“I was a bit shaken when Greg pulled up next to me. He knew my name and who I was. Mel had seen me and called him. I bet he’s a good cop.” She saw Joanna take a breath.

“The best, I’m sure. Greg is kind. Even-tempered and patient. Mel can be like a walking explosion and Greg’s been there to defuse it since we were kids.”

She knew them well. And yet she hadn’t intended to get in touch.

“So, anyway—” if she talked, maybe Joanna would talk too “—he brought me here, told Nate he needed to use the office. They obviously know each other well, too.”

“Yes. They grew up together.”

Ashley nodded. “That fits. We sat down and Greg said did I want to tell him what had happened and what I was doing standing on the street by myself, and I didn’t intend to say anything but he had kind eyes and he was a good listener, so I told him everything. I didn’t mean to, but I was angry and upset and scared and the words just sort of fell out. I told him about Cliff. About my mom. About how you tricked all those reporters outside your house in the middle of the night.” She saw Joanna stiffen. “That was the only time I saw him react. When I said you’d disguised yourself and escaped through the woods in the dark and used a car that wasn’t registered in your name.”

“You told him that?”

“Yes. And his mouth went sort of tight. I think it was the whole dark woods at night thing. He was worried about you. And I pointed out that the real threat and menace was waiting in front of your house in full view, and in comparison walking through woodland at night was a piece of cake. I don’t think he’d thought of it like that.”

“I’m sure he hadn’t.” Joanna pushed her cup away. “What else did he say?”

“That it was wrong that you felt you had to live that way, and then I told him about the article and he read it, which was pretty uncomfortable. I was waiting for him to ask me if I was a blackmailer, but he didn’t. He didn’t pay much attention to the article, just asked me more questions about me, really. I told him I left without telling you where I was going because I didn’t want to make things worse for you, and he said knowing you as he did you’d be worried sick. He asked if he could call you and if that was all right with me. I thought it was thoughtful of him to ask.”

“Very thoughtful.”

“Mel said she’d call you, and Greg said that I wasn’t to worry about reporters coming here, because he’d handle everything. And then Nate came in with hot chocolate. But I was too sick with stress to drink it. Greg told him what had happened and asked him to stay with me while he went to talk to someone on his team and check no one that looked like press had shown up in town.”