Free Hidden Sins by Karice Bolton Page A

you stand here trying to act surprised that I’d been found.”
    Nancy took a seat on my most prized possession, the wooden chair, and looked at me. She bit her lip and her expression softened slightly. “I didn’t tell anyone anything. I don’t have anyone to tell, but there is no reason why you should believe that, which I understand. All the women who come here are hiding from something or someone. I’ve learned to never ask questions that I don’t want answers to, but I’m telling you now, whoever wants to find you is dangerous, and I don’t mean only dangerous to you. To all of us.”
    “I know that.”
    “Is he in custody?” she asked.
    “For now,” I replied, my mind drifting to Luke. I had to let him know. I had to get rid of Nancy. “But I don’t know if he was the only one or if there are more.”
    She nodded. “When someone’s running from a boyfriend or a family, the fear in their eyes is different than yours. I think it’s based on some sort of acceptance or knowledge that they’re one step ahead of the person they once loved. You don’t have that. There’s a fierceness behind your gaze.”
    “Your point?” I asked.
    “You need to watch your back, and I want you out in two weeks,” she replied.
    “Understood.”
    “I was once in your shoes.” She pulled her sleeve up to reveal a long gash up her arm. “This should have killed me and almost did. If you’re running from something and not someone, they will stop at nothing until they get what they want. They think I’m dead so I’ve been able to live a life, if you can call this a life. But I’ve accepted my fate. No husband, no family. It’s a lonely way of existing, but at least I’m alive, and it’s a concept you’d better get used to.”
    My mind flashed to Luke. She was absolutely right. The first person who I’d become acquainted with in my new town was already in danger. I couldn’t let Rikki become the second, but I needed a ride tonight. Donald would be in custody for at least twenty-four hours so it should be okay. As long as he was working alone…
    “If you can find out how they found you, it will help you hide better next time.” She stood up and walked out of the room.
    I opened my netbook and dug Luke’s card out of my wallet. No matter what I put in the email I was going to sound crazy, and there was a big chance he wouldn’t believe it anyway, but I had to warn him. And I had to disappear. Again. I would no longer text him, but I would hold onto the phone until I got a new one.
    I created a new email account, specifically for this purpose, forgetting the password as soon as I entered it. After several failed attempts at writing, I decided to keep it short and simple.
     
    Dear Mr. Fletcher,
     
    Thank you for your kindness and generosity. It means more than you could ever imagine. But your kindness has put you in danger. I have received a threat, and unfortunately because of your interaction with me, you have become a target. I’m so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I have attached the detective’s information who is handling the case. He said he’d be reaching out to you, but I felt it necessary to warn you myself. And again, I apologize.
     
    Kind Regards,
     
    Hannah
     
    I wanted to add a P.S. I’m not crazy, but I didn’t think that would help my cause. I hit send and logged out of the email. I looked up Buttons and found the most rudimentary website ever. There was a homepage that was burgundy with the word Buttons scrawled in fancy script across the website. That was it. No information about what it was. In tiny black font at the bottom of the page there was an address. I guess the only way I’d know what Buttons was all about was to go there. I was about to text Rikki, but she popped her head in my room. She must’ve just gotten back from her errands.
    “Hey, how’d you get here?” she asked, smiling.
    “I had a bit of an issue.” It was only fair I told her. “An officer brought