Cowboy Command (22 page)

Presley sighed. 
“You need me to help you.”

“
I do,” he nodded.  “I’m sorry.  And this time I know what I’m sorry for.  Come on, let’s go back and see the lights.”

She shook her head. 
“You don’t really want to.  You don’t like Florida.  You don’t like Disney.”

“
I do want to.  I may not be the biggest fan of Florida, but I’m the biggest Presley Lawson fan there is.  Come on.” 

She turned and nodded
in the other direction.  “I’m tired.  Let’s just go back to the RV.”

He looked like he was going to argue but then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and they walked through the park.  There were thousands of people all around them but she felt alone.  He could deny it all he wanted, but Seth was distancing himself from her ever so subtly.  It wouldn
’t be long until she lost him altogether. 

Chapter Eighteen

“
I’m fucking everything up, Tanner.”

Seth blew out his breath and gripped the cell phone until his knuckles were white.  It was Monday morning and they would be leaving for downtown Tampa in a few minutes from the RV park they
’d found yesterday just outside the city proper.  The last thirty-six hours had pretty much sucked and he knew it was all his fault.  He was acting like an ass but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.  It was like driving at an unmovable brick wall in slow motion.  It menaced closer and closer but he couldn’t turn the wheel from his inevitable slaughter.

“
Probably you are, buddy.  What have you done this time?”  Luckily Tanner wasn’t laughing at him.  Seth glanced at the door to the RV where Presley was getting dressed inside.  They had gone shopping in an out-of-the-way outlet mall in Orlando before heading to Tampa yesterday.  She’d wanted to look professional and none of the jeans and shorts fit the bill. 

“
I’m being a jerk.  All I did while we were at Disney was act like it wasn’t good enough.  Presley took offense.  She called me on it, asking if I was pulling away from her.  I couldn’t say no, Tanner.  There was a part of me that was trying to piss her off so it wouldn’t be as big of a deal if I lost her after she testifies.”

“
Can’t you go with her?  This is Presley we’re talking about, Seth.  Would it be so bad?  Would it kill you?”

Being with Presley would be heaven, even in this flat state with no seasons. 

“We’ve talked about it.  Presley wants me to go back to Harper and be with my family.  I want to be with Presley.  I love her.  It’s all fucked up, Tanner.  I can’t force myself on her.  Maybe…maybe she really doesn’t want me with her.”

“
Your head is screwed on wrong, buddy.  She’s just trying to be noble and all that shit.  Of course she wants you with her.  She’s scared, Seth.  If she has to go back into hiding, she’s going to continue to be scared.  I can’t imagine you letting her walk away knowing what she’s going to.”

Seth wanted to love and protect Presley.  He was thinking in terms of a lifetime with her.  It was something he
’d never contemplated before, but a future without her yawned empty and cold. 

“
I want her to stay alive, first and foremost.  We can’t think about anything past that.  If she’s not safe after today, they’re going to take her and I may never see her again.”

Tanner snorted. 
“Then you better make sure she knows you’re going with her, no matter where they send her.  I’d give everything I own to have a woman who loves me a fraction as much as Presley loves you.  Stop being an ass and tell her.  Your friends and family will understand.  If they don’t, well, they probably aren’t your friends.  Can you find another Presley?”

“
No.”  Seth shook his head.  “There is no other Presley.  Fuck, Tanner.  But I can’t imagine never seeing my family or friends again.  I don’t know how Presley did it, walking away from everything.  She’s stronger than I am, that’s for sure.”

“
She did it to stay alive.  Think about it, Seth.  Think really hard about this.  Once she’s gone, she’s gone.  You won’t see her again if you don’t go with her.”

“
If you’re going to be so supportive and cheery, I’m going to hang up.”

“
If you called me to tell you you’re doing the right thing holding back, you called the wrong guy.  Maybe Logan’s home.  You could try him.  He’d probably be more sympathetic to your problem.”

“
You’re an asshole.”

Tanner laughed. 
“Never said I wasn’t.  Hug Presley for me, will you?  Tell her good luck today.  Don’t fuck this up, Seth.”  Tanner’s voice went down an octave.  “Don’t be your usual self and try and get Presley to tow some invisible line you’ve drawn.  I need to go.  I’m on duty in a few.  Call me later after she testifies.  I want to hear all about it.”

