Free Silent Protector by Barbara Phinney Page A

“And have you told Charlie about all of this? He’s a typical kid, and no-doubt will want to catch a snake. Ian, this place isn’t safe.”
    “It will have to be, Liz, because you can’t leave. You have no car until after the storm, and I won’t let you leave without a marshal.”
    “Who won’t come before the storm, either, I suppose.” She shoved her hands on her hips.
    “Liz, this is all for your own safety and Charlie’s. Why can’t you accept that?”
    “Charlie’s safety means more to me than my life. It’s just that you’re busy doing a laundry list of things. You can’t look after Charlie in the way you say he deserves. So why are you being so adamant about keeping him here?” She paused, drew in a breath, and opened her mouth slightly in understanding. “It’s not his safety, and it’s not just so he can finger his dad’s killer. You don’t want him to leave becausethat would be a failure on your part. They reinstated you as a marshal, and if you fail now that would make you look really bad, wouldn’t it?”
    Ian looked away, and Liz pursed her lips. She knew immediately that she’d struck a nerve.
    He wanted to succeed. Maybe he had a perfect record, or maybe he’d failed the U.S. Marshal Service in some way, perhaps by leaving before retirement.
    It didn’t matter to her. Nobody’s pride or feeling of self-worth mattered while Charlie’s life was in danger. Nobody’s. Not even her own.
    She turned to watch the assistant open the car doors and the trunk. The driver pulled up on the chain to tip the back end down, allowing more murky water to cascade back into the inlet.
    Tears sprang to her eyes. Someone had wanted her dead. They didn’t want her to take Charlie. Could it be Jerry’s killer? Was he already here on Spring Island?
    She walked over to the driver. “Excuse me? Is it possible for you to take me into Northglade? Is there a car rental place there?”
    “Sorry, I can’t do that. Company policy. Insurance stuff, I think. But your rental company should bring you a new car.”
    “Not until after the storm, I’m afraid.”
    The driver checked the sky. “Oh, the one heading over this way. I bet you’ll have to evacuate this place. Isn’t there a resort being built here? Maybe they’ve got someone who’s leaving this place?”
    Liz sagged. “I’ll look into it. Thanks.”
     
    Ian heard her request. He was still bristling from her cool remarks about how he didn’t want to fail. Truth hurts,all right. He’d had a perfect record, and if Liz or Charlie became injured or they were forced to leave, it wouldn’t look good on him.
    He hated that he’d even have that thought. He shouldn’t be so selfish. Nor should he be blaming Liz for her keen observation.
    He wiped his face and shoved his hat farther down on his head. Liz didn’t know the details surrounding Jerry’s death. Charlie could identify William Smith, and with his statement, they could bring down many evil people. A whole cartel could theoretically be eliminated, reducing the flow of drugs into this country by a considerable percentage. That would save lives, more than “The Shepherd’s Smile,” right?
    Ian blew out a long breath. Was he meant to be a marshal or a missionary?
    But where did that leave the citizens of Moss Point? If he returned to the U.S. Marshal Service, it wouldn’t convince Liz to coax a statement out of Charlie.
    But if he stayed here on Spring Island, Charlie and Liz would be gone, forcing him to request another marshal with less experience dealing with children.
    All would be lost.
    Ian gritted his teeth. So, God, why are You doing this to me?

SEVEN
    L iz was allowed to remove her personal things from the backseat of the car. They weren’t much, as she had told the tow truck driver, and Ian could see now that she was right.
    She really must have flown from the house, because all she had was her purse and a reusable shopping tote, printed with a picture of the planet and a grocery