Dangerous Memories Read Online Free PDF

training said to do it, not leave anything to chance. But he had to trust his instinct about Joseph. If —and that was a huge if—he’d discovered who had killed his wife he would have turned over the information immediately to the Department of Justice.His letter to Levi indicated that much. He said he’d know when to give her the wood carving from the house and assured him the letter was personal, to let her read it only when she was calm.
    Now was good.
    Jolene could read the message, react to it here, hopefully trust him and the WITSEC program. They’d reach Dallas, he’d turn the matter over to the DoJ, make certain Jolene was protectedand he’d return to his life.
    He retrieved the letters from his duffel, leaving the dog statue—and its instructions—for later. One letter addressed to Witness Security, one to himself and one unopened addressed to Jolene.
    “I have no idea what’s inside your envelope. I respected your dad’s wishes, kept it secure and delivered it to you.”
    “I wasn’t expecting... You didn’t mention therewas one for me.”
    “He instructed me not to. Asked me to hand deliver it.” He sat next to her, half wanting to be near, half needing to look over her shoulder and read the letter. “Are you sure you’re up for this now?”
    “Positive.”
    He handed over her envelope. She carefully peeled back the flap while he flipped the reading lamp on behind her head.
    Silence. Except for the recurringsounds of the passenger cars rolling over the tracks. A regular beat to calm his racing pulse. The thought about opening her letter had crossed his mind more than once in the last four days. If he leaned just a bit closer he could see it. Instead, he leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees—avoiding the temptation.
    Both the message and Jolene.
    The letters had arrived SpecialDelivery from an unknown source—he suspected a lawyer. Whoever it was had covered their tracks well.
    The Marshals Service document was a copy delivered indirectly through the Department of Justice. The DoJ might have more luck finding the lawyer, but with Joseph’s death and no other witness, it wasn’t a high priority. Until Jolene read her letter, Levi hadn’t wanted to push for more involvementfrom either department that had declined to authorize protection.
    He tilted his head to watch her, ready if she needed him. He didn’t care how awkward it might make things in the morning. He couldn’t sit by and watch her hurt...alone.
    Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her thumbnail went back to her chin. An old habit she’d been attempting to break since high school. Her thumbnail dug intothe cute little cleft, sometimes spending more time scraping along her lower lip. He didn’t know why she tried so hard to stop. He liked it.
    She read. A very long letter. Turning the pages back and forth several times once she was done. Looking up to him for something—he didn’t know what she expected.
    “What did yours say?” she asked, no longer whispering, but with a voice choked withtears.
    “We could swap.”
    “Actually, we can’t. Mine was a private goodbye and apology. It had nothing to do with Mama, you or men threatening my life.”
    “Obviously, I’d hoped for something different.” More clues to who was behind everything would have helped, Joseph.
    “The letter please?” She held out one hand and with the other used the edge of the blanket to dry her eyes. “Nevermind. Can you read it aloud?”
    He nodded and leaned against the wall, bringing the letter closer to her, needing the light from behind her shoulder. He wanted to lift his arm, tuck her into his side, have her lean on him while she listened.
    Too dangerous.
    He could almost recite the letter from memory, having gone over it a hundred times since its arrival. She needed to hear all thewords. He lifted a page and read.
    “‘I’m sorry to place the responsibility of looking after Jo on you, Levi, but you know there’s no one else. You