Small Town America

a chainbooks publication

Chapter 1 written by Brooke Williams Chapter 2 written by Rochelle Devoe Chapter 3 written by Cathy Franklin Chapter 4 written by Lisa Simon Chapter 5 written by Nile Chick Chapter 6 written by Vicki Miller

Chapter 1 Shelby gazed into the planes bathroom mirror. She adjusted her wig a big and splashed some water onto her face. She still didnt think she looked that much like the picture in her ID, but so far, she had managed to get through every security checkpoint with it. The wig was sure a change. The hair underneath was short, spiky, and blonde. The wig was a dark brown shag. As soon as she got settled somewhere, she would have to dye her hair. But she would also have to let it grow so it wasnt so recognizable. Shelby was afraid she was stuck with the wig for a while. It was just so itchy. Shed get used to it. As she prepared to exit the bathroom, she looked at herself one more time. Jane, she said to herself sternly in the mirror, Your name is Jane. It was going to take some getting used to, but Shelby had to start thinking of herself in terms of her new identity. She was no longer Shelby White. She was Jane Johnson. About as generic as you can get. She chose the name for that very reason. Even if they knew her name, it would take them time to weed through all of the Johnsons in the world. And then all of the Janes. Jane returned to her seat just in time to hear the announcement from the flight deck. This is your captain speaking, the voice said, Im afraid theres going to be a slight delay in our trip. Theres a major ice storm heading through the Midwest and while its still safe to fly, were seeing a large build up of ice on our wings. There is no reason for concern, but were going to have to make an unplanned stop in Omaha. The plane will land and you can spend half an hour or so in the terminal if you wish. The airport has another plane we can use for the rest of the trip while this plane goes through the de-icing process. Again, there is no reason for concern, everything is operating smoothly. Jane heard the click of the captains communication device turning off. Omaha, huh? Janes mind began to run on overdrive. She left LA in a rush, just trying to get as far away as fast as she could. She had already ruled out leaving the country. She didnt have a passport and she didnt want to take the chance of her new identity being flagged as fake. She also knew that the

first thing they would suspect was for her to try to get into Mexico. Or even Canada. Anywhere across the border that she would feel safe. But Jane would never feel safe. And she knew that those were the first places they would look. She thought Florida would be a great choice. It would look and feel similar to California, so she wouldnt have as much of a culture shock. But it would also be about as far away from LA as you could get within the country. Now that the plane was landing in Omaha, Nebraska, Jane began to devise a new plan. They would never suspect that she would choose a town in the middle of the country. She had already decided that she needed to settle in a small area, but Nebraska had never crossed her mind. As Jane lay back in her seat, she began to like the idea more and more. She could get off the plane in Omaha, check in when they re-boarded, and then never board. If anyone could possibly track her this far, they would think she had made it to Florida. They would look for her there first. Yes, Jane thought, this was the best possible result for her goal. The goal of escape. Jane was satisfied enough with her new plan and destination that she was able to catch a few minutes of sleep before the plane began descending. It wasnt restful sleep, but it was more than shed had in days. She rubbed her eyes as she returned her seat to the upright position. She looked out the window. She couldnt see much but flat fields and a small downtown skyline in the distance. So this was Omaha, she thought. The plane landed with a bump and taxied over to the terminal. The airport crew attached a tunnel to the plane and the passengers began to enter the terminal. Jane gathered her small computer-sized bag and slung it over her shoulder. It held all of the items she possessed in the world. As Jane entered the terminal, she wasnt sure what to expect. She knew Omaha was smaller than LA, but the airport actually looked like it could accommodate quite a few travelers. It was 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon, however, central time. Apparently not the big time to travel to and from Nebraska. The terminal was nearly empty except for workers and the only people Jane saw were passengers she recognized from the plane she had been on. She walked through a few airport shops and saw a bunch of red shirts with the letter N on the front along with all of the regular candy and newspaper items. The half an hour passed by quickly and Jane was glad for the chance to stretch her legs. When the new plane was ready, the announcement for boarding was called out over the intercom system. Jane stood in the line with the rest of the passengers from the original plane, due to hit Miami, Florida later that day. When it was Janes turn, she let the airport employee scan her ticket and then she stepped out of the line. Just going to run to the bathroom, she said over her shoulder. She was pretty sure they would have stopped her in a larger airport. Once you were checked in, you boarded the plane and that was that. But since this airport was so sparse, the staff was overly busy with the unexpected additions from the LA to Miami flight change. Jane was able to slip into the restroom without

incident. She waited a full 20 minutes until she was certain the boarding was complete and the plane was either on its way, or at least closed up for the flight. Jane slipped out of the bathroom and into the terminal hallway. She followed the signs and made her way to the airport exit. The blast of cold air hit her on the face and chilled her to the bone. Damn, Jane exclaimed. This was part of the new plan she hadnt thought through. Going from LA to Miami in January was one thing, but Nebraska? She had heart about the harsh winters but she had no idea what they actually felt like. Jane shivered as she watched for a cab. The passenger drop-off area was also pretty deserted and the few cars that drove past were obviously local. Jane rubbed her hands up and down the arms of her very lightweight jacket. Arent there any cabs in this city? She thought. After another 15 minutes she gave up and reentered the terminal. She began walking back towards the other end of the airport when a stand caught her eye. Need a ride? it said and there was a phone attached. Apparently you had to call to get a taxi in Nebraska. Jane picked up the phone, dialed the number instructed and waited. The line rang three times before a gruff voice answered. Yeah? it barked. Um, hi, Jane replied, Im at the airport, I need a taxi? Be right there, the man said. And then he hung up. So much for Midwestern hospitality, Jane thought as she headed back over to the exit doors. This time, Jane didnt leave the airport. No, she wasnt going to spend anymore time outside than absolutely necessary. She waited inside the door and simply watched out the window, trying to devise the next step in her plan. Though Omaha wasnt nearly the size of Miami or LA, Jane knew she didnt want to stay in a big city. Once they exhausted their search for her in Mexico and maybe even Canada, they would begin looking for leads in bigger cities. They would think that Jane would feel safe among large groups of people. The last thing she wanted was to do anything they would think she would do. Jane needed to find a small town in the area where she could settle. Small town people talked and though Jane would have to be careful that they wouldnt talk about her, she hoped she could keep her finger on the pulse of the town. If anyone came through looking for her, she would know. The white van pulled up to the curb and Jane noticed a phone number on the side. Need a ride? it said just below the number. Must be the cab, she thought.

Jane pushed open the airport door and was once again hit by the blast of cold air. She sucked in her breath. Ouch. It even hurt to breath. This was the first time Jane second-guessed her decision to abort the Florida plan and stay in Nebraska. She was no longer sure she was cut out for the winter in the Midwest. Too late now, she thought and she took her bag from her shoulder and flung it onto the backseat of the van. Where to? the driver asked. Jane was relatively certain the voice was the same as the one she had heard on the phone. Um she paused, trying to decide exactly what to say. Theres a small town close to hereI think its south? To the south the man said, youve got Bellevue and Papillion, though neither of those are really SMALL towns anymore. And then theres Plattsmouth Yes, Plattsmouth, thats it, Jane said. Though the driver had been short and gruff on the phone, Jane quickly became glad that the same man she had talked to briefly on the phone was now driving her to the town of Plattsmouth. Though he asked her no questions about herself, he gave her a running commentary on the town of Plattsmouth. There were about 7,000 residents. Main Street was going through a heavy construction reconfiguration. The only restaurant in the town was Mamas Diner. There were a dozen different churches. The harvest festival in the fall had one of the best tractor parades in the area. Tractor parade? Really? Jane thought. She once again wondered what she was getting herself into. The driver entered the town of Plattsmouth about 20 minutes later. The town began with a two-lane road with plenty of trees and a large elderly rest home. They drove past a few of the dozen churches and then what Jane guessed was a grocery store. Definitely the smallest grocery store she had ever seen. There were only two cars parked out front and the store couldnt have been big enough to have much more than eggs and milk. Where to? the driver asked again for the first time since they left the airport. Uh, Mamas Diner? Jane said, remembering a portion of his commentary. She hadnt eaten since the day before, other than the bag of peanuts on the plane. Food of any kind was beginning to sound like the best idea. Ah, yes, the driver agreed, Moms it is. He turned onto Main Street, though he had to turn back off a block later and then back on a few blocks after that. The driver had been right, Main Street was a mess. One part was completely

