CHAPTER SIXTEEN C: THE MAN AT THE PHARMACY
Tessa called Jake while he was walking toward the fire station.
“A man came into the pharmacy asking for you,” she said.
Jake stopped beside a parked truck.
“What man?”
“He wouldn’t give his name.”
“What did he look like?”
“About forty, wearing a gray jacket and work boots.”
Jake thought of Russell and felt his stomach tighten.
“Was he threatening you?”
“No,” Tessa answered.
“He said you should stop asking questions before someone gets hurt.”
Jake turned back toward his car.
“I’m coming over.”
“I already told the pharmacist and called the sheriff,
” Tessa said.
“You don’t need to race here.”
Jake went anyway.
He found his sister behind the prescription counter with her jaw set in the expression she wore when she was trying not to cry.
The pharmacist had closed the front door for a few minutes while a deputy spoke to the employees.
Tessa described the visitor again.
She remembered that his jacket had a torn pocket and that he had bought a packet of mints before leaving.
The deputy asked whether she recognized him from any photograph.
“Not yet,” she said.
Jake stood beside her without interrupting.
After the deputy left,
Tessa turned on him.
“You didn’t tell me people were looking for you,” she said.
“I didn’t know they were.”
“You knew Russell was dangerous.”
“I knew he frightened Owen’s mother.”
“And you thought that had nothing to do with us?”
Jake looked toward the front window.
“I thought if I helped the investigators, this would move in the right direction.”
Tessa set down a bottle she had been holding.
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“You decide what the right direction is and forget that the rest of us are standing in the road with you.”
Jake wanted to argue.
Instead, he remembered the old man’s admission that he should have asked before bringing Jake into the emergency response.
“You’re right,” Jake said.
Tessa looked startled.
“I don’t want you to stop helping people,” she said.
“I want you to tell me when I’m part of the danger.”
Jake nodded.
“I’ll tell you what I know from now on.”
“Not after the next stranger comes through the door.”
“Before,” he answered.
They walked outside together when her shift ended.
Jake offered to drive her home.
Tessa declined and pointed toward the bus stop.
“I’m meeting a friend for dinner,” she said.
“You don’t have to guard me.”
“I know.”
She studied him.
“Do you?”
Jake opened his hands.
“I’m learning.”
Tessa stepped toward the bus stop.
Then she turned back.
“Mom would have liked that old man,” she said.
“Gideon?”
“Anyone who can make you listen for more than ten seconds.”
Jake laughed despite the worry still sitting in his chest.
