LuAnn nearly screamed out as she jerked around and stared into the dark recesses of the limo’s far corner. All the interior lights in the rear of the limo were off except for a solitary one directly over her head that suddenly came on, illuminating her. She felt as though she were back on the stage at the lottery building. She could barely make out his shape as he hunkered back into his seat.
His voice drifted out to her. “Really very poised and dignified, a touch of humor when it was called for, the reporters eat that up, you know. And of course the looks to top it all off. Tres marriage proposals during one press conference is certainly a record as far as I’m aware.”
LuAnn composed herself and settled back into her seat as the limo proceeded down the street. “Thank you.”
“Quite frankly I was concerned that you would make a complete fool of yourself. Nothing against you of course. As I said before, you are an intelligent young woman; however, anyone, no matter their sophistication, thrust into a strange situation, is more apt to fail than not, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I’ve had a lot of practice.”
“Excuse me?” Jackson leaned forward slightly but still remained hidden from her view. “Practice with what?”
LuAnn stared toward the darkened corner, her vision blocked by the shining light. “Strange situations.”
“You know, LuAnn, you really do amaze me sometimes, you really do. In some limited instances your perspicacity rivals my own and I don’t say that lightly.” He stared at her for several more seconds and then opened a briefcase lying on the seat next to him and pulled out several pieces of paper. As he sat back against the soft leather, a smile played across his features and a sigh of contentment escaped his lips.
“And now, LuAnn, it’s time to discuss the conditions.”
LuAnn fumbled with her blouse before crossing her legs. “We need to talk about something first.”
Jackson cocked his head. “Really? And what might that be?”
LuAnn let out a deep breath. She had stayed awake all night deciding how best to tell him about the man calling himself Rainbow. She had first wondered whether Jackson needed to know at all. Then she decided that since it was about the money, that he would probably find out at some point. Better it be from her.
“A man came and talked to me yesterday.”
“A man, you say. What about?”
“He wanted money from me.”
Jackson laughed. “LuAnn, my dear, everybody will want money from you.”
“No, it’s not like that. He wanted half of my winnings.”
“Excuse me? That’s absurd.”
“No it ain’t. He . . . he had some information about me, things that had happened to me, that he said he would tell, if I didn’t pay him.”
“My goodness, what sorts of things?”
LuAnn paused and looked out the window. “Can I have something to drink?”
“Help yourself.” A gloved finger came out of the darkness and pointed to the door built into one side of the limo. LuAnn did not look in his direction as she opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a Coke.
She took a long drink, wiped her lips, and continued. “Something happened to me right before I called to tell you I was going to take your offer.”
“Would that possibly be the two dead bodies in your trailer? The drugs there? The fact that the police are looking for you? Or perhaps something else you tried to hide from me?” She didn’t answer at first, nervously cradling the soda in her lap, the astonishment clear on her face.
“I didn’t have nothing to do with those drugs. And that man was trying to kill me. I was just protecting myself.”
“I should have realized when you wanted to leave town so quickly, change your name, all that, that there was something up.” He shook his head sadly. “My poor, poor LuAnn. I guess I would’ve left town quickly too, confronted with those circumstances. And who would have thought it of our little Duane. Drugs! How terrible. But I tell you what, out of the goodness of my heart, I won’t hold it against you. What’s past is past. However”—here Jackson’s tone became starkly forceful—“don’t ever try to hide anything from me again, LuAnn. Please don’t do that to yourself.”