Page 32 of Alonzo

“You confused me for a while when you first showed up in town. But you weren’t the first.”

“Look, Vann, I don’t know what you think you know. But—”

“You’re one of them, right?”

“One of who?”

“The witness protection people.”

I blink my eyes to the beat of my now-racing heart. “What does that even mean?”

He leans back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what? Look, I’ve got a date tonight and I’m not in the mood to play guessing games. So if you’ve got something to say to me, say it.”

He shrugs. “OK. Fine. You’re just one of many, Tara Tanner. Or whatever your real name is. Just one of many.”

My heart skips like seventeen dozen times inside my chest. “Many what?”

He looks around like he’s being coy and sly. Then his eyes lock on mine. “Witnesses. This town is a Mecca for them.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just stop, OK? Don’t play dumb. I know things. I might be the youngest Vaughn and all my older siblings definitely know more than I do. But I grew up in this family. I was always watching them. I saw what they saw, even if I wasn’t involved. I know things, Tara.” He taps the side of his head to illustrate his point.

I pause to take a breath. But I draw the air in slowly, trying to maintain my best poker face. “I don’t know what any of that means.”

“My sister is married to Spencer Shrike. Do you know who he is?”

“No. But I’m staring at a huge fucking garage sign right across the street that says Shrike Bikes. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he’s some bike builder?”

“Some bike builder? Dude, he and all his friends got away with murder a while back. Then some weird secret society assassins showed up and tried to kill my sister and steal her best friend’s baby. I was only seventeen at the time, so I wasn’t involved. But I started paying better attention to the people who lived in this town. More importantly, I started paying attention to the new people who suddenly showed up. Fort Collins is crawling with FBI. They’re everywhere.”

I turn in my seat and start looking around.

“Not in here, Tara. This is Anna fucking Ameci’s. And aside from Shrike Bikes and Sick Boyz, this is probably the only other place in town that’s not bugged.”

I cross my arms and sit back in my seat. “Why are you telling me this?”

He points his finger at me and clicks his tongue. “Because you’re one of them.”

I laugh. “I assure you, Vann. I am not FBI.”

“Not FBI. You’re one of the witnesses. This is where they bring them. They’re all over.”

“OK.” I stand up and hike my purse over my shoulder. “I’ve heard enough rambling delusions for one day. I have to go.”

“So is Belinda.”

I stare at him for a moment, then sit back down. “What?”

He nods. “Yeah. She’s one of them. She’s one of you.”

I get this sudden sick feeling in my stomach. Like I might hurl all over the table.

“You know that guy who comes in to Sick Boys to get tatted?”

I shake my head. “You just described everyone who walks through that fucking door.”