Did he spend a lot of time apologizing for kissing people or was that just her? Under normal circumstances she doubted Shane Livingstone would look at her twice but he’d assigned himself as some sort of personal bodyguard for this case and they were stuck together.

She headed upstairs feeling more despondent than ever and not sure why. She made sure there were towels in the main bathroom and that the spare bed was made up. The guy didn’t need to sleep on the couch and get a crick in his neck in order to babysit her.

She stood at her window and noticed Kevin Karvo standing in his front room looking across at her. He raised his hand. She nodded and closed the blind and the drapes.

Laura was supposed to stay over tomorrow but Yael didn’t really want her friend here. Was her reluctance tied to the fact she didn’t want to lose this unexpected intimacy with Shane? There was no guarantee Shane would even be here tomorrow night. She had no idea what was going to happen from one day to the next, but she did crave a little mental space. She hadn’t been alone in way too long.

She stopped on the landing and texted her friend before she could think better of it. “I need to cancel you staying here tomorrow night. Sorry.”

Yael grimaced as she watched the three dots appear and disappear several times. Laura was outgoing and gregarious. Yael wasn’t. She was a terrible friend.

Finally, “How come?” Then… “Do you have a date?!!”

Laura was always urging Yael to go on dates. As if going out for a meal or the movies followed by some vigorous sex would mean Yael finally, magically, had a life worth living. Yael hated herself but she lied. It was the only excuse Laura wouldn’t try to bulldozer. “Yes.”

Even though the date would probably be eating take-out while working the case.

“Who with?” asked Laura.

“No one you know.” The woman was exhausting.

Laura sent through a thumbs up and more vegetables which Yael understood but really didn’t want to think about.

“Talk soon.” She ended the chat because she needed to shower and revive her brain and she needed food. Even though it was late, she and Shane planned to go over the records of the ex-con who’d stayed at the motel Tuesday night—the same night as EG had murdered poor Wayne Stockwell. It might be a coincidence, but they couldn’t ignore the possible connection no matter how tired they were.