I begin telling her about what happened last night and what Alan said over the phone just now. Jessie purses her lips in obvious annoyance. “You should have called me. I would have come straight home.”
“I know, that’s why I didn’t. Besides, Michael was with me all night.” She raises a questioning eyebrow at me, causing me to defend myself. “Nothing happened. He slept on the couch the whole time.” I’m not going to mention the little indiscretion that happened between us. She doesn’t need to know about that.
“Listen, I’ll understand if you want me out of your apartment. He obviously knows where I live now, and I don’t want to put you in any kind of danger. In fact, I think it’s a very good idea that I do leave.”
Her face looks as fiery as her red hair. “Don’t you dare, I’m not going to hear that kind of talk from you. You’re staying with me, and that’s final, do you hear? I have a gun anyway, so I’ll shoot the little fucker in the balls if he tries to get to you.”
An unexpected snort erupts from my mouth. Jessie always manages to make me laugh in any situation. She just seems to have a talent for it. I’m relieved to know there’s a gun in the apartment, and the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me that I should get one too. I need to know how to better protect myself and not have to rely on everyone else to do that for me. As soon as that thought enters my head, the decision is made.
“Are you feeling better now?”
I nod my head before heading over to the sink to rinse my mouth out. I’m not letting Alan take over my life. He’s been in my nightmares for far too long. I just want to put an end to it. I need to get a grip and stop acting like the frightened, little child I used to be. I’m a grown-ass woman now and should be able to look after myself from the likes of the Alans and the Phils of this world. I straighten up and look at Jessie. “Right, let’s get back to work, shall we?”
Just as I’m thinking of heading out to lunch, Agent Marcos rings telling me that they found a fingerprint match for Alan. I thought it was rather quick, but he tells me he rushed it through right after he left last night. That was very gracious of him to do, so I thank him for that. It’s a good thing he rang as I am able to tell him all about the phone call. He says that I will have to report it as it’s not an FBI matter. I know he’s right. It will mean Jake finding out, and I don’t want that. I know exactly what will happen if he does. He will throw me over his shoulder, take me back to McLean, and never let me leave again. I’m not going back there with everything that’s happened and is continuing to happen.
No way.
I take my lunch, telling Jessie I’ll be back as soon as possible to relieve her. I have a mission to accomplish.
I get to the Fairfax gun store a couple of blocks away then make my way in. I don’t know much about guns; I only ever fired one once when Jake took me to the range. It may be very British of me to think, but guns scare me. Being in America and knowing I’m in danger puts a new perspective on things, though. I have a right to protect myself if necessary, and I’ll be damned if I don’t use that right.
I glance over them, but I don’t have a clue what to look for. Luckily, a silver haired man approaches me from the other side of the cabinets.
“What can I do you for today?”
“I’m new at this, so I need a little help,” I answer, hesitantly smiling.
“Well, you’ve come to the right place. Tell me what it is you’re looking for, and I’m sure I’ll be able to point you in the right direction.”
“Well, I only need something small, just for protection. I don’t plan on using it unless I really have to.”
He nods his head. “Okay, I think I have just the thing.” He takes me along the aisle a little and then stops by a handgun. “This is