His heart skipped a beat, hoping that Schaffer may have granted her request, though he knew better. “What did he say?”
“Same thing you told me. It’s too dangerous to have you with me.”
“I wish it wasn’t like that, but now you’ve seen what Langston’s men are capable of. I don’t want to put you in any more danger. It’s best that I don’t know where you are.”
“I understand,” she said, picking up the paperback book beside her.
Logan frowned, as she closed the book. “We have books here?”
She laughed. “Of course you do! Schaffer brought in quite a few for me to choose from. I figure I’ll be doing a lot of reading when I’m with the feds, so I wanted to get started.”
He took the book from her hands. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” he said, and groaned. “Schaffer had me read this one when I was 16.”
Sara tilted her head and grinned. “Oh, really? What do you remember about it?”
“Absolutely nothing,” he said. At her laugh, he added, “I hate reading.”
“Well, I love reading. I’m not so sure about country music, though.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You don’t like country music? You never said anything when we were listening to it in the car.”
“I didn’t want to offend you.”
“You’re offending me now.”
“I guess we’ll just have to stop talking then, won’t we?” She smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “Do you realize this is the first semi-normal conversation we’ve ever had?”
“And I’d love to keep having it. I hate that you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Me, too. But tonight, can’t we just—”
“Pretend?” He rested the palm of his good hand against her cheek. “Until this ends.”
Epilogue
Twenty-one months later…
Logan pulled the door open and rushed inside to escape the chilled air. He scraped his snow-covered boots against the black, rubber mat at the front door before continuing down the quiet hall. His shoes squeaked against the waxed floor and bounced off the bad acoustics, as he counted the passing halls until he reached D hall. He had checked out the layout of the building prior to coming here to make sure he took the most direct route. Pulling up the sleeve of his leather jacket, he hoped he wasn’t too late. The full parking lot told him he still had some time.
He shoved his gloved hands into his pockets, still trying to warm up from the below zero temperatures. His blood had thinned after years of living and working primarily in warm weather climates. He couldn’t understand how anyone would want to live in a place as cold as Kansas. It could be worse, he thought. He could be in Alaska.
Halfway down D hall, he slowed his pace and read the numbers on his left, until he found D18. He stopped just before he reached the wooden door with one window. A knot formed in his stomach and he reconsidered his actions. He didn’t belong here, so far away from home, not knowing the result of his intrusion.
But his heart overrode his brain, reminding him that after all he’d been through in the past four years, he could force his legs to move forward. Just three more feet.
He took the steps, his heart starting its pounding in his throat and head, canceling out everything else around him. Peeking in the window, he caught his breath.
Sara wrote out an unseen phrase on the chalkboard and turned to face her classroom. He heard her voice, but could not interpret any words. He was content just to watch her, with her hair pulled up into a ponytail, much longer than he remembered, and her light makeup accentuating her large, brown eyes. Every movement held an air of confidence and authority, one he had seen hints of during the time they spent together.
She rotated back to the chalkboard, this time in the direction of where he stood. She stopped herself halfway through the turn and the chalk tumbled out of her fingers, as her eyes fixed on his. Her lips parted, and Logan wondered if her surprise was positive.
Her mouth moved a little, as if trying to talk, and then she looked back at her class. He read her rapidly moving lips. “I’ll be right back, class.”
The closer she got to the door, the more nervous Logan became. She closed the door behind her, as she stepped out into the hall.
“Logan,” she said, with a breathy voice. She covered her lips with her fingertips.
“Hi, Sara.”
“How did you… I mean, when did you get here?”
“My plane landed a bit ago at Mid-Continent Airport. I drove straight here.”
Her hands dropped to her side, but she remained speechless.
He realized the folly of showing up unannounced and wondered if he had made a mistake. “I probably shouldn’t have come without letting you know first.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m just… I just—”
“It’s okay. I should have called before just dropping by.” He smiled at her hesitation. “You look great, Sara.”
“I could say the same thing. I’m glad to see that smiling thing stuck with you.”
