“Come on. On our way home, we need to stop at the grocery store and pick up a few items.”
“Like dog food,”Justus added.
“Didn't we just buy him a bag last week?”Liberty asked.
“It's a small bag, and even though he doesn't eat much, it doesn't last long.”
They got in the car and headed to the nearest shopping center to the store. Parking and getting out, Liberty said. “We'll divide and conquer. You get the dog food, I'll get the other items, and we'll meet back at the register.”
“Sounds like a plan.”Justus carried For All with her into the store as they finished their tasks. Women and children stopped her to talk to her about For All or to pet him. It made getting to and from the refrigerated section for the dog food longer than expected. By the time she reached the registers, Liberty was putting the items on the counter to check out. She hurried over and added the bag to the conveyer.
“I was beginning to get worried,”Liberty commented.
“Sorry. For All drew more attention than I thought. Everyone wanted to pet him.”
“Just as long as no one tried to grab you or cause you harm,”she said.
“Stop being a mother hen.”
Liberty's eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say anything more as she paid for the groceries.
They headed home, planning what to do for lunch and chores that afternoon. Justus returned to playing with her puppy and looked out the window. She spotted a car in the sideview mirror that she had seen when they left the grocery store parking lot. Itwas still behind them—not right behind, but a car behind. Were they being followed?
She propped her arm on the door panel and watched to see if the car turned at the next street or continued to follow them. It could be a coincidence that the car was going in the same direction, or they may need to be alarmed.
When the car didn't turn, her palms grew sweaty, and she wiped them on her bare legs below her shorts while her pulse beat a staccato at her wrist. She swallowed, but her mouth felt dry, like cotton was swallowing her tongue. “I–I think someone is following us,”she finally choked out.
“What?” Liberty said.
“The vehicle,”Justus forced the word from her throat. “Two cars back. It has been back there since we left the market.”
“Are you certain?”Liberty accelerated and changed lanes.
“I wouldn't have said anything if I wasn't,”Justus said.
“Okay. I'll keep an eye out.”
Not taking any chances, Justus dug in her purse, found the card Rafferty had given her with his number, and punched in the number.
“What are you doing?”Liberty asked.
“Calling Rafferty.”
“Oh, now you think you need him?”her sister scoffed.
Justus stuck her tongue out as Rafferty answered the call.
“Hello?”his baritone voice sent a chill down her spine, and she closed her eyes, trying to dispel her reaction.
“It's Justus. Liberty and I are driving back to the rental from my counseling appointment, and a car has been following us since we left the grocery store parking lot. I'm worried we could be in danger.”
“Relax. There is nothing to be upset about,”Rafferty said.
“How can you be so sure?”she said, her irritation rising.
“Because it's me.”
“You?”She turned around to stare out the rear window. “Why are you following us? I told you I don't need protecting.”
