Page 46 of Soft Flannel Hank

Nat cleared his throat and stood. “Well, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll be heading out now,” he said. “I’ve got things to take care of, and the night’s not getting any longer.”

“You’ll let me know what you hear from them?” Hank asked, but it didn’t sound at all like a question.

Nat nodded. “I’ll tell them that I’m keeping an eye out for Esther. But you should know it would be best for you to lay low for a while,” he said, turning to her. “People can’t see you around town. People can’t see you at all. It would probably be best if youdiddisappear.”

Esther nodded. She knew this. She knew she couldn’t stay, no matter how much she might want to. “Could you take me back to the cabin? I’ll leave right away. I’m already packed.”

The table shook with the force with which Hank shot to his feet.

“No,” he growled.

* * *

“No?”Esther asked, her eyes wide.

“No,” Hank repeated.

This was it. He had truly lost every ounce of good sense he’d once possessed.

“You should stay.”

“What?” Esther and Nat both said at the same time, both just below a shout.

Shit. Why had he said that? Whythe hellwould he have said that?

“She can’t stay in World’s End, good buddy,” Nat said, a funny look on his face.

“She can if nobody knows she’s here. If she doesn’t leave, then nobody would be the wiser. I can keep her safe.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Esther said, but Nat talked louder.

“So she stays here. With you. And you keep her safe. From a pack of vampires.”

“They won’t know she’s here. Did you tell them anything about me?”

“No. Just that a buddy of mine was helping.”

“See? I’m just another nobody to them. She’ll be safe here.”

“What if I don’t want to stay here?” Esther asked, sounding more annoyed.

Hank started to answer her when Nat said, “She’s not safe anywhere, Hank.”

“She’s as safe as she’s gonna be here. You’re in touch with the people who want her, and you’re in touch with me.”

“Excuse me!” Esther shouted.

Hank stopped talking and looked at her. Nat blinked.

“What if I don’t want to be imprisoned in your fucking house? Did y’all ever think of that?”

Hank scowled. He felt his jaw tighten uncomfortably.“This town is a fucking prison, Hank. I’m not gonna die here too.”That had been Marnie’s parting shot as she got into her car and slammed the door, taking with her his daughter, his life, and every chance he’d once thought he had at happiness.

“I’m not holding you hostage. This isn’t a fucking prison. You think you can do better on your own, better than you’ve been doing? Be my guest. If that’s how you feel about staying here, then just go,” he said, his voice tight. He could hear the anger and hurt threatening to make it vibrate. He refused to let his voice shake.

Esther stared.

Nat rubbed his chin. “It’s not a bad idea,” he mused. “Old Hankie here has a reputation around town as having more integrity than anyone alive. So if they leave a scout behind who talks to people, this is probably the last place they’d look. Officer Hank Dove would never harbor a fugitive.”