Roy let Chris win every hand and Chris knew that. She told him, "You know, I know you can play better than this. You don't have to lose just to make me feel better."
Roy nodded his head but added, "Who said I was trying to lose. Houston men don't try to lose, we are all about winning. You've worked with my nephew long enough to know that," as he looked back over his hand.
Chris smiled, "No, you Houston men are all about helping people and making people feel better. That's what you are doing, I know it."
Roy nodded and put the cards down, "Ok, so maybe I threw a couple of games here, what's the harm? If you don't want to play cards anymore we could take a walk along the boardwalk. If you are up for it. Doctor says you need to work that ankle a little bit so it won't get stiff. There are some pretty good places to eat on the boardwalk."
Chris looked down at her clothes, she had actually slept in them. She knew when Matt and C.J. checked on her the last time that they were headed for bed. So she got up and got fully dressed before laying back down. She just wanted to make sure she could run if she needed to. Despite the fact that she had seen no evidence that the man that attacked her knew anything about her or where he could find her, she still felt the need to be ready to run.
She looked back over at Roy and then at the door. She looked down and closed her eyes. How could such a simple question be so difficult to answer? She asked herself. It was hard yesterday to leave, but the idea of getting completely away from the shore and the land appealed to her and getting some things from her house was necessary, so she had swallowed hard and then left. It wasn't that she didn't feel safe with only Roy to protect her, it was just the thought of going out at all that scared her.
After thinking about it for a minute, she agreed. They left the beach house and walked down to the shops along the boardwalk. Roy bought her some ice cream and they walked mostly in silence. She kept looking behind her and around her and Roy, the seasoned operative noticed.
"You think he's still lurking around" he said.
Chris just nodded. "I don't know how to stop looking for him everywhere. It's like I don't want to see him, but I keep looking for him. Doesn't make any sense does it?"
Roy answered, "No it does make sense. You're still frightened. Have you thought about calling that doctor Lt. Hoyt told ya'll about?"
Chris looked down, "Yes I have. I was thinking about calling today…..maybe when we get back. I just don't know how much good it's going to do."
Roy then said, "Well, you'll never know if you don't call and see her."
Chris nodded her head. They were almost back to the beach house, walking along the road behind the houses when they heard a car approach. It wasn't approaching fast at first, but suddenly sped up. Roy pushed Chris out of the way and tried to jump himself, but didn't quite make it.
Chris ran over to Roy and saw that he was bleeding profusely from his forehead. She couldn't assess his injury exactly and didn't have much time to think about it. A man came up behind her with a rag that smelled funny. That was the last thing Chris remembered.