Pieces of the Past (Witness Security Book 1) by Jamie Hill Read Free Book Online Page A

friendly, and today not friendly enough. Teenagers. He moved his sports coat aside so his Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol was visible in the holster. “I wouldn’t do that.”
    Peyton froze a t the same time Christine gasped.
    “ Hate to be a bully about this, but you’ve got to understand. We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. Both options works for me, but I suspect your mom would prefer your cooperation.”
    “ You can’t threaten me!” The words were spunky but the girl’s voice wavered.
    “ I’m not threatening you, just pointing out who’s in charge at this particular moment.” He motioned to the marshal badge clipped to his belt. “This badge says it’s me. I don’t like playing it tough, but this is too important. I won’t have you endangering your mom and your brother.”
    Peyton burst into tears.
    Christine sprang from the sofa and pulled her daughter into her arms. She stared at Doug accusingly. “Was that really necessary?”
    He shrugged. He didn ’t like the show of force either, but the girl wasn’t cooperating, and this was serious business.
    Peyton sniffled. “We can’t leave again, Mom. I’m finally making friends, and Ryan…what am I supposed to tell Ryan?”
    They both gazed up at Doug. “What are we supposed to tell everyone ?” Christine asked.
    “ We’re going to get our story straight and then you’ll need to make some calls. For now,” he held his hand out to Peyton, “your phone, please.”
    She placed it in his palm then returned her face to the crook in her mother’s neck.
    He continued, “I’ve got some calls to make myself. I’d like you both to get packed, and someone needs to help Ethan. Take what you can fit into two suitcases each. The kids should bring whatever school books they have here. We’re going to be cooped up and bored, they can study at least some of the time. Ethan will want to bring that handheld game of his.”
    “ He doesn’t go many places without it.” Christine sniffed and dabbed her eyes before doing the same to her daughter’s. “Come on, now. You heard what he said. Let’s get packed. We’ll make our calls after.”
    “ Oh, Mom!” Peyton moaned as Christine led her from the room.
    “ It’s all going to work out,” her mother reassured. “We’ll be okay.” Christine glanced back over her shoulder at Doug questioningly.
    He offered a small smile and a nod. “You’re all going to be just fine.” He watched them walk up the stairs then returned to his post at the front window. He truly believed that’s how it would end up. What happened in the short term remained to be seen. For now, the street appeared quiet.
    Before he made his calls, Doug flipped on the TV and turned up the volume, just in case someone had managed to plant a bug. He spoke to the officers keeping the house under surveillance, and was glad to hear all was calm on their end. Another phone call kept his boss apprised of the situation, and they worked out details for moving the family. With a final call he enlisted some help from a fellow marshal in getting the safe house ready for their arrival. “We’ll be there later tonight,” Doug told his co-worker Ben Markham.
    “ I’ll have the place ready to go, with enough supplies to last a couple days. If you need to stay longer, make a list for me of what the family likes to eat.”
    “ Aren’t you the happy homemaker?” Doug teased.
    “ Might as well get what they want,” Ben protested jovially. “Since you’re sending me to the store anyway.”
    “ Yeah, well just remember, I like Moon Pies. Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, whatever they got.”
    “ Bet you’re crying in your beer that Twinkies are so hard to find now.”
    “ Chocolate’s the key word, my friend. Had Twinkies been made with chocolate, I’d have never let the company go bankrupt. Oh, and Mountain Dew. None of that pesky diet stuff.”
    Be n chuckled. “You got it. Talk to you later, cowboy.”
    “ Yeah, whatever.” Doug punched