gone due to roadwork and other parts were closed for no apparent visual reason. Finally, he pulled over to the curb right next to the courthouse. The diner is just around this corner here, he said, pointing, I cant get to it because that part of the street is closed, but the sidewalk is still open. Jane thanked the man and paid the hefty cab fee. I guess the cabs in Nebraska are just as expensive as those in LA, she thought. Jane was a little dismayed by the amount of money she had in her bag. There wasnt much. Hopefully she could get a good meal and a hotel for the night. She could figure out what to do next in the morning. Jane walked around the corner and opened the door under the sign Mamas Diner. The aroma of pie was evident the minute she stepped over the threshold. And the warmth of the restaurant was even more evident. Jane shivered, trying to warm herself from the cold cab ride and the even colder Nebraska air she had had to endure from the cab to the restaurant door. Hey, darlin, a voice greeted her as Jane caught a glance of a harried waitress rushing away from the entrance. Sit anywhere. Jane walked a few steps further into the restaurant. She was no longer sure why the waitress was in a hurry. It might be because it was the middle of the afternoon on a Wednesday or it might be because of the roadwork, but the restaurant was pretty empty. Except for one elderly couple in the corner. Jane chose the only seat by the window and waited. The waitress soon approached and slapped down a laminated menu. Welcome to Mamas, she said, running a hand through her hair in search of her pencil. Names N, she said pointing to her nametag. Jane glanced up as N continued. The N stands for Nancy, but we have too many Nancys around here so just call me N. Yep, Nancy James does the weekend shift and Nancy Biederstat comes in about 5. Too many Nancys for my taste and Im here all the time. Theres no confusing the three of us, Im just N and thats that. Wow, that was a mouthful, Jane thought as she wondered if the woman would ever take a breath. She smiled and returned her attention to the menu. The prices were low and the food sounded delicious. Everything looked good and Jane wanted to order a little of each item. She quickly chose the roast beef dinner and pointed to the selection. Ah yes, said N, agreeing with her choice, Youll love that. She wrote down the selection on her pad and scurried off to the kitchen to put the order in. Jane sat back in her chair and sighed. She had a lot to think about. She needed a place to stay. She needed a job. She would have to find a way to make a new life for herself. She felt good about what little she had seen in this town. This Plattsmouth looked like a great place to disappear. Maybe someday she could come out of hiding and return to her fast-paced in life in

LA. Then again, maybe not. Either way, Jane had a lot of work to do right now. She hoped the city of Plattsmouth would serve her well. She hoped it would hide her well. As N returned with a steaming plate of food Jane relaxed. Yes, this town would do just fine. Maybe it was just the smell of the delicious looking food, but Jane thought she would fit in here well.

Chapter 2 N busied herself tending to the regulars who filled the diner most evenings. She brought Mr. Connors his usual; country fried steak with mash potatoes. He gave her his usual as well; an earful about the current president and how the worlds going to hell in a hand basket. While she wasnt thrilled with the current administration, she knew the old man well and he had been complaining about the administration through three different presidents. She danced by table number four depositing a bowl of ranch for the rowdy football players to dip their fries before granting a diet coke request for Mary Ann Winters. N never understood why that skinny thing felt the need for a diet soda. What she needed was a piece of apple pie with a big scoop of ice cream. Then she delivered a hot fudge sundae to the Dempseys youngest child who didnt need the calorie loaded treat in the slightest. Even in the chaos of the dinner rush she had time to wonder about the woman dining on roast beef and gravy. The women was dressed like some kind of model and glowing with frequent kisses from the sun. Her dark brown hair was stylish and sleek, her clothes screamed city and in a roomful of locals she stood out. N noted the gorgeous outsider was getting some glances from some of the local guys. She decided to swing by her table and check on how she was doing. Being nosy and good customer service were such a fine line and one she was happy to tip-toe on. Hows that roast beef?, she said when she approached the table. Oh wow! Its really good. I havent had this kind of comfort food in ages. Well, what do you normally eat? N figured the answer was probably something along the lines of fast food or T.V. dinners. Well Ive been eating vegetarian most of the time. Im not a true vegetarian obviously but I eat that way all but two days a week. Clearly this is one of my non-vegetarian days. Well honey.in Nebraska vegetarian is a dirty word in some crowds. N observed the womans nails were manicured to perfection. Then she noticed something strange as she once

again examined the woman. All the brunette was wearing was a light jacket. So, wheres your coat? My coat? Well, youre not planning on trying to brave a Nebraska winter night in that flimsy thing, are you? The woman didnt really answer the question but N already knew what she needed to know. The woman didnt have any luggage to speak of. She had one duffel bag. The black bag certainly wasnt big enough to carry the kind of jacket shed need tomorrow morning if the weather was as expected. What kind of person landed in Nebraska in the dead of winter with nothing but a light jacket? Honey, there is going to be a blizzard tonight. Possibly twelve inches of snow or more. Where you staying tonight? Not sure yet. I was going to ask you for a recommendation. Well theres Fitzgeralds right up the street. Its pretty nice and goes for about eighty or ninety from what I hear. A little ways up the road is a motel in Bellevue. Of course, by time you pay for a cab to get back that way you might as well cough up the cash for Fitzgeralds. Ill be back with your check in a few. By the time she delivered pie to the McClains at Booth 10 and picked up her tip from the Dempseys, N made a spontaneous decision. She was going to have the girl come to her place for the night. She imagined her son Duke would throw a fit when he found out but she was a grown woman and could make her own decisions. Besides she could knock over that lettuce eating city girl with a feather if she wanted to. The girl was a wisp of a thing. She had space since Debbie was all grown up and attending school in Lincoln. Duke was usually out at the ranch. Maybe she could even rent the room to the girl if she turned out okay. She walked back over to the table and sat down for a moment. Why dont you stay at my place for the night? She gave the woman a warm smile and continued. I got plenty of room and I dont think you have plenty of money. You can use the eighty bucks you would have spent at Fitzgeralds to buy a real coat and some gloves tomorrow morning. N examined her expression as she mulled over the proposition. The womans emotions were an obvious mixture of relief and trepidation. More and more, N was convinced she was doing the right thing. The woman finally answered. I guess that would be fine. Let me at least give you a little something for the offer though. Well talk about it later. I have about an hour before my shift ends and then well go.

Okay. Im pretty sure I got the time to wait. How long you plan on staying in Plattsmouth? N watched the girl waiting for an answer. Well, if I get a job I might stay for awhile. Know anyone who might be hiring in the area? HmmI can check around. You got references? She saw a flicker of uncertainty on the womens face before she quickly covered it with a friendly smile. Sure. Anyone else probably would have been suspicious of the hesitation. God knows, Duke would have started thinking all kinds of crazy things like the girl was a fugitive fleeing after killing ex-husbands or something. Yet, N trusted one thing more than anything else. Her gut. And her gut was telling her this women was okay. No doubt, she was running from something. Then again N figured most people were running from something in their life. Once she got to know her a little better shed have to mention that if she was going to disguise the fact shes a blonde, she might want to make sure her eyebrows match. Well good. That will help. So whats your name? Jane, Jane Johnson.

