Chapter Thirteen
Her name? Oh God. Why was he asking, unless…
“Elinamifia Owens.”
His flinty gaze narrowed. “Try again.”
Her throat went tight and her heart smashed into her ribcage. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip and drew in an unsteady breath.
“What do you mean? That’s my name—”
“Then let’s go find your purse, Ellie, seeing that I never checked your ID that first day we met.” He was off her in an instant, and striding across the room.
Ellie was on her feet, fumbling to pull up her pants as she stumbled after him, her chest tight with fear.
“Tyson, wait—”
But by the time she entered the kitchen, he was already swinging her satchel purse around two fingers.
She went to snatch it, but he lifted it above her head.
“
Your name
,” he ground out, his gaze flashing with irritation. “And don’t even think of lying to me this time.”
It was right there in her purse, in her wallet. The driver’s license that would confirm what he already knew. For a moment, she contemplated turning and running like hell out of the house. Try to disappear again, and just hide for the next week.
“You already know my name,” she finally whispered.
“I want to hear you say it.”
“Eleanor Owens.”
“And Elinamifia is just some person’s identity you stole?”
“Elinamifia is my cousin!” she shouted, her cheeks heating with frustration. “You don’t understand, Tyson—”
“I understand there’s a bench warrant out for your arrest.”
Ellie’s hands fell to her sides and the blood rushed from her head. She reached for the counter when her knees threatened to buckle. “What did you say?”
“You heard me, Ellie.” He shook his head and thrust a hand through his hair. “Instead of screwing you the minute I walked in the door, I should’ve been arresting your ass.”
A few heartbeats went by. “And are you going to arrest me now?”
She watched Tyson, saw the tic in his jaw as he stared down at her.
“I asked you to trust me, Ellie. Multiple times.”
“I know.”
“And you didn’t.” Accusation shone in his gaze now.
“I
couldn’t
. I can’t trust anyone. You still don’t understand, Tyson.” Tears flooded her eyes and she cursed herself. She was not the type to cry, not even when James had beaten her.
“Damn it, I do understand, Ellie.” And then the tone of his voice shifted, gentled. “I haven’t always been a small-town sheriff, sweetheart. I was a cop in Seattle for a while, too. I’ve testified in numerous trials, myself. I’ve seen the kind of fear that can make a witness walk around puking for days before taking the stand.”
“You…you worked in Seattle?”
He sighed and took a step toward her, setting down her purse as he moved to cup her shoulders. She blinked the tears from her eyes, the tension in her body dissipating at the massaging of Tyson’s hands.
“For five years. I was young, eager for action and adventure. I got it in spades.” He shrugged. “But then I realized what I’d given up. How much I loved and missed Wyattville and its people. I came home two years ago, deciding it was time to put down some roots for good, find a girl and start a family.”
“Two years ago? And you’re still not married,” she said, and then her lips twitched. “Unless there’s something you’d like to tell me?”
“No, I’m not married,” he said with a soft laugh. “I just never met anyone I could fall in love with.” His gaze lifted to hers. “Until recently.”
Ellie’s heart tripped and then sped up, her body tingled and her head grew light. Was he saying…?
“I want to help you, Ellie. I’m
going
to help you.”
Her mind slipped away from romantic, happy thoughts, and right back to her current situation, and how utterly hopeless it was. “I don’t see how you possibly can.”
“Let me deal with that. Go take your shower and when you get out, things might look a little brighter.”
She bit back a humorless laugh and tried to pull away, but Tyson’s grip tightened on her shoulders.
“And don’t do anything stupid, Ellie,” he warned softly, rubbing his thumb over her collarbone. “’Cause if you run, I’ll follow you. And then I’ll have no choice but to arrest you.”
How the hell
could
she run? She didn’t even have a car here—she’d taken a taxi into town.
“I won’t run,” she said flatly, a bit numb now.
“Do you trust me, Ellie?”
