The newcomer wore dark slacks and a white shirt that was open at the throat and rolled up over the arms. He had a muscular, spare frame and moved like a wounded panther, limping slightly, his hard face expressionless. His amber, catlike gaze sparred with hers.

She had been leaning forward, elbows on the table. Now she sat back to tuck her hands underneath the scarred tabletop to hide how they shook.

Her hungry gaze soaked in details. He’d lost weight since the last time she’d seen him. He looked leaner. He looked mean.

Mottled bruises marred his deeply suntanned skin. A new scar slashed along the knife-edge of his jaw, curving around to the back of his neck to disappear into his collar. It looked as if…

Abruptly, she pressed her mouth hard with the heel of one hand. It looked as if he had almost been decapitated. Her stomach heaved. While she hadn’t suffered any morning sickness, for a moment she thought she might vomit up the few bites she had eaten of the chicken sandwich.

The two detectives didn’t notice her reaction. They had focused on the newcomer. Rubio looked shocked. “DA Mason. Good to see you. We hadn’t heard you’d been released from the hospital, or that you’d already returned to work.”

“I left the hospital this afternoon. Officially, I’m on medical leave.” Josiah turned the laser beam of his attention away from her to focus on the two detectives. “But I’m making an exception for a few special cases.”

“I see. Well…” Rubio gave Frank a look that clearly said now what?

Frank responded with an infinitesimal shrug.

Josiah’s hard gaze swung back to Molly. “Mrs. Sullivan, I was one of the guests at the party the night you and your husband had difficulties.”

Hearing her name spoken in his deep voice after so many weeks was like touching a live wire. He was so angry at her. He hadn’t tried to speak to her telepathically. She didn’t dare reach out to him either. Her control felt precarious enough as it was.

“I remember.” She met his gaze steadily.

“Frank has filled me in on things.” Josiah crossed his arms. “If you were so afraid for your life that you’ve stayed away all this time, what made you come back now?”

You. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead. I had no way to find out. Hospitals don’t give out information to anyone other than family. I had only the news to watch.