through her at the thought.
Their feet cut across the dusty flooring as they reached the door. She held her breath, hoping it wasn’t locked, and let it out when it turned easily under Janson’s hand. They took a flight of stairs to the ground floor facing the crowd on Spring Street. She noticed the playful display of bears in the window, odd since she was so used to looking through the other side, like she was in backwards land. Maybe she was, with Janson looking at her so warmly. She almost expected when they walked outside into the bustling streets that everything would go back to normal, and this would all turn out to be some odd, wonderful... super scary dream. As soon as Janson got the front door open, he stuffed her cheetah print jacket into her hands. “Your red hair is too obvious. You stay here while I get help.”
Her chin rose with rebellion. He was right, but she still knew this town better than anyone. He’d need her. “We’re just going to the hotel next door,” she argued.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you, Red.” She opened her mouth, and he pressed his lips against hers to stop her arguments. It certainly did. He warmed her insides like a warm pot of honey. He pulled back with a serious gaze. “Lock the door behind me.” He opened the door a crack and shimmied out as inconspicuously as possible, filing into the parade spectators like he’d been there all along.
Her hand went to her heart. That man had a pair of lips on him that could silence her any day. She settled near the stuffed bear display and tried to make sure he made it to the hotel safely. But instead of catching sight of Janson, she spied Vin standing with the parade spectators across the street. She froze. To the side, the trolley moved slowly through the traffic—its long spindly car was made to look like a train with its vintage wood and green siding. A few seconds more and it would shield Janson from Vin’s view, wherever he was. Her stomach clenched. Please, don’t let Vin look up.
Maybe he wouldn’t, maybe... but no, Vin’s head snapped up and he swiveled, staring across the street. He’d definitely seen Janson. His phone went to his ear in an instant. Of all the unbelievable luck! She dropped Mother Renee’s jacket to the dusty floor and charged from the store to warn him. “Janson!” She caught sight of his black shirt in the crowd and gripped his arm. “Vin knows you’re out here.”
He jerked back. “Where is he?”
She pointed, but the trolley was now in the way. Desperation sank through her, until she had a glimmer of an idea. “C’mon.” She clutched his arm and ran up to the trolley. Peering through the pristine windows, she recognized Robert at the wheel. The big man wore his usual floppy fisherman’s hat, with a twist. Today he’d cut it in half and painted half his bald head to look like a brain to have his fun with the Zombie Crawl. He also happened to be the town jokester. His historical tours rivaled hers with his sheer colorfulness. “Bob!” she shouted. “Let us in.”
Robert reached for the handle with his muscular forearms and swung the door open easily with his old man strength, though he kept driving. “What are you doing, Mollie?”
She didn’t give Robert time to slam the door on her. Janson and Mollie dove inside, hiding against the polished wooden floors next to the pew-like seats, trying to keep out of sight of the windows. Robert kept his eyes ahead, a smile dancing over his mouth. “You running away from Sheriff Price?” he asked conversationally.
“No, these really bad guys who want us dead,” Mollie cried.
“I heard Sheriff Price was after you, too.”
That was new. Obviously Robert thought this was a joke. She exchanged glances with Janson and lifted her head. “Why?”
“Trespassing Old Finn’s Fountain, I heard. He’s spitting mad, spent all morning fuming about it. He barely kept still enough for Elana to put on his zombie clown makeup.”
Mollie might’ve known it was something serious. She scowled. “Well, I hope Sheriff Price finds me first because I need to talk to him.”
“You can find him redirecting traffic for the parade.” Robert’s eyes danced with mirth. “He’ll probably have Deputy Evans arrest you so he can question you later.” She groaned. That kid liked to pretend he was a big city