Agent Morel smiled. “Keep to your story and you’ll be fine. We’ll pick you up the day before you’re due in court.” He pulled a card from inside his jacket. “This is my private number if you should need to reach out for any reason. Ryan also has this number.”
She took the card, placed it in her purse and then stood. “Thank you for your help with this. I only know I need to stop him. He’s a dangerous man and he killed my best friend.”
He stood. “Tell me,Kaylie, would you have come forward if not for the death of your friend?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. To be honest, probably not. I’m not a crusader or activist. I’m just an accountant who finally took a stand…who finally had enough because it affected me directly. Julie was a beautiful, talented woman and didn’t deserve to die for one stupid mistake.”
“No one does.” He extended a hand. “Good luck, Kaylie.”
She shook his hand. “Thank you. I’ll see you in three months.”
Ms. Greer escorted Kaylie to the Newark airport where she was put on a private jet with two non-descript gray suitcases.
“Good luck to you, Ms. Smith,” said Ms. Greer.
“Thank you.” She climbed the steps to the plane and prepared for her new life.
* * *
Ryan Evers stood justinside the terminal door. He met the jet at the Bozeman Yellowstone airport on a private runway away from the main airport with its hustle and bustle of thousands of passengers flying to and from places unknown. The waiting room he was in served only this private runway. He’d pick up his new cook, Kaylie Smith and take her back to the ranch. The only reason he agreed to harbor someone in WitSec was as a favor to Janice’s brother, Paul, a U.S. Marshal.
He understood from his conversations with Paul that this woman was in a lot of danger. The man she was testifying against would kill her in a heartbeat if he could find her. Ryan waited and watched as the plane came to a stop and the stairs were rolled over to it.
A young woman with a killer figure stepped out of the plane. He watched her as she descended the stairs. She wore tight jeans, a bold red sweater and tennis shoes. Her hair was in waves and when she turned to talk to the flight crew, he saw it was down to her waist. He’d like to run his fingers through that mass of black silk.
Good grief where did that come from?
When she reached the bottom of the steps, she headed toward the terminal building followed by two men, each with a large gray suitcase.
He stood with his Stetson pulled low on his head…waiting.
The woman stepped through the door and looked around. When she saw him, she smiled and walked up to him.
“Mr. Evers?”
“Yes, I’m Ryan Evers. You must be—”
She smiled. “I’m Kaylie Smith, your new cook.” She held out her hand.
He looked down at her hand and enveloped it in his. It was so small and delicate he was afraid if he really shook it, he’d break it. He gave her a small shake and then pulled his hand back and put it in his jeans pocket.
“Here are your suitcases, Ms. Smith. Have a great stay.” The steward from the plane set her suitcases next to her.
“Thank you, Phillip. I appreciate your help.”
The man doffed his cap to her and went back through the doors to the airplane.
If Ryan’s information wasn’t wrong, they would immediately refuel and return to New York and they appeared to be doing just that.
He returned his gaze to Kaylie. “Is this all your luggage?”
“Yes, just these two.”
“Fine. Follow me.” He took one suitcase handle in each hand and rolled them out of the airport. His truck was parked across the street as close to the door as he could get. When they reached the sidewalk, he lowered the handles, picked up the suitcases and crossed the street to his black, four-door, Ford F-350 dually, pickup truck. He looked at it now and wished he’d washed it, but he wasn’t expecting a beautiful woman…anything but, actually. He figured she’d be in her late fifties with gray hair and glasses. Why he thought so, he didn’t know, but Paul hadn’t said anything to change his expectations.
He set the suitcases in the backseat and then helped Ms. Smith into the passenger’s seat.
“The road to the ranch is pretty rough.” He pulled out the seatbelt for her.