Sandra Robbins - Fatal Disclosure

Mark gave a discreet cough, and they all turned to stare at him. “I’ve been thinking about this while I’ve been waiting, and I have some questions about what happened. I don’t think this was a random incident. I think somebody deliberately tried to run Betsy down.”

“What?” Kate’s voice almost shrieked.

“That car came out of nowhere and headed right toward her. I didn’t think I could get to her in time, but I did.”

Kate leaned against the exam table, and tears flooded her eyes. “Then thank you, Mr. Webber, for saving my sister’s life.”

“It wasn’t as bad as that,” Betsy insisted. “It probably was some teenagers speeding. You know how crazy they drive on the island sometimes.”

Mark took a deep breath. “There’s something else I didn’t tell you because I wanted Betsy to tell all of you at the same time.”

“What is it?” Kate asked.

Betsy frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The phone call. Tell them about the phone call.”

Betsy looked away. “I told you it was a wrong number.”

Mark shook his head. “It’s too much of a coincidence, Betsy. You receive a strange phone call and minutes later you’re almost run down in the street. It may be connected.”

Kate’s eyes grew wide, and she tightened her arm around Betsy. “What about a phone call?”

For the next few minutes, Betsy told them everything she remembered about the raspy voice on her cell phone. “I really did think it was a wrong number,” she insisted.

“And you’re sure he said ‘where is it?’”

“That’s what he said. I have no idea what he was talking about.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment as they digested this new information. After a moment, Kate spoke. “You shouldn’t stay alone, Betsy. I’ll take Emma to our house, and I want you to move into Treasury’s bed-and-breakfast for a few days.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’ll be fine at home.”

Scott shook his head. “No, that house is too isolated, and you’re not staying out there alone with Emma. If you won’t consider your safety, at least think of our little sister. You already have your studio at Treasury’s. That would be the perfect place for you.”

“Scott and Kate are right. You need to go to Treasury’s and stay there until we can determine if the two incidents are related,” Brock added.

“But, Scott, you’re off tomorrow, and you promised to take me out on Pamlico Sound in the morning during low tide,” Betsy protested. “I need to get some pictures of the waterfowl in the marshes along the coast. Can we still do that?”

Scott and Kate looked at each other, and she gave a small nod. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll pick you up in the morning about five-thirty.”

“Good. I’ll be expecting you.”

Mark’s stomach knotted with dread. He jammed his fists in the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. “There’s something I should tell you before you decide about staying at the bed-and-breakfast.”

Her eyes grew large. “What is it?”

He exhaled sharply. “I’m already staying there. You may not feel comfortable having me close by, but with me at the same place I can keep an eye on you. Then we can determine if there’s a danger to you or not.”

Her expression grew dark, and he wondered how deep her hatred for him went. Had her experience in Memphis made her so angry she would refuse the protection of a federal DEA agent? He hoped not.

Kate touched Betsy’s arm, and she turned to stare at her sister. “Betsy, we couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. No matter what happened between you and Mark in the past, I’ll feel better knowing there’s someone watching out for you.”

Betsy’s eyes softened, and she squeezed her sister’s hand. “All right. I’ll go to Treasury’s if it will make all of you feel better.” She took a deep breath and hopped to the floor. “Doc Hunter told me I was free to leave. So if someone will drive me back to my truck, I’ll go home and pack some clothes.”

Scott laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Oh, no you won’t. Brock and I will take care of the truck.” He turned to Mark. “Do you mind taking Betsy home to get her clothes then driving her to Treasury’s?”

Mark nodded. “I’ll be glad to do that.”

Brock and Scott followed Betsy out the door of the exam room, but Kate turned to block Mark from exiting. “Mr. Webber, I’ve been a police officer ever since I graduated from college. Even though I’m on leave now with my baby, I’m still involved in ongoing investigations on the island. I also understand how people who’ve been hurt by investigations don’t always understand an officer’s reasons for what they did.” She wrapped her arms around her baby and stared intently at him. “I’ve never judged you as an officer, only as a man who professed to be a friend to my sister. I hope you won’t do anything else while you’re here to add to her hurt.”

Mark’s face burned from the scrutiny of Kate’s eyes. “We’re dealing with some desperate criminals, Mrs. Gentry, and I’m afraid Betsy has attracted their attention. I only want to make sure she remains safe.”

“I’m glad you’re concerned for her safety. I’ll feel better knowing an officer is at Treasury’s.”

“I’ll watch out for her,” he promised.

Kate nodded, bit down on her lip, and led Mark down the hallway of the health center to the parking lot where the others waited. He could see the flicker of concern in all their faces, and none of them spoke as he climbed into the car and cranked the engine.

During the last few minutes, his assignment had become more complicated. Brock and Scott were right when they said he should have passed up an assignment on the island where Betsy grew up. He’d never expected to be involved with her whole family, but now he was.

After getting directions from Betsy, he pulled into the street on his way to her house. She sat in the passenger seat and didn’t speak but gazed out the window as they passed through the village streets jammed with tourists. He darted a glance at her every so often, but she didn’t look at him.

He wondered what she was thinking. Did she regret agreeing to stay in the same bed-and-breakfast where he was a guest? If she did, he’d have to prove to her he didn’t mean to cause her any problems. After all, he was on Ocracoke to do a job, and he intended to close this assignment like he had so many others in the past.

Before that happened, though, he had to make sure the men he was after hadn’t decided Betsy had something they wanted. He’d dealt with their kind before. Human life held little meaning for them, and their enemies often found themselves facing quick retribution.

He was determined that wouldn’t happen to Betsy.

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