When Shelby woke up the next morning, she bolted up in bed trying to shake off the confusion of sleep and new surroundings. The sun was already up and the rays of light were spilling through the dainty lace curtains covering the widows. She flopped back onto the pillow before realizing her wig had fallen to the floor in the midst of sleep. She needed to be more careful. Standing up, she picked the mop of hair off the floor grabbing a brush from her bag. She brushed the sophisticated strands until it looked decent and then carefully secured the wig back on her head. She was happy she found a free place to stay for the night. Staying at someones home was safer than a hotel. They would expect her to be at hotels. So the situation was ideal. She went through her backpack looking for some clothes. Every piece of clothing she had screamed the exact opposite of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. She finally decided on a pair of jeans and the one sweater she packed. She emerged from her room and headed for the bathroom. She was thinking of a shower but plans changed when she discovered the most amazing claw foot tub. She stripped off her pajamas and started filling the tub with steamy hot water. She stepped in and sighed as she soaked body aching from all the activity of the prior day. Then the door opened and her head jerked up. A tall, handsome man was grabbing his toothbrush while humming a song which sounded suspiciously country. His hair was rumpled,

his sleek torso was bare and he wore only a pair of blue boxers. When he noticed the steam already fogging up the mirror he whirled in her direction. She yanked the curtain shut hoping he didnt have time to see the fact she had no wig on. Maybe he was distracted by some of her other assets. She could only hope. Excuse me. I was in here. she said. Who the hell are you? Jane. Who are you? Duke. he stated. This is my moms house. Yeah, she let me stay here last night. I met her up at the diner. She peeked from behind the burgundy shower curtain and gave him a cool, calm gaze. He rolled his eyes and retreated from the room. Her brief interlude with relaxation ruined, she finished washing her hair and exited from the bath tub. Soon she was dressed and following the smell of fresh coffee and smoky bacon. Her stomach growled in response. She wandered towards the sound of voices in the kitchen when she heard the angry growl in a mans voice. Mom, what the hell are you thinking taking in some stranger like shes a stray cat or something? You have no idea who she is and why she is here. Oh Duke. You have to lighten up a little. Shes harmless. Yeah, that exactly what criminals count on. Nice old ladies like you who are too nave for your own good. She could have robbed you blind while you slept. Jane walked in with a smile on her face. Wasnt on the agenda for today but I might be able to fit it in tomorrow. Especially now that I have a good night sleep. Dont you worry about Duke. His bark is worse than his bite. He wouldnt even be here if it werent for the storm. He lives out of town and when storms are coming he stays here so he doesnt get caught out at his ranch. N smiled lovingly at her son ignoring his irritated expression before turning the smile in her direction. Jane, this is Duke. Duke, this is Jane. Nice to meet you. he grumbled after swallowing a sip of coffee. Nah. I dont think it is but I appreciate the effort. She walked towards the window and whistled when she saw the massive drifts of snow. Oh my god! Thats unbelievable. The snow is almost as tall as I am. She could feel her mouth gaping

with wonder and she forgot to hide her enthusiasm. She had seen pictures of snow before but seeing such a vast blanket of white in person was completely different. "You act like you've never seen snow before." Duke's jaded voice jarred her out of her reverie. She didn't answer. When she turned around, she saw mother and son exchanging incredulous looks. She decided she better say something and went with the first thing that popped in her head. "I've seen snow before. It's just been awhile. I've been living in Miami and we don't get much there a you can imagine." "That explains why you didn't have nothing but that useless jacket you were wearing." She could see suspicion clouding Dukes features and she felt a little anxiety. She wondered if Duke was going to cause her problems. She didnt need some overprotective mamas boy blowing her cover. She might need to get moving again. She probably should have stayed on the plane for Miami. She decided with some regret that when the snow storm cleared she would go back to Omaha and get on a plane for Miami.

Duke stared at the computer screen trying to get the scene from this morning out of his head. It would be a long time before he forgot the image of Jane Johnson soaking in the steamy tub. The first thing he noticed was those amazing emerald eyes penetrating the foggy air. Then he noticed what most red blooded males would notice even if it was early in the morning. Still didnt change the fact she was staying at his moms house and neither of them had any clue who she was or where she came from. Nothing made sense about the whole situation. He already asked the town sheriff to see what he could dig up on Jane Johnson and he planned on sticking close to the house until he had some answers. He already knew she lied about one thing. Her wide, enchanting eyes this morning when she saw the snow told the truth even as her lips formed a lie. He tried to start fitting together pieces of the puzzle but every time he thought about her longer than a couple of minutes his mind inevitably traveled back to the view he had this morning.

Joe Manzetti scowled when he sat down on the bar stool. He sought refuge in the dimly lit airport lounge and ordered a shot of whiskey. There was no trace of Shelby White. The Miami airport was packed with people and most of the employees shrugged him off when he flashed her picture around. The few who spared him a glance insisted she didnt look familiar. This was not a good situation for him. His boss made it crystal clear that it would not be good if he came back empty handed. Daves instruction left no room for misunderstanding. Find the girl, kill her, dispose of the body and get the papers she stole from the safe. He slammed the shot of whiskey and immediately signaled to the bartender for another.

He pulled the photo out of the envelop he was carrying and placed it on the marble counter. You seen anyone who looks like this? Nah. Id remember if I saw a girl who looked like that. Figures. Joe muttered sliding the photo back into the envelope. When the blonde stewardess sat down next to him he barely gave her a second glance. He vaguely registered her long, tanned legs and wavy mane of hair. Hey Danny! Hey sexy lady. So where you heading off to? Got to do the return flight to L.A. in a few hours. Have a short layover again in Omaha. Joe looked up and turned so that he was facing the blonde. Does the flight from LA to Miami stop in Omaha usually? Sure. But depending on the airline it could stop in Denver, Salt Lake Cityit just depends on which flight some one takes. So if someone was flying to Miami could they get off the plane in one of those other places? Not supposed to. She answered Joe with a friendly voice although something was smoldering between her and the bartender. Since 9/11 theyve gotten a lot stricter about that kind of stuff. Its possible but not very likely. He was trained to explore all the possibilities.

Chapter 3 The first thing we have to do is go shopping. I know Jasons Department Store would have everything on sale; they usually do this time of year. Let me clean up the kitchen real quick, and well go. N began collecting the dishes and Jane stood up to help. She grabbed the silverware and added them to the pile before N could turn around to begin loading the dishwasher.

So what brings you to Plattsmouth, Nebraska? Do you have family here? Maybe I know them, I know just about everyone that lives here. No, no family. I just got tired of the rat race in the big city. You know how it is always a bustle here and bustle there. I just wanted a change of pace. So I thought Id try small town America for a change. Jane hoped that the explanation would hold up. She bent over and filled the basket in the dishwasher with the forks they had used that morning. N giggled. Well, if you wanted small town America, you found it for sure. With the dishes done and the machine turned on to do its job, N walked to the front hallway and motioned for Jane to follow her. She opened a closet door and stood in front of it for a moment before she withdrew a purple coat. It was thick fleece and Jane could see that it was enough to keep even a snowy days cold from penetrating. Its not much to look at, but itll keep you warm until you can get something else. Here are some gloves and a scarf to match. Make sure you wrap the scarf around your head tight, that wind will cut you in two, N said as she grabbed her own coat, a long grey wool that looked as though it could keep an Eskimo warm. They bundled up and were ready to go in seconds and N led the way out to her car. Jane was amazed when her feet crunched in the snow, but her toes quickly began to complain at the temperature. Her thin stockings not giving any protection to her feet. N noticed Jane looking down at her feet and said, Thats another thing you have to buy, some warm socks and decent snow shoes. You cant run around in flimsy dress shoes like that. She pointed to Janes shoes. Jane nodded and got in the car. Duke watched out the window as his mother and the woman pulled out of the driveway. He still had not heard anything from the sheriffs office about who she was. He picked the phone up again and dialed. When his friend Steve answered, he said, Have you found out anything yet? Take it easy, Duke. Do you happen to know how many Jane Johnsons there are in the world? A lot. When I find something about her, I'll let you know, meantime, chill out, man. Steve hung up on him. Duke looked at the dead phone and cursed. He needed to find out soon who this woman was, so he could get rid of her. He did not like people who took advantage of others. Besides, the encounter with her this morning had disturbed him to no end. The sooner she was gone the better.