“
Will do.”

They said their goodbyes and Seth hung up, Tanner
’s words ringing in his ears. 

* * * *
*

Presley resisted the urge to rub her clammy hands down the thighs of her conservative navy blue pantsuit.  Seth
’s eyes had widened when she’d walked out of the RV dressed in professional clothes with her hair wound in a sophisticated chignon and her makeup applied with an understated hand.  She looked cool, calm, and ready for anything.  Which, ironically, was exactly the opposite of what she was in reality.

She was a quaking mass of nerves. 

The waiting room she was in was sterile looking, the beige furniture adding no character to the drab interior.  She’d been waiting for several minutes inside this room, deep in the bowels of the Federal Courthouse, and at this rate she’d be a puddle of sweat and adrenaline by the time she actually had to testify. 

She wished Seth was there to hold her hand
, but Evan had caught Seth’s arm and dragged him away even as the other agent, Marisa, was escorting Presley into this room.  She’d protested but Marisa had assured her Seth would join her soon.  Now the only question was, when was soon?  There was a small niggling fear in her heart she wouldn’t see Seth again.  What if Evan kept them apart?

She straightened her spine when the door swung open.  Evan and another man with a briefcase bustled in, smiling and shaking her hand. 

“Miss Johnson, I’m Art Lancaster, the prosecutor for this case.  Thank you for coming today.”

It was jolting to hear anyone call her by her former name.  She took a deep breath and nodded. 
“I’m glad I could be here.  I’m honestly anxious to get my testimony over with.”

The door swung open again and Seth came in with four coffees
. Presley wanted to jump up from the table and kiss him.  She needed him and she needed the caffeine.  He passed out the coffees and settled in a chair next to hers.

Presley didn
’t miss the glance Art gave to Evan.  It didn’t look like a happy one.  “Is there something wrong, Mr. Lancaster?”

“
Call me Art.”  Art looked over at Seth, who was serenely sipping his hot coffee.  “It’s unusual for another party to be included in these preparations.”

She had never met Art but he appeared to be a by-the-book kind of guy.  Seth would love him.  Presley, however, wasn
’t going to be dictated to.  She’d been through too much in the last two months to let anyone intimidate her.  “Seth is an involved party.  Can we get started?”

She smiled sweetly but she kept her tone even and firm.  Art
’s eyebrows shot up but he nodded and pulled a stack of papers from his briefcase.

“
First, here is the subpoena from the Grand Jury.  It’s a moot point now since you’re here of your own volition, but you may want to read it over.”  He handed her a set of folded papers, which she passed to Seth.  She trusted him to look through them while she listened.  Art didn’t miss her action and frowned.  “You, of course, should not discuss your testimony with anyone.”

Seth held up his hand. 
“Excuse me, but she doesn’t have to keep her testimony a secret.  There’s no law or obligation to do so.  I’m not saying she wants to talk about it, but telling her she has to is a misleading statement.”

Art
’s face turned a shade of red.  “You are correct.  I was asking as a courtesy.”

Presley
’s respect for Seth grew exponentially.  His law enforcement background made him a good ally.  Evan leaned forward, his brows drawn together.  “He’s right, Art.  Presley’s here of her own free will, but let’s keep what’s legal separate from what we’re asking her to do as a favor.  I didn’t encourage Presley to get an attorney since I thought this would be a friendly exchange.  If it’s not going to be, she needs counsel.”

Art
’s brows drew down even further.  “Who’s Presley?”  He shuffled through papers as if looking for the reference.

Presley placed her hand on top of the papers, the rifling grating on her nerves. 
“I am Presley.  It’s my new identity.  Katie Johnson was killed in a car bomb in south Tampa.”

It was quite freeing to say it.  Katie was gone and even when she was free from Randall, she wouldn
’t be coming back.  Presley was alive, however.  It was a watershed moment and she snuck a look at Seth, but he seemed to be unaware of the gravity of what had just happened.