She started to nod automatically and then hesitated. She didn’t want there to be any more lies. When she answered his question, it would be the truth.
Ellie lifted her head to look at him again, searching his face and her heart for the answer. Some of the heaviness lifted as she replied, “Yes, Tyson. I do.”
“Good.” Relief flickered in his gaze and then he lowered his head, before brushing a light kiss across her lips. “Go get that shower, sweetheart.”
With a sigh, she nodded and headed to the bathroom.
Tyson stared out the window of the Bakemans’ house and his pulse jumped when he saw the red convertible pull up the drive.
She was here.
Striding from the kitchen, he went to open the front door, walking onto the porch to greet Megan as she climbed out of her car, carrying her laptop case.
“Megan,” he called out in greeting, and grinned as he strode down the steps to meet her.
The tall redhead looked gorgeous as usual, as she smiled back and slid into his embrace.
“How’ve you been, Tyson?” she asked quietly.
He kissed her cheek and stepped back. “Been pretty good.”
“That’s what I’m hearing. You fell in love or something? It’s about time, Sheriff.”
He laughed, holding nothing but affection for the woman who had almost become his sister-in-law. Again, he had to wonder what had happened between Trevor and Megan to make things end so abruptly.
“So, where is she?” Megan asked, taking a step back and smoothing down the silk tank top she wore over her slender frame.
“In the shower. I owe you, Meg. Whatever the cost, I’ll cover it.”
“We’ll see, Tyson, it may be pro bono. This could be your future wife we’re talking about.”
He laughed, even as his blood quickened. “Easy, Megan, it’s only been a few days.”
“Sometimes that’s all it takes to know when you’ve found the one.” Her smile remained, but he didn’t miss the sadness that flickered in her eyes. “Anyway, invite me in already, I’m dying for a cup of coffee.”
“Let’s hope she has some. Ellie’s kind of a health nut.” He pushed open the door and waved Megan inside.
Fortunately, he found some coffee in the freezer and soon had a pot brewing.
By the time Ellie walked into the kitchen, hair still damp, and dressed in another sundress, he and Megan were deep in discussion at the table.
“Oh.” Ellie’s eyes widened and she stumbled to a halt.
Tyson pushed back his chair and came to his feet. “Ellie, I want you to meet Megan Asher. Megan’s a family friend and an attorney who’s going to be able to advise you. Megan, this is Eleanor Owens.”
Megan stretched a hand across the table and shook Ellie’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Eleanor.”
“Please, call me Ellie,” Ellie replied and sat down at another empty chair at the table. “I…thank you for coming over. I don’t…”
“Ellie, I’m only here to help you. But to do that, I’m going to need you to fill me in on everything that’s going on and then we’ll see what can be done,” Megan said gently.
“Okay. I’ll…try.” Ellie cast Tyson a furtive glance. “Can you grab me a cup of coffee, too? I think I’m going to need it.”
“Sure. Cream or sugar?”
“Black.”
Tyson nodded and pushed to his feet, rubbing her back encouragingly as he passed her on his way to the coffee pot. Damn, he really hoped Ellie opened up to Megan. They needed to find out how much trouble she was in and what could be done to avoid it.
“So, Tyson told me a bit about what’s going on, but I’d love you to elaborate. You were called to testify in a trial in Chicago?” Megan began and flipped open her laptop.
“Yes. I was sent a subpoena last week.” Ellie was silent for a moment before she nodded. “My ex-boyfriend is being charged with drug trafficking. The prosecution tracked me down and they want me to testify.”
Megan nodded and began typing. “And since you’re…
vacationing
in Wyattville, I’m guessing you weren’t thrilled with the notion of testifying?”
“I can’t do it,” Ellie’s voice dropped in volume, fear lacing her words.
Tyson, returning with a mug of coffee, caught Megan’s gaze above Ellie’s head. He guessed she suspected the same thing she did, that Ellie was running scared.
He set the coffee down on the table and then pulled his chair closer to hers.