Three hours later the women drove back into the driveway and started pulling bags out, one after the other. They giggled like school girls as they entered the house. Its about time you got back! Duke said in a gruff voice from behind them. Oh, we had the best time, Duke. Do you know how long it has been since I went shopping? We had fun! N looked at Jane for confirmation. Jane nodded and smiled even though she felt like she was getting the third degree. I was able to get almost a full wardrobe for my money. She opened the closet and hung up the coat N had lent her. Then she turned back toward all the bags. She picked up two of the largest ones and headed back to her bedroom. When she left the room and was out of ear shot, Duke said to his mother, I hope you arent planning on having that woman stay again tonight. N looked at her son and said, You better get used to her being around, Duke. I asked her to stay. Shes going to rent Debbies room for a while, at least until she can find a job and another place to live. Mother! Are you crazy? You dont know this woman. Seriously, what if shes a criminal? Something isnt right here. Duke glared at his mother. Well, you know what SON! I am a grown woman and this is MY house. If I say she can stay, then she can stay. I will help her find a job and when shes ready, she can leave. End of discussion. N glared right back at him. Mumbling under his breath, he turned and left the room. Jane heard the elevated voices in the other room and stayed where she was. She changed into a pair of black slacks and a yellow long-sleeved blouse, she put her new knee high socks on to keep her feet warm as she walked around the house. In the morning, she would have to dress up and go in search of a job. She wanted to start earning money as soon as she could so that N would not have to have her underfoot any longer than was necessary. Shelbys thoughts strayed to Duke and the look he had given her that morning when he had come in the bathroom. Jane had left off the wig, because Duke had seen her without it. She had brushed out her short hair into some semblance of order. She knew that spikes would not go over well in this small town. N hadnt said anything when she had seen her, although Jane was sure she was curious as to why shed had a wig on. She would have to come up with a plausible explanation to tell her. Duke was another matter. She knew he would not accept just any story. One thing was true though, she could not tell them the truth. At any costs.

Joe Manzetti caught the first available flight to Omaha from Miami. Once there he started the routine again, showing the picture he had of the girl to the flight attendants, to the vendors along the hallway in the airport. No one knew anything about her. No one had seen her. It was a dead end. Joe got a coffee and sat down at one of the cafes to try to think and figure out what to do next. Where would he go if he were her? Where would be the best place to hide? He went to the board listing the flights. Maybe she had taken another flight somewhere else. If he was the one running, that's what he would have done. Nevertheless, he knew she did not have much money, so she couldnt get very far. He stood in front of the board studying it, trying to get an answer, but nothing came to him. He sighed. Now he would have to call his boss and give him the news that he hadnt found her yet. However, he could assure him that he would find her. N had told Jane to look in the local newspaper for job listings. The next morning after a peaceful bath, Jane grabbed the newspaper and turned to the classifieds section. She sat at the dining room table, sipping her coffee and peering into the paper when Duke came into the room. He ignored her and went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. When he came back into the dining room and sat at the far end of the table. Jane could feel his eyes boring into her. She glanced up, and when she did, she caught his eyes on her. Why is your hair different from the first time I saw you? It was blonde and now its brown. He asked and took a sip of coffee, waiting for an answer. A girl has to have a reason to change her hair? she responded. You look better with your natural color - which is blonde. His reply shocked her. So he knew that the brown wig was fake. She filed that under lesson learned. What gave it away? He looked at her for a second before he answered, Your eyebrows are blonde. He took another sip of coffee and then asked, Why are you here? What do you want? Youre hiding from something. What is it? A wife beater? A pimp? Jane sucked her breath in at the last, and picking up the paper and her coffee went to her room without saying another word. Tears blurred her vision as she walked down the hall to her room. Just as she got to her room, the door behind her opened and she saw N come out. Jane closed her door. N stomped into the dining room. What did you say to her Duke? She was crying. Cant you be civil to our guest? she asked. Duke felt bad about what hed said to Jane, he should have stopped before his mouth got him in trouble. But that woman was getting under his skin. Those emerald eyes haunted his dreams at

night, and he wasnt ready for another relationship, not after the fiasco with Kim. They had been in love; at least he had thought so. He had set up a romantic candlelight dinner at a local restaurant and had a fiddler and everything. It was every girls dream of romance. They had eaten, the music was playing, and he was holding her hand, everything perfect. He had got on one knee, and brought the ring box out and opened it in front of her. Kim had squealed in what he had thought was delight, but he had been sadly mistaken. The squeal in hindsight was actually a shriek of terror. Kim ran from him, not even waiting for him to ask her what he had to ask. It had been humiliating and now it made him bitter and suspicious of any other woman. It had been two years and still he wondered if his heart would ever mend, if he would ever be able to trust another woman again. His mother snapped her fingers in front of his face, bringing him back to the present. You go apologize for whatever you said that upset that poor girl. She hasnt done anything to you and you have been nothing but rude. Now go! She pushed on his shoulder a couple of times to emphasize what she said. He knew she was right and it wasnt Janes fault, he should say he was sorry about the last comment. He still wanted to know what was going on though. A few minutes later, Jane opened her door just as Duke was getting ready to knock. Oh, uh, I was going out to find a job, Jane stammered, startled by Dukes presence. I came to apologize. That was uncalled for, what I said earlier. Can I make it up to you somehow? Maybe you need a ride somewhere? I can take you, Duke said, trying to put on his best Im sorry face. That would be nice of you. I have two or three places where I want to put in applications. That would be a big help, cause you probably know your way around here better than I do. And youre forgiven. I dont hold grudges, I just get even! She wagged her eyebrows at him in a playful manner, and he grinned at her. It was the first time she had seen him smile and it changed his face, his teeth were white and even and he looked younger and happy. She could get used to seeing him look that way. His brown hair was still a tousled mess and it was all she could do not to reach up and move the brown strand that had fallen onto his brow back into place. He saw her hesitation and took it that she wasnt sure she wanted to ride with him. Then she broke her stare and said, Lets go. Im ready. So what do you do? I mean for work. Jane rode in Dukes black Chevy pick-up truck. It was a large dually covered with mud from the door to the rear. As she had climbed in, she saw him turn off the radio that was tuned to the local country station.

I ranch. I have a four-hundred acre ranch about fifteen miles from here. I raise beef cattle and Quarter horses. Dont you have to be out there to feed them or something? Jane knew very little about cows or horses. Only what she had seen on television, she realized that her knowledge was very limited. I have ranch hands that live there year round and take care of the livestock for me. When the weather is going to be bad, I come to my mothers, just to be there in case something goes wrong or she needs me. She comes out to the ranch in the summer to help out, Duke said, and he glanced at her before he turned into the first place she had requested to visit. It was a construction company looking to hire a secretary for the office. Duke told her he would wait in the truck while she went in to talk to them. Jane was nervous; she hadnt filled out papers to get a job before. The job she had had in California had come to her naturally, her father had arranged the job for her. However, that had been years before and now her father was dead. She had to pause a moment before she opened the door to get her feelings under control. She could not think about her family yet. It was too soon. She swallowed and opened the door. Joe sat and watched people coming and going, hugging each other to say hello; hugging before they said good-bye. It was the same in every airport. It made his job tedious at best. Since smoking inside was prohibited, he opened the door to the front of the airport and walked out. The wind was cold and there was at least six inches of snow on the ground. He wondered how people lived in a place like that. He was a warm weather person himself, he was usually in either Miami or Los Angeles. He watched as a family of four got into a taxi and told the driver to take them to a hotel. Maybe she got a room close by in a small motel. He would have to check each one. He threw his arm up for the next taxi. A yellow van pulled up in front of him and he wasted no time on getting out of the chilled wind. After he was seated, he asked the cab driver, Whats a nice cheap motel? And have you seen this girl in the last few days?

