Always Watching (49 page)

Acid whooshed to the back of my throat
again.  Yeah, he told me, but damned if I was gonna tell
Johnny.  There was work to be done.  The last thing I
wanted or would tolerate was his interference.  Gillette had
unleashed something in me, something that had been fighting to get
out for years.  No way would Johnny put the demon back in the
box before I was finished with the job. 

“
Maybe he tricked me after
all,” I said.

“
Who?”

“
Datello.  Doesn’t it
make the most sense that he was involved in this human trafficking
ring all along, that he planned to get rid of me once and for all
by selling me into slavery?  It could’ve been why his attorney
kept petitioning for delays in the trial.  It would’ve hurt
the state’s case against him if I were suddenly unavailable to
testify.”

“
I guess.  You were
pretty adamant about another conspirator, Helen.  You even
told me you thought you knew who it was.”

Hmm, and I was pretty sure that I did know
his identity.  There was a triangle that existed, one that
connected everyone for different reasons.  Sherman was the
pervert who enjoyed personal benefits from being involved in human
trafficking.  Those associated with him were susceptible to
monetary enticement.  Andy Gillette.  Melissa
Sherman.  Alfred Preston.

Datello – whether a knowing participant or
not – provided access, transportation, the means to reap the
benefits of the operation.  He knew a little too much about my
personal history.  Why hadn’t I seen that before?  He’d
always been so familiar with my history.  I assumed it was
because of Rick.  What if he’d known my true identity all
along?  Gillette claimed I’d always been owned.

With the added pressure my presence brought
to bear to everyone engaged in something illegal, it made perfect
sense, at least to me, that the third side of the triangle had to
be the person moving into position to stop OSI and me, from
continuing to derail their interests.  I knew next to nothing
about Terrell Sanderfield.  Maybe sharing my suspicions with
Johnny would distract him enough.

Enough to hide my true agenda.  Enough
to covertly learn the truth about who I really am.  Enough to
enact Plan B and uncover the truth about who I really am. Good
Christ. Was this what Jerry Lowe meant months ago about Darkwater
Bay’s secrets? What did he really know?

I was certain he’d never tell me. I’d have
to uncover it myself.

“
Doc?”

Our eyes met again.

“
I think we need to talk
about what happened.”

“
I thought we were,” I
said.

Whispers overwhelmed my head. 
Something was wrong, slightly off. 

“
I mean what happened
between us, before you were abducted.”

My shoulders sank into the pillows
supporting me.  “Johnny, we were both wrong and stubborn and
made mistakes.  Can’t we let it go?”

“
If by let it go you mean
we can kiss and make up now, then yes, by all means.”

I patted the mattress.

Johnny had me buried against his chest
before the third tap of palm against the sheet.

“
I love you so much,” he
murmured.  “I’m sorry, Helen.  Of all the people who
blame themselves for what happened to you, no one was more
responsible than I was.”

A cold smile stretched over my lips. 
Distraction would’ve been satisfactory.  Guilt would work much
better.  Sweet, blinding guilt.

Yes, let Plan B begin.