“Are you afraid to testify, Ellie?” Megan asked.
“Of course.” Ellie gave a sharp laugh as she reached for her coffee. “I’d be stupid not to be.”
Tyson placed a hand on her leg. “What makes you say that?”
Ellie’s hand trembled as she took a sip of coffee and then set the mug down. “Because it’s all true. James was dealing heroin. And he had some pretty high-profile clients.”
“And you can prove this?” Megan prodded.
“We were together for a year,” she said distantly, her fingers drifting up to touch the small scar on her cheek he’d been wondering about. “He thought I was his soul mate—even if he smacked me around a bit. And though he didn’t usually talk business in front of me, sometimes it was like I was invisible, and he’d do it.”
The muscles in Tyson’s body went rigid, fury exploding from his gut and spreading with his pounding blood. “He hit you, Ellie? And you stayed?”
Ellie glanced over at him, genuine surprise on her face. “Of course I stayed.”
“Why?” Now it was his turn to be stunned.
“Because it was easier to stay than to try to leave him.” She shook her head, looking past him now and out the kitchen window. “It was only when he got arrested eight months ago that I was essentially freed. And, yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds.”
“It doesn’t sound ridiculous. And I’m so sorry, Ellie,” Megan said, her tone and expression sympathetic. “What happened to you isn’t uncommon. Many women don’t leave an unhealthy relationship because they’re afraid of the reprisal.”
“Thank you.” Ellie gave a weak smile, but seemed to really appreciate Megan’s comments.
Tyson stood up and paced the room, telling himself to calm down. That it was pretty much impossible to go beat the shit out a guy who was already in jail.
“Tyson,” Megan said suddenly and glanced up at him, giving him a warning glance. “Why don’t you go grab us some lunch? We’re probably going to be here for a good portion of the day.”
He hesitated, but realized Megan was probably right. Besides, Ellie might feel more comfortable with Megan if he wasn’t standing over her looking like he was going to put his fist through the wall.
“All right,” he muttered. “What do you gals want to eat?”
“Anything easy,” Megan replied. “Pizza works.”
Ellie didn’t reply, and he knew food was the last thing on her mind.
“Pizza it is.” He dropped a kiss on the top of Ellie’s head. “You’re doing great, sweetheart. Be back soon.”
When Tyson walked out the door, Ellie let out the breath she’d been holding. While part of her wanted to beg him to come back, to hold her hand through this, another part of her was relieved he’d gone. Relieved he wouldn’t have to hear any more details about her sketchy past with James Mahoney. It was bad enough that he’d learned what a damn coward she was.
“Ellie,” Megan began again. “Besides hearing James talk about the drug trafficking, did you ever see anything that could implicate him?”
“I’ve seen him in action.”
Megan nodded, seeming completely unfazed as she typed away. “Did you see money exchange hands? Drugs?”
“Both. He was pretty discreet about it, but I started to suspect things early on. When I confronted him about it…he hit me.” Fear lanced down her spine and she shuddered. “I learned to keep my mouth shut after that. I was too scared.”
“Did you ever have thoughts about going to the police?”
“Of course. Until I realized they were working with him.”
Megan glanced up sharply, her mouth thinning. “You have proof of this?”
“Yes. Well, there’s only one I’m aware of. But I’ve seen him talking to James on multiple occasions. And, after I got subpoenaed, he threatened me.”
“A Chicago police officer threatened you?” Megan repeated and then shook her head, fingers flying across her laptop. “Jesus, girl, no wonder you ran.”
“So, what happens now?”
Megan pushed her chair back and crossed one leg over another. “Now I request permission from the court to see if I can appear as your attorney.” She hesitated. “Look, Ellie, I don’t live in Chicago, I’m not licensed to practice in that jurisdiction, but I can make a motion for
admission pro hac vice
that would allow me to get around this. So, if we get that motion granted, I'll see what can be done about your warrant.”