Chapter 4 Duke sat in the cab with the engine running, the heat blaring. He reached over and turned it down, letting the windows fog over for a while before turning it back up again. Then he turned it back down again. The image of Jane in the bathtub wouldnt leave his mind, and it bothered him.

He didnt trust her as far as he could throw her, though now he was starting to wonder exactly what she was running from and if she was in some kind of danger. This morning he had wondered if she would put his mother in a sticky situation or rob her blind, which he didnt like one bit. But now he was feeling oddly protective of Jane, and he didnt like that either. And then there was the not-so-small matter of the wig. Why would she bother wearing a wig? Why had she been so obviously shocked to see snow, and had clearly not packed for it if she had intended on coming here in the first place? None of it added up, and it all seemed really hinky to him. Even though his mother had told him to leave well enough alone, he couldnt get the idea out of his mind that Jane was running from the law, or that shed stolen something. Duke was a man that trusted his gut instincts, and usually they were right. At the same time, he couldnt help but see her as a victim, fleeing from something. Or maybe from someone. But what was it that she was running from? He didnt think it was any of the things hed mentioned to her before. From what hed seen of her, she wasnt the type that would stay in an abusive relationship for long. She was too feisty for that. And she sure as hell didnt seem like a prostitute to him. Not even the kind in the movies, the women that they always portrayed as the hooker with a heart of gold. She just seemed like a normal, frightened woman who had hit a spot of trouble and was running scared. More than anything, after spending a little bit of time with her, she didnt seem like any kind of con artist to him. So at least there was that. He sighed and pushed his cowboy hat up a little bit on his head, watching the door that shed gone through a few minutes before. He could see through the glass front window that she was doing something at a table, but he wasnt sure what was going on any more. It sure looked like an odd interview to him, but maybe she would get the job and he wouldnt have to drive her around to the other places on the list that N had helped her put together. Frustrated with his indecisive, inconsistent feelings, he turned on the heater again and turned on the radio. Duke got the feeling that right now she would probably not tell him what was going on, no matter how many times he asked her. Not that he could blame her, hed been pretty rude and she had no reason to trust him. He just wished Steve would hurry up and get back to him sooner rather than later so he could figure out whether she was the hunter or the prey, and then figure out how much he wanted to get involved in the whole fiasco.

Jane stood nervously looking around the office of the construction company where she was applying for the secretarial position. Mighty Construction, they were called. The owner of the company was away on business, and so shed been introduced to the Foreman. The foremans name was Nelson Stansfield, and he was a large, gruff man who wore his yellow construction helmet and steel-toed boots even in the office, which consisted mainly of a few filing cabinets, a table with a coffee maker that looked like it hadnt been cleaned in at least a decade, four desks and some very worn-looking chairs.

Nelson sat in one of the chairs, indicating that she should sit in the one across from him with a wave of his beefy hand. He gave her a critical look that said it all that she didnt belong in the construction. Jane could feel her face turning red. He picked up her resume and looked it over, his large fingers crinkling the single page somewhat at the edges. So ya want to work in construction, huh? he looked at her again sceptically, and she shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Yes I do, as a secretary, she answered, trying to sound confident in her abilities. I think I would be a good match for Mighty Construction because I have had previous experience working in an office and He cut her off. Can ya type? She nodded. Can ya file? Make phone calls to clients? She nodded twice. Youre not gonna go run off and get pregnant like Mary Joe Buttersworth, are ya? Because weve lost three secretaries that way, he grunted, obviously displeased at the prospect of hiring another replacement. Jane was pretty sure it was illegal to ask her that, but she shook her head no anyway. How bout a permanent address? Im not hiring someone whos staying at no motel, he eyed her warily. No, Im staying up the road a ways with N... I mean, Nancy. And her son, Duke, when hes there, she wasnt sure why she added that last part, but Nelson didnt seem to notice. Good nuff. One last question. Can ya get that damned coffee maker to work? Because all it spits out is this nasty black sludge and I havent had a decent cup a joe outa it since Judy Applehorn was the secretary. And that was three secretaries ago. A smile crossed Janes face. She couldnt help but like Nelson, despite his rugged exterior. Ill give it my best shot, she said, and went over to look at the coffee machine. Luckily it was a familiar brand, the same kind as her dad used to have in his office. Tears rose unbidden to hear eyes and she blinked them away, trying not to remember the gristly sight the

last time shed seen her father... but she didnt want to think about him, or the way shed found him and then gone home to find her mother. It was just too much, and she had to focus on the task of surviving. Thats what her father would have wanted. Instead, she popped the filter out and concentrated on the coffee maker. Just as shed suspected, it had been put in wrong and it looked as though the same one had been used for far too many cups of coffee. She shuddered a little on the inside at the unsanitary conditions. Looking around for a sink, she finally located one on the other side of a small refrigerator that also probably hadnt been cleaned in ages. Taking the brew basket out, she washed it with water, noting that there was no liquid soap. If she got a job here, that would also have to be remedied. Returning with a wet paper towel, she cleaned out the inside of the machine as best she could and then replaced the basket, looking around for a new filter. Eventually she found one in a box under the table and placed that in the coffee maker as well. Dropping some cheap-looking coffee in and filling the reservoir, which also needed to be cleaned, she turned it on and started brewing a pot of coffee. All the while Nelson watched her from his chair with arms crossed, scrutinizing her. I guess well have to wait for the final verdict, she said, and she thought she saw a twitch at the corner of his mouth. It was almost a smile. She would have to try harder. They sat in silence until the coffee was done brewing. She got a cup for him and let the coffee drip into it, and handed it to him. As she suspected, he took it black with no sugar or cream. After the first sip, a smile begrudgingly fixed itself onto his face. Not bad, he admitted. If you cn file and all that other office stuff as well as ya make coffee, youre hired. Pays eight dollars an hour. If we like ya we might give you a raise in a couple months. Ya start tomorrow at 8:00am. Dont be late. I dont like it when peoplere late. It makes me think theyre lazy. Taking that as a hint that it was time for her to leave, she grinned at him, relieved. You wont regret it. Thank you so much for your time! Nelson just waved her out, and she nearly skipped out the door until she remembered that she needed to bundle up, even just to go back out to the truck. Jane had never felt so happy to have a job before, and she hummed a little as she put all of her winter clothes back on. She wrapped her scarf around her head, pulled her woollen hat down, buttoned her coat up, and slipped her gloves onto her hands before opening the glass door and shuffling through the snow out to the truck. When she got in, she found that Duke had left the heat going in the cab, which made her happy. She grinned at him and he gave her a smile in return. She noticed again how attractive he was when he smiled.

So I take it from that look on your face that you got a job? he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Yes I did! I start at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Im not exactly sure what Ill be doing, other than filing, answering phones, and making coffee. It only pays eight dollars an hour, but at least its something right? she gushed, her green eyes sparkling from underneath her woollen cap. Her excitement about getting the job surprised him, and he chuckled. Yes, thats certainly something, he said, though he wasnt sure if he meant her getting the job, or just her. Let me take you out for lunch to celebrate. We can go up to Mamas Diner, mas going to be in a little later for the afternoon shift so you can tell her the good news yourself. Why Duke, are you asking me to step out with you? Jane teased him in her best Southern Lady accent, and his face turned bright red. No, no, its nothing like that, he protested, sputtering and embarrassed. Oh, I know... I was just teasing you, I know its nothing like that, she backed out just as quickly, turning to look out the trucks window so he couldnt see the disappointment on her face. Duke glanced over at her and noticed her red cheeks, and silently cursed himself for saying that. He should have just played along with her flirting, but she made him so damned frazzled that he couldnt think of what to say, except to deny it. He could see that she was just as embarrassed as he was, and once again he wondered what kind of trouble she was running from...

