Author's note: this is a companion piece to my story "Playing with fire", so you'd better read that one first...


Chapter 1

She had expected him to rejoice at the news of her pregnancy. After all he'd been the one to ask her if she was willing to have his kid.

He didn't though. All he did was staring at her dumbfounded – something very close to fear showing into his eyes.

"I guess you changed your mind about having a baby. You should have told me a bit earlier, don't you think?"

The bitterness in her tone seemed to stir him at last. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to his chest – his tears now soaking her shirt.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Teresa."

"Patrick, please – don't…"

As he drew back slightly his eyes finally met her own.

"I shot the wrong man. Red John's still alive."

"What are you talking about?"

"There were too many things that didn't add up, and yet I hoped I was mistaken. Unfortunately I'm quite sure now."

She felt a pang of fear clutching her stomach. If Red John was still alive then their baby was in mortal danger. Literally so.

"What are we going to do?"

All of a sudden his gaze turned very determined. "There's just one thing I can do in order to protect you both."

She guessed what he was going to say even before he went on.

"I have to disappear. Immediately. If he thinks that our marriage is over, perhaps he'll leave you alone."

"And what about the baby? He'll know that it's yours."

Jane started walking to and fro nervously. "Not if you pretend it's someone else's."

"How?"

"We need a friend to back up our story. And I have a perfect candidate for playing such a part…"