“Everything’s fine,” his mother said. “My daughter was having nightmares. I can’t have you people intruding on my life like this. It’s unacceptable. I want to talk to whoever’s in charge.”
“Sorry, Ma’am. We just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
“Everything will be fine once you give me back my privacy.”
The door clicked shut.
“What are you thinking, pulling out a gun when you know there are police and federal agents parked right outside this door?”
“I heard someone walk past my bedroom and head down the stairs. What was I supposed to do?”
Once his sister and mother joined him in the bedroom, Jason told them about Angela, and the computer, and how he had proof that the key witness at his trial had been bribed.
His mother was appalled by it all, but he saw hope in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Tracy said, “but you can’t possibly stay here.”
“Of course, he can,” his mother cut in. She grabbed hold of Tracy’s arm. “Your brother needs us.” She looked at Jason. “What can I do, son?”
“I want to help Jason as badly as you do, but not to the detriment of all else. You could be thrown in jail for helping him.” Tracy looked at Jason. “How could you do this to your own mother?”
“Stop it!” his mom said, her face red from exertion. “You two need to talk this through and make nice. I’m going to heat up some water for tea.”
“Why are you so angry?” Jason asked his sister the moment his mom disappeared.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve put her through since you decided to break out of prison? She’s aged ten years in the past few days. She’s a nervous wreck.”
He grabbed his sister by both shoulders. “What is your problem? I’m your brother and I’m innocent. When are you going to get that through your head?”
For a moment, she looked terrified. He let go just as his mom walked back into the room. “Come on,” he said. “I want you to meet Angela.”
The three of them trudged quietly up the stairs.
“I got the computer booted up,” Angela reported. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.” Angela came to her feet.
After introductions were made, Tracy merely shook her head in dismay. The tension between him and his sister was palpable.
Downstairs, the teakettle whistled and his mother went to tend to it.
Meanwhile, his sister was making her way around his bedroom, her fingers brushing over trophies and pictures of Jason playing baseball and football. “They thought you walked on water.”
Jason sighed.
Angela glanced his way.
An awkward silence floated around the room.
“Mom and Dad loved us both equally,” Jason said.
Without a word spoken, and a crooked smile on her face, Tracy left the room.
Angela was still looking at him. “Is she okay?”
“I really don’t know. She’s always been jealous of me. I had hoped she’d grown out of it by now. Apparently not.” Noticing the illuminated screen of the laptop on the small desk where Angela sat, he said, “It looks like it’s working.”
“There’s a lot of information on here. All you need is time.”
“Come on,” he said. “First we need to get you something to eat.”
Chapter Sixteen
A hand touched his shoulder, jolting him awake. He had fallen asleep at the desk. He looked upward, squinting, and tried to focus. “Mom. What is it? What’s wrong?”
She leaned over and kissed his unshaved jaw. “It’s past noon. Your sister and I are running to the store. I wouldn’t bother going, but yesterday I had told one of the men watching the house that we were going out this afternoon. I’m afraid if we don’t stick with the plan, they might grow suspicious, especially after last night.”
“Good idea.” He straightened in the chair and glanced around the room. Papers and files were scattered around his feet.
“Angela is downstairs.”
He relaxed.
“She’s a sweet girl. She seems to be very fond of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m sorry about last night…you know…the things your sister said. You know how prickly she can be. She’s been worried about me.”
“I know, Mom. It’s okay.”
“I’ll let you get back to your work. Don’t peer out any of the windows or move around downstairs too much. They might see you.”
“We’ll be careful.”
“I have another box for you—all the mail I’ve been collecting for you over the years. I brought it in from the garage. It’s downstairs.”
He stood so he could gather her in his arms. “I love you, Mom. You know that, right?”
She gave him another long squeeze before pulling away and walking out the door. She was trying to be strong, but he could see that his sister was right. Grayish circles framed her eyes. She was worn out.
A few minutes after he heard the door open and close, Angela joined him upstairs.
“Any luck?”
“The good news is, I got in.”
“But?”
“But there are more transactions than I imagined. This might take a while.”
She sat on the edge of the bed. It was clear that Angela was troubled by something. “What is it?”