Read On The Run for Free Online

“Why?”
    She drew a shaky breath. “Why are
you
crying?”
    “Because I’m scared and they wouldn’t let me go down—”
    “And I’m crying because they did let me go to Charlie.” She cupped her hands around Frankie’s face. “And I knew I had to tell you something terrible.”
    “Terrible,” Frankie whispered. “About Charlie?”
    “He’s gone, baby.” Her voice broke and she had to stop. Get through it. She tried again. “Charlie’s not going to be with us any longer.”
    “Dead. You mean he’s dead.”
    She nodded jerkily. “That’s what I mean.”
    Frankie stared at her in disbelief.
    “It’s true, Frankie.”
    “No.” Frankie buried her face in Grace’s chest, her little body convulsed with sobs. “No. No. No.”
    “Get into the car with her,” Kilmer said as he opened the driver’s door. “I’ll drive you to that motel and get you settled.”
    “Maybe I should have told her, Grace,” Robert said as he moved over on the seat. “I thought you’d want to do it yourself.”
    “You were right.” She sat down and pulled Frankie closer in her arms. She rocked her back and forth in an agony of sympathy. “It was my job. Shh, baby, I know none of this makes sense and it hurts. It hurts. . . . But I’m here and it will get better. I promise it will get better.”
    “Charlie . . .”
    Just let her mourn and hope the tears would bring some sort of closure. She didn’t know what else to do. God, she felt helpless.
    And in pain. The world seemed full of pain.
    Pain for Frankie, pain for herself. Pain and regret that Charlie’s life had been ended so brutally.
    “I’m sorry.” Frankie was looking up at her, the tears still running down her cheeks. “You’re hurting too. Am I making it worse for you?”
    Jesus, who could have expected Frankie to think of anyone else at a time like this? Grace shook her head. “You’re making it easier. Sharing always makes it easier.” She pressed Frankie’s head back on her shoulder. “We’ll get through it together. Just like we always do.”
    “Is the Holiday Inn okay?” Kilmer asked as he turned the car and drove back onto the road.
    “Yes, it doesn’t matter.”
    “You could stay at my place,” Robert said.
    Grace shook her head. “Thanks, maybe later.” She leaned back in the seat. “Not tonight.”
    “You’re afraid my apartment might not be—” He looked at Frankie. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll check in next door.”
    “I’ll take care of it, Blockman,” Kilmer said.
    Robert shook his head. “You don’t stay anywhere near her. Not until I do some checking with Washington.”
    Kilmer shrugged and didn’t pursue it.
    But he wouldn’t let Robert stop him from doing anything he wanted to do, Grace knew. He would just go around the corner of the obstacle and slip in another way. Kilmer was relentless.
    “It’s okay, Grace.” Kilmer was gazing at her in the rearview mirror. “I’m not going to make trouble for you.”
    “You bet you’re not.” Her arm tightened around Frankie. “I have only one thing to ask right now. Is Frankie in any immediate danger?”
    He shook his head. “We have a few days.”
    She breathed a sigh of relief. If Kilmer said it was safe, it was safe. “Good. But you’re not going anywhere until I talk to you.”
    He nodded. “Agreed.” He looked at Frankie. “After you get her through this.”
    Yes, after she got her through this horror of a night she would deal with him.
             
    K ilmer’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he watched Blockman usher Grace and Frankie into the lobby of the motel.
    Christ, he wanted to go with them.
    It didn’t matter what he wanted. It would be the worst possible move to crowd Grace now when she was in the throes of grief and anxiety. Let her come to terms with Charlie’s death before he piled more stress on her.
    He dialed Donavan’s number. “Any news?”
    “Other than Marvot’s people buzzing around like hornets ready to