Art shook his head and turned to the first paper on the pile. 
“Fine.  This is a friendly discourse.  I’ll just prepare you for testifying.”  He picked up a picture from the file folder.  “Answer the questions truthfully.  Listen closely to the questions, and answer only the question I ask.  Give no extra information.  Don’t go off topic and don’t speculate.  Keep your answers short, simple, and to the point.  For example, if I hold up this picture and ask you if you know the person in the photo what do you say?”

“
Yes.”  She’d seen every episode of Law and Order ever made. 

Art nodded approvingly. 
“Good.  I didn’t ask you who it was, only if you knew him.  Excellent.  Keep that up and you’ll do fine.  Now let’s go through some of the questions I’m going to ask you.”

An hour and
a half and two more coffees later, Art turned over the last piece of paper in the stack.  Presley sighed and rubbed her neck.  She’d been sitting too long in one place.

“
Are we done?  When do I testify?”

Art
’s expression was concerned.  “We’re done.”  He seemed to be looking for the right words.  “Ms. Johnson, are you being completely truthful today?  I asked you questions regarding documents and incidents that happened months ago, the only two months you were actually in Simon’s office.  Yet you recalled them as if they were yesterday.  No juror is going to believe your memory is that clear.  You seem quite genuine, but I have trouble understanding how you could remember something from that far in the past.  Most people can’t remember what they ate for lunch the day before yesterday.”

She felt Seth stiffen in the chair beside her and placed a soothing hand on his thigh under the table. 
“I understand your concern.  I have an excellent memory.  Better than average.  My stepfather once had me tested for an eidetic memory.”

Evan pursed his lips. 
“Eidetic?  That’s like a photographic memory, right?”

Presley shrugged. 
“Something like that.  I didn’t score high enough on the test, but they did say I was close.”

Seth shook his head and smiled. 
“That’s why you’re such a damn good secretary.  You remember everything.  Every damn detail.”

“
I’m good because I’m organized and know my job.”  Presley sniffed in disdain.  “Having an excellent memory simply makes it easier to get everything done.”

Art stroked his chin. 
“Can I give you some advice?  Don’t answer so affirmatively when asked a question involving the past.  Say something like, ‘as best as I can recall’ or something to that effect.”

Seth growled. 
“Maybe you shouldn’t ask her questions she shouldn’t be able to answer in the first place?”

Art stood and began shoving the papers back in his briefcase. 
“I do intend to edit my questions to Ms. Johnson.”  He snapped the case shut.  “Be ready to testify at two o’clock.  You’re the last one to give your testimony.  Remember, your role is to corroborate Mr. Simon’s links to illegal arms dealers that the other witnesses have already testified to.”  He headed to the door, but paused before leaving.  “Frankly, Ms. Johnson, I’m puzzled by why Mr. Simon singled you out to kill.  There are several witnesses who knew much more about his business dealings than you appear to.  You are, however, an expert in his home renovations, which you managed the majority of the time you worked for him.  Architectural Digest would be happy to interview you regarding Simon’s mansion on the water.  Today, I feel like this has been a waste of my time.”

Art hurried out of the room leaving only Presley, Seth, and Evan.  Presley grimaced at her empty coffee cup. 
“That guy’s a real charmer.”

Seth scowled. 
“He’s a jerk.”

Evan chuckled. 
“He’s also one of the best Federal Prosecutors in the country.  He’s lined up a star-studded gallery of witnesses.  We’ve piled on the evidence so thick Simon’s expensive legal team is shaking in their Armani suits.  It doesn’t matter how much money he has.  He’s going down.”

“
He’s still a jerk.”  Seth stood and tossed his paper cup into a trashcan.  “What do we do now?  Just sit here for the next four hours with our thumbs up our asses?”

Evan grinned. 
“That’s what I love about you, Seth.  You’re always so eloquent.”  He stood up and pointed to another door in the back of the room Presley hadn’t noticed.  “No, we are not going to sit here.  We’re going to get some lunch in a private area of the courthouse.”  Evan lifted his hand as Seth opened his mouth to object.  “There are guards on both doors and there will be guards on her at all times.  You are coming with her, don’t worry.  The only time she’ll be out of your sight is when she’s actually testifying.  No one can go with her.”