Page 8 of Two Favors Repaid

Rob shrugged. “That’s what he claims. But I don’t trust him. And I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

“But I could bring those families closure,” she said.

He sighed loudly. “It’s your choice, Emma. Whatever you choose to do, I’ll stand by you.”

She looked up, realizing he’d just said something important and that she would have to come back to his words. Rob had stood by her, every day for a year, from the moment she’d first gotten out of the hospital.

“I want to do it. If I do it, will you come with me?” she asked.

“You couldn’t convince me to stay behind.” His hand felt strong and warm on her knee. His touch grounded her, somehow. “But you don’t have to go, Emma.”

She shook her head. She’d already made up her mind. She would do whatever she had to do to bring those families closure. “I want to do this. He’s caused too much pain already. When do they expect us?”

Chapter 3

Rob

“So what’s the third thing?” Rob asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

“The third thing?” Emma asked.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her pick off a piece of lint from her purple and red floral-print dress.

“You said you had a three-step plan.”

She made a strangled noise, shaking her head. “Did I? I meant two-step,” she said unconvincingly.

She’s lying.

That was one of the things he liked about Emma: she was so straightforward, it was easy to see when she was keeping something back. Rob wanted, more than ever, to find out what the third thing was, but he didn’t press her.

“We’re almost there,” he said.

“I don’t know that I want to get there.”

“We can still turn around. Everybody will understand.”

“No. I have to do this, Rob. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s what Natalie would do as well.”

“We’ll go to the hotel first and check in. Then I’ll drive you to the prison.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. They’re waiting for us.”

“Let’s go straight to the prison. We can check in at the hotel later.” She pointed towards an upcoming exit. “Take that, please. I’ll get changed at a gas station.”

Rob did as she asked, slowing the SUV to take the turn. The SUV was his; he hadn’t wanted to use the cruiser for this trip. No sense in calling attention to themselves.

Rob filled the tank quickly then sat down to wait within view of the restroom. He couldn’t help himself. He didn’t like the thought of Emma alone in there.

Finally, she came out, carrying the bright print dress in her hand. She’d changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and a white blouse and done her hair up in some kind of curly bun. She looked lovely. On any other woman, the outfit would have looked elegant and fashionable but on Emma, Rob recognized it as what it was: a look designed to go unnoticed. It made him want to punch the steering wheel. He gripped it tighter instead, not wanting to scare her further.

“I didn’t take too long, I hope?” she said, jumping up onto the seat. He always forgot just how much shorter she was than him until he saw her do something like that.

“We’re good.”

“Let’s do this, then,” she said decidedly. She looked so strong and so determined, yet he wanted nothing more than to take her away from here. He had enough gas to make it right back to Sharp’s Cove. Then he thought of the families of those poor girls. They were counting on Emma. So he kept driving.