and get well.

Solid long-distance counsel.

They drove past a McDonald’s, a Wendy’s, a couple of banks, and a few other stores, and Marlea’s misgivings lingered. AJ crossed an unfamiliar intersection, and the street narrowed, becoming two lanes, and she felt no better. Five minutes later, AJ made one turn, then another, finally pulling to a stop in front of a massive wrought-iron gate.

“Where are we?” Marlea asked, half afraid of the answer.

“Home,” AJ told her.

He lives behind these big gates? She lifted her sunglasses to see better, and it didn’t help. She folded the shades and dropped them into her pocket. Are these gates here to keep something in or something out? Like maybe, the police? She watched him punch numbers into an electronic keypad and waited as the gates swung wide. Oh, Lord, don’t tell me, this man is a drug dealer! A drug dealer who practices physical therapy on the side? She cut her eyes to the side. AJ drove through the gate, oblivious to her inspection. He looks harmless enough. Just wait and see, she cautioned herself.

AJ steered the jeep along a twisting, tree-lined cobblestone path. Marlea leaned forward a little, trying to see better. She was able to pick out several houses sitting back from the road and ringing the stone drive. She squinted, picking out little details. One of the houses was high-walled and turreted like a castle, or at least that was what it looked like from where she was sitting. Another sprawled along a high ridge marked by a natural break of pine and spruce.

This is a compound, Marlea noted, awed and wondering what just one of these places might go for. That’s at least five million dollars worth of house, she guessed, as AJ steered the jeep along the curving drive toward what looked like a mansion anchoring the circle of houses. Touching a remote in the center of the jeep’s sun visor, he cued a second gate that opened as he followed the rising driveway onto his property.

Did I say five million? Marlea tried not to gape. That was before I saw the rest of it! If this brother is dealing drugs, this is a hell of an investment!

“Well, this is it.” AJ looked at her, slapped his thighs, and climbed out of the jeep.

From the front seat of the jeep, Marlea looked out at what she imagined must be a garage. A

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