Shards

chapter 10

Chapter 10:

“What?”

The word was out of my mouth before I had time to think. What had he meant by that? Why would he endanger the lives of his family? I couldn't do it, I couldn't pull him into something that I didn't understand myself.

James smiled patiently, waiting for the information to finish absorbing into my brain. There were so many things I wanted to say. So many reasons I wanted to refuse and so many to accept. It was all starting to give me a head ache. How come it was so damn hard just to form a few words? After what felt like an eternity, I finally spoke.

“I don't want to impose.”

Of all the pathetic things I could have said, that was all I could come up with? That made it sound like I accepted. Maybe I did. I wanted, more than anything, to do just that. But I'd seen the destruction that followed me. If the mystery sniper didn't come back to finish the job, then I'd probably snap and end up hurting one of them myself. I couldn't put James's family in that position...

“You won't be. Karin will be furious with me if I don't bring you home. Her motherly instincts are in over drive.”

“Well... Um... I struggled for words. I guess, if it's not to much trouble.”

My mind screamed for me to warn him, but he knew what he was getting into. At that moment, I made myself a promise. At the first sign of trouble, I'd tell James I was leaving. This was only a temporary thing, until Ian came back for me. That part, I definitely wasn't telling James.

“Come on,” he said, giving me a playful shove. “Show a little more enthusiasm.”

Suddenly, it was like a warm liquid had began to seep through my face, and my lips were pulled into a smile.

“Thank you!” I chocked out, pulling him into a hug.

I was so lucky to have him.

“Plus, I'll have an in house psychiatrist.”

“True that,” he said. “And Karin is a nurse. You'll have all the medical attention you'll ever need. We've all agreed that it's the best choice.”

Behind my eyes, tears of joy began to form. Scolding myself, I pushed them down. What was up with my lately? I was too emotional.

“Come on.” James got to his feet. “Dosle told me to tell him when you woke up. We're going to go through the Rechard files, see if you recognize anyone. They've got a conference room set aside for us.”

“Okay.” I joked, “this seems kind of anti-climatic, after all of our interruptions.”

James laughed quietly. “I guess you're right!”

When we arrived, Dosle and Leon were already there waiting for us. Erica was nowhere in sight.

“Hey Jane,” Leon greeted me.

“Hey.” I did my best to smile back at him.

“So,” said Dosle, gesturing for us to take seats. “Let's get down to business.”

The four of us were clustered on one end of the long conference table, a small stack of files in front of us.

James began. “Even with the police's help, I was only able to locate three cases involving the last name Rechard. It's quite uncommon.”

I nodded, hoping that he'd get on with it. Leon flipped open the first file. Enclosed, was a picture of an old man with a white beard.

“Thomas Rechard: died December of two-thousand and fifteen, in a car accident. He'd recently lost his job and had been drinking.”