Joe sat at the tiny table of the room hed gotten at the Bellevue Motel 9, reviewing his options. The cab driver, who was not the chatty type, had given him little information about the surrounding area and instead stared at him in the rear view mirror every once in a while, sizing him up. Joe had asked him to be dropped off at the closest motel, and this is where he had ended up. Flipping through the pictures and papers in the manila envelope that his boss had given him, and the map of the area that hed picked up from the kiosk at the airport, Joe weighed his options and studied his mark again. What did he know about Shelby White? Plenty. Hed had a long time getting to know her mannerisms and personality quirks, though only in passing. Shelbys father, John White, had worked with Joes boss for years, so she was a regular face at the events that her father frequented. Joe knew that she was a city girl, born and raised in Los Angeles. Both of her parents were wealthy, and shed grown up with all the luxuries that money could offer. Her father had even

gotten her the job in the office, which had turned out to be a bit mistake for both of them. He suspected that she would probably feel out of place in a small town, so she would most likely head for something that was a little larger, but not quite a city. But he also knew that she was clever and that she would go somewhere that he wouldnt think to look for her. He just had to get into her head and try to figure out where that was, exactly. He was a patient man. He would bide his time, and play a game of cat-and-mouse if he had to, but his gut instinct told him that she was here, somewhere in Nebraska. She was smart, like her father had been. Too bad they hadnt been smart enough to know when they shouldnt cross someone. Looking at the picture of her smiling made him feel a little regretful about this particular assignment, but he pushed that thought away quickly. No point in getting sentimental. Still, he wished shed been a little more intelligent and had left the papers where they were, in the safe. If she had left them, they would probably have let her go. If shed left them there, she wouldnt have had any proof. If shed left them there, he wouldnt be out in Nebraska freezing his butt off in a Motel 9 searching for her. But thats just the way things went sometimes, and the job needed to be done. Clicking on the TV to the News, he listened to it in the background as he went over the papers one last time, and then turned his attention to the map of Nebraska. With a red pen, he circled all of the medium-sized towns in the area, and a few of the smaller ones for good measure. Tomorrow he would start looking for her. Tomorrow evening, hopefully he would have some better news to tell his boss than what he had for that evenings report that he hadnt found her yet.

Chapter 5 Joe woke up at the crack of dawn. Not pleased with what lay ahead. He got out of bed and stood in front of the window. The snow was thick and anyone with half a brain would stay inside. That was if they were from LA but for the locals it was just another winters day. Should I or shouldnt I? I know Im going freeze my balls off, but I havent taken a shower since I arrived. Let me get it over with, Joe thought. It was most probably the quickest shower he ever took. After he got dressed he called room service for breakfast. He wasnt in the mood to be surrounded by other patrons in the breakfast hall. Though a continental breakfast was included in the room rate, the freezing cold snowy weather required something more substantial. He ordered smoked bacon, eggs Benedict, fried

tomatoes, whole wheat rolls and a pot of coffee. He was going to need all the energy he could get to keep himself warm and power his brain. The last thing he wanted was to be hungry again before lunch and only God knew where he might find himself. If there was one thing Italians loved it was their food. After 20 minutes his breakfast arrived. His stomach was grumbling and the smell of the bacon made his mouth water. He didnt allow the waiter to enter his room. He took the tray from the trolley and tipped him. Afterwards he closed and locked the door behind him and sat the tray on the table. God am I happy to see you and Im sure my stomach feels the same way, he said while stuffing a piece of bacon in his mouth. He picked up the complimentary local news paper that came with breakfast. There wasnt anything interesting to read. The only thing that stood out like a sore thumb was the huge add by Mighty Construction in Plattsmouth. According to the add they were advertising apartments for sale within gated communities. Well, Im not here to buy a flat. I need to find that girl before boss Dave sends back up. Now that would be a mess. They are still searching for Momos body. He was a good boy though if only he didnt fall in love with his target, Joe said while browsing through the newspaper. Afterwards he opened and flattened the map. He looked at all the red circles. Bellevue, Papillion, Plattsmouth. Where shall I start? he mumbled. Joe took his coffee and went to stand in front of the window. He stared at the people going about their business while sipping on his coffee. If I come up empty handed today Dave Dragna is not going to be happy. Not to mention the Cosa Nostra. If the documents Shelby took saw the light of day a war would break out between the Dragnas and the Rosellis. LA will never be the same again. And I will not be alive for very long he thought. Hes been working for the Dragnas for more then a decade. Never once did he fail but there was always a first time for everything. He knew that if he failed he would be worse off than Shelby. ********** Good morning, Jane said arriving 15 minutes before 8:00 at Nelsons office. Morning, he replied but it was clear he was not a morning person.

Jane looked at him thinking if she should take the initiative and start to arrange the office or if she should ask first. She opened her hand bag and took out a plastic bag filled with small juice bottles. They were filled with all sorts of cleaners which N gave her after telling her about the sanitary conditions of the office. Dishwasher detergent, bleach, disinfectant and a few sponges with scourers. N also managed to give her a couple of new coffee filters and some freshly ground coffee beans. It was a habit of N to bring stuff from Mamas especially when Duke was at home. Jane thought that it would be better to stay quiet and start cleaning. She started with the coffee machine by giving it a good scrub down, disinfecting it and putting in a new filter. Afterwards she made a pot of fresh coffee. When she put a cup in front of him and he caught a whiff of the aroma, he grinned. Mmmm coffee hasnt smelled this good for a long time, he said and took a sip. Is it okay? she asked. Okay? If you drank what I drank for God knows how long dirty dish water would taste good but thismmmm this is great and I am sure its not the stuff I had in my office, he replied. I brought it from home. I thought you could do with something decent, she replied. And decent it is alright. Listen little lady Im going off to check on the construction site. You carry on as I can see that you came prepared. I will be back in a few hours. My cell number is in the rolodex if you need to contact me. And no visitors during office hours. Understood? he replied. Understood, she replied. After Nelson left she cleaned the office from top to bottom. Jane sneezed like never before because the dust was everywhere. She thought about her previous life. A life of luxury and pampering. She never had to clean anything before. There were always maids to do everything for her. She wasnt lazy. That was just the way she grew up. Jane thought if she would ever be Shelby White again. If she was going to be on the run forever. She thought about the documents she took from the safe in her fathers office. She didnt know the full impact the documents would have if it saw the light of day but she knew she could use it in some way. She just didnt know how. After discovering what her father really did for a living. Going to the police was not an option. She knew the Cosa Nostra had people working for them everywhere. The day she went on the run her mind was bombarded with the reality of her life. She finished cleaning and organizing the office just before lunch time. If only she could replace the furniture it would look even better but that would have to wait until she was on good enough terms with Nelson to ask him to replace it.

Is this my office? Nelson asked jokingly when he arrived. Yes, it is. I hope you are satisfied, Jane replied looking for a sign of confirmation on Nelsons face. Satisfied? Lets just say I have forgotten what this place looks like a long time ago but today Im reminded what it looked like years ago. Have you also managed to rearrange the filing cabinet? he said. I was going to do the filing after lunch because the cleaning took longer than I thought, she replied. Well, it is lunch time and as you can see here out in construction land there are no take away cafs. You can call Mamas and order lunch. They deliver. By the way its on me for today since you are actually worth your $8 per hour, he grinned. Thanks, she replied not knowing if his last statement was a compliment. Just before closing time Duke called Jane asking her if she needed a ride home. At first she was a bit hesitant but after she looked through the window at the snow she replied affirmatively. Nelson gave Jane a spare set of keys for the office. He told her from the next day onwards it would be her responsibility to open the office and that he expected a pot of coffee brewing by the time he arrived in the morning. Nelson left half an hour before closing time. He had to see a client about some problems with the plumbing of one of the buildings they constructed. Duke arrived just as Jane was locking up. So how was your first day at work? he asked. Better than I anticipated, she replied. And how is that? he asked. Well, Nelson has another side to him and its not half bad. I guess I will be fine as long as I stay on his right side, she replied smiling. Well, you do that than. Stay on his right side, he replied. Yeah who knows maybe we will become BFFs, she grinned. I wouldnt push it that far but you never know. Listen I know its cold and you probably want to get home but how would like to come with me to my ranch? he asked.