Her words made his smile grow. “Maybe just a little. You changed your last name. Sara Bennett.”
“I thought it was only fitting to officially change it to my mom’s maiden name after everything that happened.”
“I’m sure she’d approve of that.”
“Schaffer came to the trial. He was there every day. I… I asked about you.”
“He told me,” Logan said.
Pain crossed her face and creased her brow. “I thought maybe you’d come at least one time with him—”
“I couldn’t. I wanted to, but I couldn’t.”
“That’s what he said. But I still kept hoping.”
Logan took a step forward. “He told me you were incredible on the stand. That your testimony is what put Langston away.”
“That’s what they say,” Sarah said. “I’d like to think it helped, but it was still scary. As powerful as he always looked in daily life, he looked so old and frail in that orange jumpsuit. It’s strange how that one thing changed his whole appearance, but it didn’t change my memory of what he’d done to me. To you.”
Her gaze dropped to his gloved left hand, and he held it up. “I’m all healed now,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me at all anymore.”
“I had nightmares about it,” she said. “I couldn’t get it out of my mind.”
“I’m so sorry you had to witness all that. I wish I could take that away from you.”
“Just knowing you’re okay is more than enough for me.” She shifted her weight and crossed her arms. “So, what are you doing in town? Do you have a job here?”
“In Wichita? No job. I’m just here to check on an old friend.”
Sara smiled and looked down.
“Why move here?” he asked.
“After Langston was killed in prison, I couldn’t stay in witness protection. His organization was pretty much dismantled already. I wanted to find a new place to start over. I thought this city sounded as good as any.”
When Logan had heard about Langston’s untimely end in the prison cafeteria—stabbed with a shank by someone he had crossed years earlier—he wasn’t sure how his death would affect Sara. He now saw she hadn’t missed a beat, and it probably served to strengthen her even more.
“Do you like it here?” he asked.
“Absolutely. Maybe a little cold for my taste and I haven’t found the ocean quite yet.”
Logan laughed. “I only ask because while I’m not here for a job, it is still official business. I heard your teaching contract ends in a few months and you haven’t yet signed a new one.”
She rolled her eyes. “If I even get offered a new one. There are so many teacher layoffs throughout the country that I was lucky to get this job.”
“What if you didn’t have to worry about layoffs anymore? Steady, permanent job, great pay, and still doing what you love.”
She arched an eyebrow. “And where exactly can I find a job like that?”
“Schaffer
is finally retiring at the end of the year, and I’ll be in charge of The Boys Club. We thought it would be a great idea to have a full-time teacher on staff. Someone who could help the new recruits with studying for their GED and other teaching duties as needed.”
Her lips curled upward into a mischievous smile. “That sounds pretty cushy. Are benefits included in that package?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Logan moved to her and lowered his head. “I’m sure we can come up with something.”
She lifted up on her tiptoes and met his lips. Logan forgot all about being in the middle of a school hallway, until the sounds of “oohs” from behind her closed door started up. They broke away from each other and chuckled. Peeking over her head, he saw a few of her students with faces pressed against the glass. With a flushed face, Sara waved them away from the door.
When they disappeared, Logan said, “Go finish your class. I have to check into the hotel still. Then I’ll pick you up for dinner and we can discuss the details. How’s six o’clock?”
“That works.” She thumped her forefinger against his chest. “I suppose you already know where I live.”
He grinned. “Of course.”
“I should have known.” She stepped back and smiled. “I’ll see you at six, Logan.”
“Perfect. Just one last thing, Ms. Bennett.”
She tilted her head. “What’s that?”
“Call me Gabe.”
###
More by Angie Martin
Conduit
Best seller on Amazon US and Amazon UK for Psychic Suspense
Winner ~ Gold Medal for Paranormal Fiction in the 2014 Reader’s Favorite International Book Awards
How do you hide from a killer when he’s in your mind?
