Page 94 of Protect My Heart

Liz fought the panic that danced on the edge of her consciousness. In two, three. Out two, three. This could be the answer. Had her father tried to save a girl’s life?

Liz’s hands trembled as she fit the key into the lock. The old metal clicked and turned. With one deep inhale, she pulled the door open.

An old blue gym bag was stuffed in the bottom. She slipped to the floor next to the locker.

Jim eased to the ground next to her. He gritted his teeth. Pushing back the spasm of pain. Using two fingers, he grabbed the handles and pulled the bag out.

Tears misted her vision. With shaky hands, she gently unzipped the bag and looked inside. There sat a leather-bound notebook. With care, she pulled it out and opened it. Yellowed pages stiff with age fanned in her fingers. Her father’s handwriting slashed across the page.

“It’s dated the day he was deployed.” The gravel in Rosa’s voice caused the tears in Liz’s to roll down her cheeks. She hadn’t even noticed her parents had followed them into the back room.

She thumbed through the pages. “The dates go out fifteen months, but there isn’t an entry for every day.”

Jim placed a hand on her shoulder. “Is there an entry for June Twelfth?”

Liz flipped pages until she came to that date. With a cleansing breath, she blinked away the tears and started to read. “I never should have gone to see her. She shone too brightly for me to resist. Her flame that drew me in like a moth and cut the dreary existence. Attracted the birds of prey. They seek beauty. To destroy it.”

She looked to her mother. “Did you know?”

“Yes.” Rosa’s smile tight, her eyes shined. “War changed your father. I know he loved me, but… I forgave him.”

Liz nodded. It was between her parents, not her. She continued to read.

“Jim, here.”

He took the book from her and scanned the pages. She could see him inputting all the information that would help close his case. “I need to log this into evidence.”

Liz opened the bag further and pulled out a baggie with a knife that matched the one that held the key. “Don’t forget this.”

“I’ll book it into evidence. You can take Lizzie back to the house. You both need some rest.” CJ motioned to Jim’s hip then took the gym bag with the journal and knife.

“Good news––it looks like only the three men knew about this.” Jim pulled Liz to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he cradled her. “You’re safe.”

“It’s over.” She hugged him tight before pulling back and hugging Mami and Walt. “It’s over.”

Tears of joy and relief landed in fat drops on her shirt. She and her family would be safe.

She thanked Butch, and they headed back to the house. One last hug to her parents and she and Jim entered the ice house.

“I need to take this back to storage.”

“Not yet. We need a nap. Come here.” She didn’t need sleep—she needed him. Taking his hand, she led him to the bed. Her heart raced like a school girl with her first crush. Liz didn’t want him to go—ever.

His lips touched hers in a soft caress, but she wanted more. Liz wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in close, her leg snaked up his thigh.

He jerked.

“Shit. Sorry, I forgot. Let me get your meds. We’ll save that for another time.”

They settled into the bunk, she curled into him. He stroked her side and she relaxed. Exhaustion claimed Jim in minutes, but Liz’s brain circled back to the letters. Would her relationship with her father have been different had she received them? Would she have opened them?

She gnawed on her lip. The real question was would she read them now?

Doc glowed as she opened the door. Jim was in agony. He didn’t know what hurt worse, his ass or the case of blue balls after having Doc snuggled up to him on that tiny bed all night. Their nap turned into eighteen hours of the sleep of the dead. He woke to an empty bed and a note on the table. “What time did you get up?”

“Early. I decided to let you sleep.” She planted a quick kiss on his lips then turned and sashayed into the kitchen.

Jim followed like a puppy. Hell, he’d follow her anywhere, and this morning he’d tell her. He saw the letters on the table and paused. “Are you reading them?”