Jane was shocked and surprised. She thought it odd that he would invite her to his ranch so suddenly. Night was going to fall soon. If they drove to his ranch there would be no way they would make it back to his mothers house before morning. They would hardly have time for a cup of coffee at his ranch. Jane was confused and had a frown on her face that Duke noticed. My mom is already there. It was her day off today and since the roads were drivable mom thought we should check up on the ranch and spend the night. We will drive back early tomorrow morning in time for you to be at work. Dont worry, he replied trying to reassure Jane. Well, okay. Since your mom is already waiting and I wouldnt want to disappoint her. But I dont have any clean clothes, she replied. Dont worry there are some clothes that you could wear, he replied. Duke's demeanor grew sad and detached as he thpught about the box of women's clothes in the attic. It had been 6 years since Chantal had died giving birth. It was the worst day of Dukes life. He had named his son Chandler. Three days after losing his wife, Chandler also passed away due to heart complications. They discovered it too late. Duke had kept all Chantals clothes after she died. He could not let go. He got into many arguments with N over his refusal to move on. The ranch was filled with memories of her. Their love. It would be the first time that a woman other than Chantal or N would visit the ranch. All angles are covered, then," she replied oblivious to his change in attitude. "So lets go while there is still some daylight left. *************************************** It was near the end of the day and he only managed to go to Papillion but came up with nothing. Joe looked at the circle around Plattsmouth on the map. He remembered the add of the construction company in the newspaper. Something in his gut pushed him to choose to go there next. He had to get there as soon as possible if he was going to find something to report back to Dave Dragna. He called a cab and asked the driver to get him to Plattsmouth as soon as possible. It was a yellow cab and the driver drove like a bat from hell. Joe wasnt sure if she be grateful for getting there quicker or that he didnt have a heart attack half way to Plattsmouth. Do you know Plattsmouth well? Joe asked the driver. Only that it is a one horse town. Why are you asking? the driver replied. No specific reason though I am looking for someone, he replied.

Well, if youre looking for someone it would be pretty hard to hide in Plattsmouth. Like I said its a one horse town. Its one of those places where everyone knows everyone. And cousins probably marry cousins, he grinned. I hope you are right, he replied. Joe felt relieved as they entered Plattsmouth. He wished he would never have to see the drivers face again, but he was happy at the same time to arrive in time to get some info before Dave called. So where can I drop you off? the driver asked. Joe looked at his watch and his stomach started to grumble. He was so busy scouting Papillion that he completely skipped lunch. Drop me anywhere where I can find decent food, Joe replied. Well, here in Plattsmouth you only have one choice, the driver replied. And that would be? Joe asked. Mamas diner around the corner at the next stop, he replied. One diner. You sure hit the nail on the head when you said it was a one horse town. Take me there before I die of hunger, he replied. The driver dropped Joe off in front of the Mamas diner and sped off. Joe looked at the cab as it disappeared in the distance. He hoped he would not need to meet up with him again. He went inside and sat at a table in the corner out of site. He wanted to study everyone from a distance. Welcome to Mamas. Names Nancy Biederstadt. We have more than , Joe cut her off midway. Yeah yeah just bring me your special and make it snappy, Joe said annoyed. What a rude buffalo he is. I hope his tip is not as bad as his attitude, Nancy thought. Will you have anything to drink? she asked. Mocha Coffee do you know what it is? he asked. Nancy was getting annoyed at Joes remarks but composed herself.

Yes with cream or froth? she asked. Cream and lots of it, he replied. Nancy gave his order at the kitchen and went on to prepare his Mocha Coffee. While pouring espresso into the mug filled half with hot chocolate she could see from the corner of her eye how Joes eyes darted all over the diner. She could see he was searching for something. Heres your Mocha Coffee sir. Is there anything else you would like before your meal arrives? she asked. No, he replied curtly. Nancy went back to the kitchen to check on how far they were with Joes order and afterwards checked on other patrons. Mr. Conners was sitting at his usual spot waiting for his country fried steak and mashed potatoes rambling on and on about politics. Nancy served Mr. Connors his usual. Here you are Mr. Connors. Your usual. I hope its good, she said. Nancy wondered how Mr. Connors was able to eat, ever since she could remember, the same meal every night and not get fed up. It was something strange to see him every single day walking in and ordering the same thing. Most of the time kitchen staff are alerted to prepare his meal the moment he walked through the front door. Nancy sometimes waited for him to sit down and would go up to him and ask him for his order hoping that he would choose something else. She guessed his cholesterol level mustve been completely out of control from eating steak every night. A few minutes passed by when one of the kitchen staff rang the bell to collect the next order. It was Joes. Nancy collected it and hoped Joe would be less of a buffalo when she served it to him. As she walked down the narrow isle towards him she saw him looking at a something in his hand. It looked like a photo but she wasnt sure. Just before she reached him he quickly put it back in his coat pocket. She put his meal down in front of him and said, Bon apetite. ******************************************** Its Steve, from the Plattsmouth sheriffs office. Yeah, whats up? Dave Dragna replied. I think we have a problem, Steve replied.

Chapter 6 Duke approached his ranch. Jane could see wide open spaces in every direction, green fields, large trees surrounding the entrance and fences shooting off to each side. He slowed to enter the driveway, the truck bumped around, as the tires hit the rocks and pot holes, he pointed and started telling her about all the history of his proudly owned ranch. There was an archway above the front of the truck, he slowed to a crawl as he told her about the initials on the brand. D.R., Dukes Ranch. A black D made out of a horse shoe and an R, hung inside and to the lower right of the D, also made out of a horse shoe, were welded together and hung below the strong wood. He said, he knew it was plain and somewhat lacking in creativity, but when he bought the place he could hardly believe it was his, really his. So in an effort to remind himself, he came up with D.R. That way every time he came home, he would know that he was at his ranch, his home, and that he still had something to work for. All the cattle and property boundaries were branded with the initials too. Jane was touched at his sincerity, as he quickly moved on to pointing to the left and right talking about what he had and when he acquired it. Some time in the middle of his rambling, Jane tuned him out unintentionally. Her eyes took her to the open fields filled with horses and cows and chickens. She remembered a time when she was young, when horses were her friends, her best friends. She remembered a time when she didnt have to run, or hide, or wear a wig, or be afraid. She missed those times, longed for them. An ache started in her gut, deep down and started to rise in her chest and throat, then to her face. Tears welled up but she fought them and refused to allow the emotion to be shown or discovered. She had to maintain the persona she told everyone about, she couldnt allow herself to feel those old time memories. Survival was her only goal, her only wish at this time. Maybe in the future she could allow herself to feel, to want, to believe. But it wasnt now, especially now here in a truck with a man she just met. Even though she had feelings for him. She didnt know what kind of feelings, but they were certainly there. That day when he came into the bathroom, she felt excitement, a rush of blood to her brain that there was a healthy strong good-looking man before her and the only thing that separated them was a flimsy shower curtain. She wouldnt admit it, but after he left the bathroom, she had to spend the rest of the time cooling off, telling herself it was nothing, that she hadnt seen in his eyes, a hint of feelings for her as well. Behind the shock and embarrassment that he had just walked in on her, there was a hint in his eyes, that he wanted to climb in the shower with her. Jane shook her head and brought herself back to the truck on the gravel driveway, no use thinking about something that would never or could never happen, resolving herself to not think of it again. She had to remain guarded at all times, on alert, ready to run.