Emily Monroe conceals her psychic gift from the world, but her abilities are much too strong to keep hidden from an equally gifted killer. A savvy private investigator, she discreetly uses her psychic prowess to solve cases. When the police ask her to assist on a new case, she soon learns the killer they seek is not only psychic, but is targeting her.
The killer wants more than to invade her mind; he wants her. Believing they are destined for each other, he uses his victims as conduits to communicate with her, and she hears their screams while they are tortured. She opens her mind to help the victims, but it gives him a portal that he uses to lure her to him. With the killer taking over her mind, she must somehow stop him before she becomes his next victim.
Reader Reviews for Conduit
“Conduit is a unique masterpiece…The amount of details given by the author and the wonderful way it was written causes heart pounding moments, fear of the dark and the need to check behind every closed door.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon
“To say CONDUIT is a thriller is an understatement. From the first page to the harrowing conclusion, this is an absolute page-turner.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon
“‘Conduit’ is an absorbing psychological thriller…which blends in more than a little splash of the paranormal as it gets underway with a suitably creepy and curious prologue setting the tone of the book and sinking claws of intrigue in from the word go.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon
False Security
Rachel Thomas longs for normalcy, but if she stops running, she could die…or worse. Chased by a past that wishes to imprison her, haunted by dreams that seek to destroy her, Rachel finds solace in a love she could not predict. A love she cannot deter.
Mark Jacobson is the man who never needed love. He has his bookstore, his bachelorhood, and his freedom. In the moment he meets Rachel, he is swept into a world he didn't know existed. One filled with the purest of love. One filled with betrayal, lies, and murder.
Now Rachel and Mark are forced to face her past. The truth may kill them both.
Reader Reviews for False Security
"I HIGHLY recommend this book if you like suspense and surprises. Martin is a master at her craft and I cannot WAIT to read her next novel!" ~ 5-star review from Amazon
"Ms. Martin had me rooting for Rachel and Mark… As danger escalated, I found it impossible to stop reading. A riveting story: if you enjoy romantic thrillers, you're in for a treat with 'False Security'." ~ 5-star review from Amazon
"False Security by Angie Martin is the kind of book I just couldn't stop reading. It's a new haunting love story…and this author knows how to get me hooked into a tale from the first page. There are…moments of beauty, quiet moments of love, and seething times of terror…False Security is a beautiful love story that you will not want to miss." ~5-star review from Amazon
"Excellent read for lovers of suspense thrillers." ~ 5-star review from Amazon
the three o’clock in the morning sessions
"the three o'clock in the morning sessions" is a poetry collection of works written over the span of almost fifteen years. This book also contains two short stories, "the door" and "brief love". All of the works deal with lost love or unrequited loves.
Reader Reviews for three o’clock
“The best word I can find to describe the poetry and prose in this book is elegant. I have far too many favorites in this short book to mention them all.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon
“She writes from her heart as she pours out her soul onto these pages filled with real-life emotions. These gripping pieces touched me as I found a connection.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.
“These poems…are filled with so much emotion that you can relate to you. The short stories leave you wanting more and using your imagination to continue the story.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.
“This collection of poetry was impressive and moving. Each one is unique and draws upon the reader’s emotions. It is thought provoking and channels into the reader’s very soul. This collection is beautiful and amazing.” ~ 5-star review from Amazon.
About Angie Martin
Angie Martin lives with her husband and pets in Overland Park, Kansas. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas and has lived all over the United States. Her work reflects not only her background in criminal justices, but her love of music.
A suspense novelist by day, her debut suspense novel, False Security, was published in Oct 2013. Conduit, a psychological thriller with a paranormal twist, was released in March 2014. Conduit won the Gold Medal for paranormal fiction in the 2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards. She has also published a poetry collection. She is hard at work on her next projects.
Website: www.angiemartinbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorangiemartin
Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/angiesconduits
Twitter: www.twitter.com/zmbchica
One Last Thing…
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this book, I'd be very grateful if you would post a short review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Your support really does make a difference and I read all the reviews personally so I can get your feedback and make this book even better. Just click on the links below to leave your review.
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Angie Martin, The Boys Club
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