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folks, it would take some doing, I d guess.
She sat heavy back in the chair she d vacated. My daughter s in trouble.
Manny sat back in his seat across the desk from her.
My sister always had the worst taste in men. She was dating a real peach of a man when Heidi was
little. Rumor had it, at the time, that he was a drug dealer. No amount of talk though could get my sister to
see him for who he was.
One day she came home all freaked out. She was crying and I could barely understand. I finally got
out of her that her boyfriend shot a man. Right between the eyes, she said.
Manny settled his elbows on his knees.
It was enough to scare some sense into her. She went to the police and became the prosecution s
number one witness. Gillian picked at a piece of tape stuck to the desktop. Rick was having none of that.
He snuck into the house while my mom and I were at work and killed my sister. She swiped at a tear on
her cheek. Heidi was there. Saw the whole thing.
Manny cursed. Sorry. Go on.
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Denise Belinda McDonald
Gillian ran her finger around the edge of her cast. He was convicted of a couple of drug charges
stuff they d had on him for a while. I think they were trying to get him to turn over on someone else, I don t
know exactly, but he never did. They didn t have enough evidence to get him on the first murder. They
didn t even try him for Becca s murder.
The phone rang and she reached for it.
Manny waved her hand away. The machine will get it.
She nodded and took a deep breath. A little over a year ago, he was released from prison. Time
served. It scared the hell out of me, but the authorities swore we d be safe, that he wouldn t be stupid
enough to come looking for Heidi but she doesn t even remember that night. He had no reason to come
looking for us. Her entire body shook. He started calling then. I told the police and started a protective
order.
Then one day I found him on my front porch. Just sitting there. I wasn t taking any chances. I packed
up our things and we left. She took a deep breath. We ve been moving around for the last year. This is
our fifth town. As luck would have it, I had a job offer in Montana. We got lost and you know what s
happened since.
And you got an e-mail from him?
It s a couple of weeks old, but yeah.
Does he have any way of knowing where y all are? Did you tell any friends where you re staying?
No. When we left Alabama, we left all of that behind. She rubbed the tip of her nose. I met a
woman in Kansas when we were living there. Her cousin was opening a spa as part of a ski resort in
Montana. Since we didn t actually end up there, outside of Paintbrush, there s not a soul who knows where
we are.
Good. He rose from his seat. Would you be willing to talk to Sheriff Reese?
Her stomach pitched again. I don t know.
He s a good guy.
She nodded. I believe you, but I don t think I m ready.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for listening. She rose up on her tip toes and gave him a quick hug as the bell sounded,
announcing a new customer to the shop. She was thankful for the interruption. Back to work. An odd
calm came over her after telling Manny, sharing her worries with someone else for the first time. Even
Heidi didn t know most of it. She d been through years of therapy and never remembered the night Becca
died. She knew the basics thanks to TV reports and overly-chatty neighbors, however, she d mentally
shielded herself from most horrific parts of it. The therapist said she probably never would remember the
worst details.
And for that Gillian was ever thankful. Some things a child didn t need to remember.
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Wrong Turn, Right Cowboy
She shook herself and dove into the paperwork set aside for filing. Anything to take her mind off the
past. The rest of the day went by in a blur. By five thirty, her neck and back ached in a good way. Do
you need me for anything else?
Manny closed the bay door to the garage and locked it. No, ma am. We re good to go.
The pair exited together and Manny locked the front door. Can I drive you home?
Home. Despite everything, Paintbrush was starting to feel like home.
No thanks. I ll walk.
He paused. If you need anything, absolutely anything, you give me a call. He handed her a slip of
paper with his home phone number.
You re a good guy.
He shook his head. Nothing I wouldn t do for anyone.
Which is exactly what makes you a good guy. She waved. Night.
What s for dinner, Mom? I m starving. Heidi ambushed Gillian the moment she walked through the
door.
I hadn t really planned anything.
But I m starving. Heidi s shoulders drooped and she rolled her head back on a moan. Starving.
I heard you the first time. She batted her daughter s ponytail. Missy invited us over.
Her head popped up. What did you tell her?
Maybe. Gillian kicked off her sneakers. Do you want to ?
Yes, give me ten minutes to get ready. Heidi dashed down the hall.
Gillian slipped her feet into a pair of rubber flip-flips and settled into the sofa. Ten minutes could
easily become thirty.
Surprisingly, it was only twenty minutes. Ready. Come on, Mom. We don t want to be late.
Gillian laughed. Grab my bag for me, will you please?
Can I drive?
We can walk.
But, Mom. Heidi flipped her lip down in a full pout. She threaded her fingers together and pulled
her hands up in front of her pleading. Pretty, pretty please.
Gillian bit her lip to keep from smiling. I guess so.
Yee! The teen jumped up and down and yanked a huge key chain from her pocket.
Pretty sure of yourself there.
I was hoping.
Let s go.
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Denise Belinda McDonald
Gillian let Heidi drive several blocks past the Lunsford home and back. Even though she d gotten her
license in the last state they lived just before they fled the teen had had little chance to actually practice.
Easy. Gillian braced her good hand on the dash as Heidi pulled the car to the curb in front of
Missy s house. She tried to smile and tell her daughter good job, but she was afraid it would come out more
like a grimace and a squeak.
The teen bounded from the car. Come on, Mom.
Gillian s knees shook slightly as she exited the car.
Hey, y all. Missy had the door open before they got to the top of the porch steps. Dinner is just
about ready.
Can I help you with anything? Gillian set her purse on the sofa and pulled up short when Quint
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