She started looking again at the horses, their regal beauty, they still hadnt reached the house, the driveway at least 2 miles long. Duke was still pointing and talking about his prized land. She followed his hand to the other side of the road and she remembered again, sitting on top, bareback of one of those similar horses, riding all day long through the creek beds, the neighboring pastures, up a mountain and then home as the sun set behind the horizon. Her heart longed for that time, an easier time in her life, she knew would never return. Appaloosa horses ran wild and free behind his fences, they knew no different, they didnt know they were boxed in those 100 acres on the east side, to them it was home. Mares, geldings and fowls alike ran and bucked and played, almost as if they were saying hello to their owner Duke. After a long slow truck down the driveway, they reached the house. Janes stomach was growling by now and her palms sweaty. The thought of staying the night with Duke, whos cologne and the smell a hard working man was permeating her side of the cab, made her nervous. As she was grabbing her purse off the floorboard, she hadnt even noticed hed run around the truck to open the door for her. Jane sat there startled, just looking at him with a look of surprise on her face, he had to break the silence, Well are you gonna get out? Yes, of course, Im sorry, I was just surprised. Thats all. Jane blushed. Thank you Duke. My pleasure. He commented. Duke thought maybe he was going a little too far to open her door. Maybe he was stepping too far out on a limb. He stood there watching her walk towards the front door, deciding he didnt care. He felt something for her, not sure what it was or why, but he wanted to act on it. It had been ages since he felt anything, let alone for another woman. With the heartbreaks he had endured in the last few years, he had written women off completely, made the decision he would live alone on this beautiful ranch, with his animals. He felt like he could be happy being a rancher and just a rancher. He had his hobbies too, which he intentionally used to take up time in the evenings when he was alone. Not wanting her to have to enter the house by herself, he quickened his step and caught up with her, hoping the redness of his cheeks had subsided. She didnt notice but he blushed also, because he had noticed that she was surprised and didnt really know how to respond to his nice gesture of opening the door. He wondered what had been done to such a nice girl, who was shocked at a small kindness, how had she been treated before? Jane thought the driveway and hundreds of acres of land and animals was impressive, when she entered the house, she was even more so. The home seemed to have a personality of its own. N came immediately to greet them in the entry hallway, hugging Duke and then wrapping her arms around Jane. Then it was as though N suddenly realized she was holding Jane like her own daughter and she stepped back startled and apologetic. Jane didnt mind, even though she didnt say so. It felt nice to have someone hug her without preconceived expectations or wanting something from her. She wished N hadnt let go.

Smells of home baked bread filled Janes nose as she took in the sight of Dukes beautiful home. He told her in a polite tone, that he would love to give her a tour. N scurried off while throwing Janes jacket on the couch in the living room, that led to the open spacious kitchen, and she said something about dinner that was about ready. As Duke and Jane walked down the hall that led off to the left of the front entrance area, he began pointing again and discussing why he chose the furniture he had and why he loved the sitting room they were passing. Reading was one of his favorite things to do, in the quiet of the night, when no one was around or awake. In the room there was a few large comfortable chairs, small interspersed book shelves holding several copies of his favorite books. Then up to the right was the bedroom Jane would be staying in, he motioned for her to enter and he showed her the connecting restroom, orange towels hung from the pegs with a braided country oval rug underneath. Dinners ready! N shouted from the kitchen. Ill go get some clothes I have that you can wear, if you like, they belonged to It caught in his throat, he could hardly get the words out. Jane wanted to stop the words from coming, Duke, its okay, Id love just one of your old tshirts and sweats, would that work? He paused, somewhat surprised and relieved, thinking of her manicured hands and wondered if she was the kind of woman who lounged around in her mans clothes, he could almost picture her in them. Sure, Yes, no problem. He left the room and returned quickly, his room must have been close. Reaching out his hand he held the shirt and sweats to her. She looked at them for a moment and held her breath, then reached out her hand. When she grabbed them, they both stood still looking at each other, kind of awkwardly, then realizing they were sort of frozen, just starring, she broke eye contact and looked down, remembering why she was there, in that town, with those people. Reminding herself she couldnt become attached, she had to be ready to leave at a moments notice, ready to run. She reminded herself that her life was in danger. He stepped backwards towards the door at Ns beckoning that dinner was getting cold. Ill be out in a few minutes, thanks for the clothes. Jane half whispered the words, still clutching them to her chest. He was already walking down the hall. She waited until she heard him start talking to N, before closing the door. She wanted to savor the moment of yet another kind gesture from a man she barely knew. Knowing shed been working all day, she could feel the stink and dust of the office on her skin, in her hair, in her wig. The hot water in the shower washed over her, she wished silently it would take away her woes, that she could stay safe in that place in that moment in that house for the rest of her life. She had become so tired of running, so tired of being afraid, she wanted safety, security, someone to tell her it would all brush over and be okay. None of which she had. Jane was reminded of that everyday, every time she looked in the mirror at that stupid wig she was wearing.

She peered out of the shower curtain to make sure her purse was still there sitting on the floor, keeping track of the papers she had taken was imperative. She brought them with her, everywhere she went. It may help save her life, it may be her only bargaining chip. Images of her parents flashed before her and tears filled her eyes again, she hadnt even been able to attend their funerals, because she started running. When she found out what had been going on, she immediately was in danger and had to leave. She didnt think she could ever forgive herself for leaving her mom and dad that way, so exposed. Her dad would tell her to run, her mom would have told her to stay so she could protect her, but Jane knew what she had to do. Disappear. Disappear from existence entirely. She didnt realize, however, that it would be so difficult to act like someone else, with the wig and fake name. Now trying to hold down a job and meeting new friends, she was afraid the truth would come out sooner or later. She wrapped the plush towel around her steaming skin and wiped away the fog in the mirror, looking intently at the reflection. A decision came to her as though it was coming from a place of decisiveness, and direction. She clutched the ugly brown wig, looked at it one last time and threw it in the trash. Maybe it was wishful thinking, maybe it was a horrible decision, but she hated lying, deceiving others, especially N and Duke who were taking such good care of her. Walking down the hall took forever, it seemed, with her now donned blonde hair, still wet but brushed back, some strands falling in her face. Being barefoot kept her almost silent, then she stood before the chair of the obviously set place setting at the table, across from Duke and next to N. They were half done eating when they looked up, N had a bite of food ready to put in her mouth and dropped her fork when she looked up at Jane. The sound clanked and rang through the kitchen and dining area. Duke was starring, and wondering why she had been wearing such an ugly wig, when such a beautiful head of hair was laying dormant underneath. He didnt say what he was thinking, but the look in his eyes spoke enough words to Jane. She met his gaze and said the same thing silently, that she was attracted to him. She couldnt help it, or so she thought. N and Duke hadnt spoke yet, Jane broke the tension in the air, Whats for dinner? It sure smells good. She turned and walked toward the stove. Duke noticed Jane had taken his sweats and rolled the waistband down, tied the shirt in a knot to the side and her tan abdomen was showing slightly. He tried to look away, but he couldnt. Her tan toes were polished and barefoot on the hardwood kitchen floor. Jane grabbed some grub and sat down at the table, N and Duke hadnt resumed eating yet, they were still just starring at her. Knowing they had questions about her hair, Jane brought it up first. So I hope you dont mind I threw that horrible wig in your garbage. Couldnt stand being a brunette any longer. It just isnt my color. They both smiled and as if they already accepted her for who she was, without questions asked, they resumed eating. They picked up the conversation

where they had left off when Jane walked in. There was no pretense about who Jane needed to be or how she had to behave to be accepted, because she already was.