“So, how about next Friday?” he suggested. “I have a meeting at six, but I should be through by seven so I could pick you up at eight? Is that too late?”

Disappointed it wasn’t going to be sooner, she said, “No, but to save you driving all the way here, why don’t I meet you somewhere in town? Or how about the Mermaid in Hope Cove? That would be an equal distance for us both?”

“Perfect. One of my favorites. I’ll book it right away for seven forty-five. You should have my number now, so you can call if something comes up and you need to change.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Me too.”

As the line went dead Claudia clicked off her end and continued to sit where she was, going over everything that had been said. Perhaps the best part of the call, she realized, was the fact that he didn’t appear to be trying to sweep her off her feet the way Marcus had when she’d first known him. He hadn’t been able to wait to see her, and had made it happen virtually every day until eventually he’d charmed her right into marriage.

Sickened by the thought of it, she picked up her phone as it bleeped with a text. Mermaid booked for 7.45 next Friday. Dan. No kisses, no smiley faces or other emoticons to make her laugh or feel anxious or pressured, unintentional as that would be, just “Dan.”

“SO,” ANDEE SAID with a smile as she joined Dan in his conference room where they often held their RJ meetings. This evening they were due to meet with a couple whose beloved dog had been abducted when a car thief had made off with their Volvo while they were loading groceries into the boot. Andee had spent many hours with the owners over the last few weeks, discussing the effects it had had on their mental health, mainly because of what might have happened to the dog—he was safe—and the fear that something awful like it might happen again.

At the same time, Dan had been talking to the perpetrator who’d been released on bail after his arrest.

Looking up from the file in front of him Dan regarded her curiously, apparently sensing she wasn’t about to discuss the case.

“Did you call her?” Andee asked, taking off her coat and hanging it on the stand beside the door.

“I did,” he replied, making a show of continuing his annotations. “Two days ago, and we’re meeting at the Mermaid next Friday.”

Andee’s smile widened. “Just what I wanted to hear,” and sitting down at the table, she began to unpack her files. “Are you going to ask her anything about . . . ?”

“Who she really is? Of course not, unless she brings it up, but I don’t think she will.”