No Sanctuary by Helen R. Myers

Author:Helen R. Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

21

Friday, June 7, 2001

5:55 a.m.

Bay had just put water on for her second mug of coffee when she remembered it was trash pickup day. The truck came early and she hurried outside to roll the vinyl can on the two-wheeled trolley down to the edge of the driveway. That’s when her heart made a little skip.

That pickup truck across the street…she’d never seen it there before. Actually, she’d never paid much attention to that driveway. No one lived there that she knew; however, the white, late-model pickup truck reminded her of…

Her heart beginning to pound, she walked along the curb to get a better look. Twilight could be deceptive, but, yes, she could even make out the license, not that it helped her. What did help was the clearer view of the man slumped with his head against the driver’s window.

Checking to make sure no vehicles were close, she jogged across the highway. By the time she’d reached the other side, his eyes were open as if he’d sensed her approach. Bay would have snickered at his expression…if she hadn’t been so ticked.

Starting up the engine, he rolled down the power window.

“I can’t wait to hear this,” she drawled, her hands on her hips.

His sleep-heavy eyes skimmed over her black T-shirt and jeans. “What’s to tell? You wouldn’t come home with me and I sure wasn’t leaving you out here by yourself.”

She couldn’t believe it; he’d camped out here all night? No need to ask, he was wearing what she last saw him in, and there was another suit in a similar shade of gray hanging off the gun rack. What did he plan to do, change in the rest room at the station? That would go over well with his superiors.

“You’re nuts, Burke.” But Bay’s indignation was already moderating. “You might as well come over to inhale some coffee and wash up. I don’t want you causing an accident falling asleep behind the wheel or scaring mothers dropping off their kids at the day care down the street.” With those burning eyes and a night’s growth of near-black beard, he looked like a guy coming down from a drug-induced high or one who’d stepped permanently into the twilight zone.

“That’s a deal. Hop in, I’ll drive you over.”

Pretending she didn’t hear him, she ran back across the street. She needed a moment to settle the butterflies in her stomach, as well as to think about her unwise impulse to do some caretaking.

By the time she was at her door, he had his clothes and shaving kit, and was right behind her. She stepped aside to let him pass and closed up behind them.

“I really appreciate this.” He stopped in the middle of the room as though it was his first time inside. “And your understanding.”

“I realize your intentions were decent. Did you see anything?”

“Thought something was going down around midnight, but they turned out to be lost travelers belonging to your neighbors down the road a piece.”

She frowned slightly. By that hour she was definitely out of it.

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