risk of detection. In order to do that, we created safe rooms on each end of an existing underground tunnel that connects the bookstore to the party supply store on the other side of the shopping center. Right now, we’re taking you to a safe location. We’ll figure out the rest when we get there.”
I turned in my seat to look out the rear window. “But what about Bronze and Blue?”
“They’re already on their way.”
“What? How?”
“They were able to leave before we were since they could just walk right out to his truck, but they’ll arrive after us to not draw extra attention.”
“Where are they going to go until they get there?”
Josie reached over and clasped my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “They’re completely safe. He usually drives around for fifteen or twenty minutes this time of day because Blue has trouble falling asleep for her midday nap if it’s a busy day at the gym. Them leaving around this time would be expected for anyone watching.”
Her words silenced me for a large portion of the drive. I couldn’t help wondering if the threat was related to me, not them. The thought played on repeat in my mind until I figured out a way to ask without asking. “Has anything like this ever happened before?”
“No,” Tatum answered, “but we haven’t been open that long either.”
“Oh,” I replied and chewed on my lower lip. I wanted to ask, but there was no way the threat had anything to do with me. It couldn’t have. The only person who knew I was working in the bookstore was Frankie, and I trusted her implicitly.
“Are you wondering if this is about you?” Tatum asked.
“Maybe a little,” I confessed.
“We don’t know. My colleagues are working on a trace now. The caller didn’t give away any clues that I picked up, but I haven’t had a chance to listen to the replay.” She shrugged. “This is amateur shit. They’ll probably know who it is before we arrive anyway.”
With every breath of my being, I hoped she was right.
“Wait until the garage door is completely closed. Then, we’ll get out and go inside. You’ll go with Josie while I find out what’s going on. I’ll update you as soon as I know something,” Tatum explained.
Josie led me through the kitchen to a set of stairs that led to a wine cellar. She removed a bottle of wine from the shelf and pushed against the wall. Once again, a secret room was revealed—thankfully with working lights.
“I’m not sure how long we’ll be in here, but please make yourself comfortable,” Josie said as she closed the door and secured it.
I glanced around at the cozy sitting area that looked like it should be featured in a home décor magazine instead of hidden in the middle of a mansion behind a secret wall. “What is this place?” I wondered aloud, letting my imagination take over to keep my fear from reaching uncontrollable levels.
Josie took a seat on the small sofa across from me and cleared her throat. “As Tatum said, we can’t give you the details, but I can tell you that the room you’re in was created for the sole purpose of safety.”
I nodded absently, a story already beginning to develop in my head. “Um, you wouldn’t happen to have a pen and some paper, would you?”
Josie grinned knowingly and disappeared into what I assumed was another area of the safe room. Returning with a pen and notepad, she handed them to me with a bright smile. “Got a new idea?”
“I do,” I replied excitedly. “I always try to jot them down somewhere as soon as they hit me, but this time, I think it’ll be a nice distraction from whatever’s going on.”
“I wish I could tell you that it’s nothing to worry about,” she trailed off, leaving me to silently fill in the rest—but it probably is.
“I wish you could too, but we have to face whatever challenges life presents us with, and right now,” I gestured to the small room, “this is one of mine.”
“I’ll be quiet and let you do your thing, but do you want something to eat or drink first?”
“Water would be great,” I said with too much enthusiasm. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I was so thirsty until you mentioned it.”
With my thirst quenched, I wrote down my new idea for a story—The Federal Agent and the Protected Witness. As usual, the ideas kept coming, faster than I could write, and I longed