Free Fatal Intent (Desert Heat Book 3) by Jamie Jeffries Page B

We won’t know for certain that will be enough for about twelve hours.”
    Cries and sobs broke out behind her, but Alex went numb. Amputate! Just a few weeks before, Dawn had led her group down seven or eight long city blocks. Who would lead them now? She searched the crowd for Jesse and not seeing him, searched for Dylan instead. There he was. The comfort she felt in seeing Dylan turned to sadness as she took in Jesse’s figure, curled into a miserable ball in the chair next to Dylan.
    ~~~
    Dylan had done his best to comfort the boy, but Jesse was inconsolable. Finally, Dylan turned Jesse over to a group of his friends and found Alex. “We need to get out of here.”
    Alex objected, saying she needed to be there to cover the story as it unfolded.
    “Come on, just down to the cafeteria if you insist on staying. I’d like to talk to you in private.”
    Alex allowed him to lead her away from the grieving crowd. In the elevator, he put his arms around her and held her close. As they approached the cafeteria, the smell of institutional food grew stronger and Dylan’s stomach rumbled in spite of himself. He guided Alex through the line, choosing foods he knew she liked and something for himself, before finding a table in a corner where few people were sitting.
    Alex picked at her food, still thinking about Dawn he supposed. “Alex, I heard a little more from Jesse after you left. Apparently, Dawn was with it enough to tell the deputies it was no accident. Someone deliberately ran her off the road. Whatever this is, it’s dangerous. I’m asking you, please, not to go digging for anything. Report the facts and then leave it alone. Can you do that?”
    “Who?” she asked.
    “Alex, are you all right?” His question referred to her flat responses and the dull look in her eyes. What’s wrong with her? Was she having a flashback to her own brush with death?
    “I’m fine,” she said. “Who ran her off the road? Did she know?”
    “Jesse didn’t say. He did say her mother accused the Patriots of doing something, even before they found Dawn. You were there, I think.”
    “Yes.”
    “Alex, listen. This is very important. I know you’re aware of how dangerous these guys are. I’m asking you, if you love me, to back off this story. It could get you killed, and I’m not exaggerating.”
    At least that got a reaction. Not the one he was looking for, but a reaction just the same. Her face became animated for the first time since they’d left the group.
    “It’s my job to get to the bottom of it, Dylan. I wouldn’t ask you not to do your job. I’ll investigate this story just as I would any other, and don’t try to manipulate me with ‘if you love me.’ That’s bullshit.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not trying to manipulate you, babe. I believe you’ll put yourself in danger if you pursue it, and I can’t stand the thought. I need you. The boys need you. Please, don’t do this.”
    In answer, she got up. “Go home, Dylan. Thanks for coming, but there’s nothing more for you to do here.”
    Dylan stared after her as she walked away. Did she mean that the way it sounded? He pressed his lips together. All right, if she wanted him gone, he’d leave.

TEN
     
    As Dawn’s condition improved over the next couple of weeks, so did Alex’s mood, and she gradually started talking to Dylan normally again. He didn’t bother trying to persuade her to drop the story, but he worried about her getting too close to the Patriots all the same. His schedule didn’t permit a visit to Casa Grande on either weekend, but he talked to Alex daily and managed to talk her into coming home for the weekend before her birthday. He and Paul had a surprise party planned.
    Early on the Friday, he talked to Alex’s housemate, Lisa. “Is everything set?”
    “Yeah, she thinks we’re headed for Rocky Point today. It’s on Saturday, right?” Lisa and Natalie were going to Rocky Point, but only for Friday night. They’d be in Dodge