Eve watched from the door until nothing but the dim glow of his receding taillights remained. As far as she could tell, he never looked back.

With a sigh, she locked the door and wandered back to the kitchen, where the faint scent of his aftershave lingered. Closing her eyes, she inhaled it—and tried to gear herself up for the call to Grace. Her sister was going to ask pointed questions about her guest, that was a given.

Sad to say, she wouldn’t have the answers to many of them.

Especially the key one.

Because while she could assure Grace she’d made her interest crystal clear to Brent, she had no idea if he would follow up—or give up.

And between that uncertainty and this evening’s new threat from her tormentor, it was going to be a long night.

At least she’d make serious headway on her floors.

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:15 p.m.

U home?

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:16 p.m.

Almost. