Chapter 2: Admitting Defeat
Two hours later, still sitting on the hood of her car & freezing her ass off, she finally admitted defeat. Sighing, she turned her cell phone on and hit the speed dial, steeling herself for the less-than-pleasant conversation that was sure to follow.
"Where the hell are you?!" her partner barked into the phone without so much as a greeting.
"I'm ok," she answered, hoping that the knowledge she was safe would take the edge off his anger.
"You're ok?! That's all you have to say to me?!" he said, practically shouting now.
So much for trying to reassure him, she thought.
"You've been gone for hours!" he continued, sounding increasingly pissed off. "You're a U.S. Marshal, damn it! You can't just disappear like that!!"
"I-"
"What were you thinking?!"
"I didn't-"
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
"I'm sorry," she whispered into the phone, mentally kicking herself for her childish behavior. She should have known he'd worry about her. Marshall always worried about her, even though he knew full well she could take care of herself. Not that she'd ever admit to it, but she kind of liked that he did. No one else in her life seemed to...
"Where are you?" he finally asked, the anger gone from his voice.
"On Rte 337, just past Ponderosa Pines."
"I'll be right there," he replied, disconnecting the call before she had a chance to thank him.