Layla sighed. “I’m sorry. Forget I said anything. Let’s eat. Izzy wanted to join us, too, but she’ll be a little late. She said to go ahead and order hers.” If their schedules allowed, they met for lunch each Saturday at their favorite restaurant, the Old Town Grille. They’d met Izzy Cole, an NCIS agent, a few months ago and had welcomed her into their friend group.

“You know you never have to apologize to me,” Viv said. “Given the nature of what you do, you have every right to be concerned. Have you told anyone at work about this?”

“No.” And she wouldn’t. She was going to hold this tight to the vest. Viv only knew a piece of what Layla worked on because they’d been on a task force together, but there was a lot that Viv was in the dark about.

They entered Old Town Grille and met Ginny, the friendly hostess who greeted them every week. The short, older brunette smiled at them. “Girls, I’m so sorry. I know your favorite table is in the back right by the window, but a group of tourists came in, and they were insistent that they sit at that table. I’ve got you a great table on the other side of the restaurant, if that’s okay?”

Viv gave Ginny a warm smile. “Of course. We understand that you can’t hold our table for us. We’ll have a great time regardless.”

“That’s right,” Layla added. “You all are extra busy today.”

Ginny led them to a table on the left side of the restaurant. “That’s because we have the festival traffic, but I won’t complain about being busy. I assume you don’t need menus, but let me know if you want them.”

Layla laughed. “You’re right. We’re way too predictable for menus.”

“I’ll send your server over.”

Once they had placed their orders, Viv looked right at Layla. “I know you too well. Something is definitely up. Are you going to tell me what’s really going on?”

“That’s the thing, Viv. I don’t know. I really don’t. All I have is this sinking suspicion that someone is following me.”

“I guess this goes without saying, but could it be connected to whatever you’re working on right now?”

Layla had been asking herself the same thing. “I’m not sure.”

“You can’t talk to me about details, but is there anything you can share?”