AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That sounds like a deal.”
She started to laugh and then coughed.
He frowned.
“Lie back down. You’re not well.”
“But I will be,” she said. “You wait and see.”
* * *
Hershel had little to no memory of how he’d gotten to Jackson. The race to escape through the night had become lost in the haze of drugs and pain that ruled his life for the past week. The burns on his face were beginning to granulize, and the healing was taking place. It was a slow process, but he wasn’t going anywhere. The first time he was allowed to get up and walk, the first thing he’d done was get to a window overlooking the parking lot to see if his truck was still there, but it was gone.
He tried to smile, but his facial muscles wouldn’t let him. It was comforting to know his fellow man had done him a favor by stealing it.
Either way, Phil the homeless guy who’d gotten burned by an exploding crack pipe had nothing to do with Hershel Inman or Bill Carter. And he had most of his money stashed in a bank in Virginia under another name, so when he was ready to leave, he had money to help him disappear.
What you need to do is go hide and thank God you weren’t caught. This burn on your face is your penance for murder. Go live out the rest of your life in peace.
“So, Louise, you decided to come back just to tell me what to do again? Then explain to me how I would have peace when they keep winning,” Hershel muttered.
She was silent. He snorted.
“I thought so.”
A nurse came into his room pushing a wheelchair. She had a big smile on her face, which meant they were going to take him to physical therapy. They always grinned like the Cheshire cat when something painful was about to happen.
“Hop in, Phil. It’s time to go work those fingers and facial muscles some more.”
“I don’t need to smile,” he said.
“Don’t be silly! Everyone needs to smile,” she countered, and pushed him out of the room with him griping all the way.
“When can I get out of here? I want out,” he asked.
She patted his shoulder as she pushed him down the hall.
“Why do you want to get out? You told me you were homeless. Why would you want to go back to the streets? It’s clean and comfortable in here, and you get three great meals a day.”
“A man just needs to be able to call his own shots in life, you know?”
She smiled. “I know, Phil. I was just teasing you. You’re doing great. You’ll be gone before you know it.”
It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but it was what he was going to have to work with, so he leaned back and rode in style.
* * *
Cameron had been released four days ago, and Nola was being released this morning. She couldn’t wait to get back to the trailer, pack up what personal belongings she had and leave this nightmare behind.
She’d been on the phone with the galleries where her work was hanging to inform them of her upcoming move, and for the first time in weeks she felt as if she was finally gaining some control of her life.
Tate had bought her a new outfit to go home in: a white T-shirt, a blue zip-up sweatshirt to wear as a jacket and matching blue sweatpants. They were her favorite colors and felt soft against her healing wounds, which had been his intent.
She had them on and was braiding her hair when he walked into the room. As soon as he saw her, he smiled, and she thought what a blessed woman she was to have a second chance at love.
“You look so pretty,” he said as he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, then pulled at her braid, just like he’d done for all the years they were growing up.
She grinned. “Thanks to you. So, when do we leave?”
