The thought of leaving Darby behind afterward left a sour taste in his mouth, but maybe, if she was still interested, they could figure out a way of seeing one another semi regularly. See if they actually had something worth pursuing. See if their dreams about the future aligned.

Suddenly, the back door of his SUV opened and Darby jumped in. He’d been caught daydreaming when he should have been watching for a killer.

The lawyer followed her and slammed the door shut behind him. Eban checked his shoulder and pulled away as the press surged forward to get more photographs.

The lawyer eyed him via the rearview. “Nice to finally meet you, SSA Winters.”

“Call me Eban.” He drove down the street and turned left then left again, running a surveillance detection route to lose any photographers or anyone else lurking—especially anyone handy with a hunting knife. “Where’s your vehicle parked?”

“I grabbed a cab to the police station this morning. Do you mind dropping me at my hotel?” the lawyer asked.

“Not at all. Everything go all right back there?”

“I think so. Cops are clutching at straws and the press are smart enough to know when something stinks of incompetence. Hopefully, they’ll leave Darby alone now.”

Eban switched his attention to Darby who looked a little calmer away from the frenzy. “Killer left a glove at the church crime scene. I’d bet money it belongs to you. Any idea what else might be missing after the dance?”

“Not really.” Darby’s voice sounded strained. “I assumed I’d left my hat and gloves, and the shoes I wore for the dance, in my truck. I hadn’t realized someone had taken them.”

“I have asked for an itemized list of belongings that the police department seized by the end of day,” Byrne said.

“Something tells me some of your things will be missing.” Eban took a left and pulled into the driveway of Byrne’s downtown hotel.

“You think the killer took them?” Byrne asked.

“Yep.”

“For what purpose?” Byrne pursued the line of questioning like the defense lawyer he was.

Eban shrugged. No matter the circumstances he couldn’t ignore the fact that officially they were on opposite teams.

“I wish I could remember what happened that night.” Darby sounded forlorn.

“Maybe it’s as well you can’t, otherwise you might not have lived through the experience,” Byrne said.

Eban didn’t want to think about that and didn’t want Darby to think about it either. He pulled up near the hotel’s front entrance. He turned and lowered his dark sunglasses. “You planning on leaving today?”

Byrne checked his watch. “If I can get a flight out before this storm, yes. How long are you staying?”

Eban could feel Darby watching him. “As long as it takes. I have some vacation time I can use if need be.”

Byrne climbed out, leaned back inside. “You have my cell number and email, Darby. Call me anytime, day or night. And do not talk to the cops without me. I can send someone local to stall if there is some delay in me getting back here.” His voice warmed. “Take care of yourself.”