* * *
That afternoon, after being issued a brand-new vehicle, Zach drove Jessica back to her apartment. Once she’d been alert enough, they’d picked up right where their conversation had ended. She’d been insistent about getting Tiger and packing up some things before going to the safe house.
He was still in awe of the fact that Jessica walked away with only a concussion, scrapes and bruises. The Lord had really been looking out for her.
Zach’s mom had never gone to church, so he hadn’t, either. It wasn’t until he went away to college and had started attending the chapel on campus that he found out what faith in God really meant. It had changed his life forever—and for the better.
When Jessica had spoken about her faith, it seemed so natural to her. For Zach, it hadn’t been a natural process but something he had grown into. It had taken him all four years of college to really find out what it meant to be a man of God. It was refreshing to see someone who had been through so much have such a resilient belief in God. When Zach had been young, he had always associated religion with wishful thinking. People wanting some supernatural force to solve all their problems. He now understood what it was to have the comfort of knowing that God was going to be with him no matter what. When he looked at Jessica, he saw something special and different in her. It made him want to know more about her.
“This is me,” she said, interrupting his thoughts. “I’m on the second floor.”
He pulled up into the parking space in front of her place. “Wait for me before you get out,” he said.
She didn’t argue and sat quietly as he exited the car and walked around to the passenger side. He was beginning to think that the attack last night had served as a wake-up call that she was really in danger.
He opened her car door and took her gently by the arm, guiding her out. She insisted she was fine to walk on her own, but he was going to be guarding her much more closely.
“Are you going to be okay to walk up the steps?” he asked.
“Yes, I can handle them. I promise you.” She gave him a weak smile.
He’d called ahead to speak with Officer Lewis and make sure he was expecting them. Even though it was Jessica’s apartment, he knocked on the door to be extra cautious.
Uniformed police officer Sampson Lewis answered the door. The short and stocky African American officer smiled. “Glad you two made it.” Sampson looked at Jessica. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Officer Lewis.”
“Thank you, Officer Lewis. I appreciate you keeping an eye on things here at the apartment and watching Tiger.”
Officer Lewis grinned widely. “That cat was very skeptical of me at first. But once I started feeding him, I became his new best friend. Curled right up next to me on the couch.” He looked at Zach. “It’s all been quiet here, Agent Taylor. Not a peep of any kind.”
“That’s good.” The last thing they needed was more action.
Jessica walked over and picked up Tiger. “I’m going to go start packing up a few things. It won’t take me long.”
After she walked to her bedroom, Zach looked at Officer Lewis. “Thanks for taking this on.”
“No problem. She looked pretty banged up.”
“Yeah, the crash was no joke. She’s got cuts and bruising all on her face, neck and arms.”
“You think it’s tied to the Hernandez family?”
“Yes, unfortunately so.”
“Just keep your eyes open, man. I’ve heard some scary stories about what that family is capable of. I have to ask you. Do you think Ms. Hughes even realizes what kind of target is on her back?”
“If she didn’t before last night, I think she does now.”
True to her word, Jessica walked back out of her room just a few minutes later.
“Ms. Hughes,” Office Lewis said. “We just lost our cat of seventeen years a couple of months ago. My daughter is off at college, and my wife and I would be more than happy to pet-sit for you while you get through this ordeal. Tiger would be more than welcome at our place.”
Zach watched her hesitate and protectively tighten her grip on Tiger, pulling him close to her body.
“I know you want to be with him,” Zach said. “But it will actually be safer for him if he stays with Officer Lewis and his wife.”
Jessica continued to hold on to Tiger. Zach was surprised when her eyes started to mist over. She’d been through a lot so far, but he hadn’t seen her get emotional. It was clear that her pet was special to her.
“I can’t just give him away,” she said.
Officer Lewis walked closer to her. “Absolutely not. As soon as you’re in the clear, Tiger will be ready for you. I wouldn’t think of taking him from you. This is just temporary.”
She nodded. “Thank you for being so kind. And my hesitation isn’t because of you. I just don’t want him to think that I’m abandoning him.”
It hit Zach at that moment that Jessica probably felt such a strong connection to Tiger because he was the only family she had. Given her childhood, she probably had totally understandable issues with abandonment. “Jessica, if it’ll make you feel better, we’ll work something out and take him with us to the safe house.”
She shook her head. “No, Officer Lewis is right. I need to think about what is best for Tiger. Not my own feelings.”
“All right,” Zach said. “But if you change your mind, you can just let me know.”
She turned her attention back to the officer. “I need you to promise me something, though, and it’s a big promise.”
“Sure,” he said.
“If something happens to me, you’ll help find him a new home. A good home. You won’t take him to the shelter.”
Officer Lewis’s dark eyes widened. “First off, nothing is going to happen to you. But secondly, you have my word that I’ll personally take care of Tiger. Don’t think another thought about it.”
“Thank you.” She held the cat for another minute and then looked back at Zach.
“All right,” she said quietly. “I guess we should go.”
“Don’t you worry, Ms. Hughes. We’ll take great care of Tiger. And we’ll keep you updated.” He looked at Zach. “Any reason for me to continue standing watch here?”
“No,” Zach said. “Just wait for us to leave, give it a few and you and Tiger can get out of here.”
Jessica didn’t speak until they had been on the road a few minutes.
“How exactly am I supposed to work on the case? Are you expecting me to prepare for trial out of the safe house?”
“I’m afraid it’s gotten a bit complicated where that is concerned.”
“How so?”
“You should talk to your boss. But I think it’s a possibility that there may be some sort of postponement.”
“No! Absolutely not. That’s exactly what they want to happen. We can’t give in to them.”
“The trial and all surrounding it isn’t the FBI’s call. It’s your boss’s decision.”
“This was just a setback. It’s not reason enough to call it quits. I can do this, Zach. I’m fully cooperating with you and whatever you want as far as security goes, but I need to try this case.”
“I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
“Thank