Read Online The Protector by Dawn Marie Snyder - Free Book Online

what I guessed was the panic button sat next to it.  I put my backpack down on the bed and sat down and took a deep long breath.
    “I will bring you some tea.  It will help your throat.”
    “Thank you,” was all I could manage to say as she closed the door behind her. I got up and looked around. There was a window at the far side of the room. I went to look out and noticed that all I could see was the brick wall of the townhouse next to me. I could not see the night sky or any cars below.  I guess that was for my own safety, I thought to myself.
    I walked to the bathroom and switched on the light. It was a bright white bathroom with blue accents.  It had only a shower, a toilet and a vanity with a sink. The mirror that hung on the wall above the vanity was round with a silver frame.  I turned to look at myself in the mirror and almost screamed.  I looked like hell.  My hair was coming out of the clip on the back of my head and my eyes were bloodshot. I wasn’t sure if it was the left over effects of the vodka or the asthma attack.
    I kicked off my shoes and walked over to the shower to turn on the water. It was hot instantly and I wasted no time undressing.  I stepped in and let the hot water run down my head.  The heat felt wonderful against my tired muscles. Although I had slept on the plane, I was exhausted.  The steam filled my lungs and I felt my airways open once again and the burning sensation I had was now gone.  I leaned against white tile and sunk slowly down to the base of the shower.  I was going to enjoy this small bit of comfort.
    The steam did not stop my mind from racing and it didn’t wash away the fear that had settled deep inside me. The only saving grace I had at the moment was Jack downstairs. I had hoped desperately he was going to stick around. I even went so far as to hope he would be the one to see me safely to Albuquerque.  But in all honesty I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. I still had the processor at home. Once I handed it over to our government, did that mean this whole ordeal was over?  Or had I angered people and were they hell bent on making me pay for doing what I thought was the right thing. I didn’t know the answer to my own questions, and I wasn’t sure if Jack knew the answers either.
    I closed my eyes and tried desperately to concentrate on something else. But it was useless. I got up from the floor of the shower and shut off the water.  I wrapped a fresh blue towel that had been sitting on the vanity around my body and opened the door to the room. I looked around for my bags, but they weren’t there. Instead was a tray with some tea and a white terry cloth robe.  I removed the towel and slowly put the warm robe onto my still damp body.
    I sat and stared at the tea for moment. Was it laced with something? I didn’t know, and those thoughts quickly faded away as I realized I didn’t care if it was. It would either put me to sleep, which I hoped it did, or it would poison me and well, then I wouldn’t know any different would I?
    There was a note on the tray with the tea, in a woman’s handwriting.
    Alison,
    Get some rest.  They will debrief you in the morning.. I am in the room next door if you need anything.  Jack is downstairs. 
    Mrs. Walker
    I pulled back the covers on the bed and crawled in. I found the remote to the television and turned it on. I hoped the noise would make me forget everything and allow me to get some sleep. But I wasn’t too sure anything short of drugs would get me to fall asleep without one eye open. Finally, with the soft light of the tv and the chatter, my eyes grew heavy and I was out.
     
     
    J
    I was grateful Alison was upstairs hopefully sleeping. Seth arrived from the airport about an hour later, Alison’s bags in tow. 
    “So now I’m a bellman?”
    All I could do was shrug my shoulders and say thank you.  Seth dropped them at the foot of the stairs and looked at me with suspicious eyes.  “Where is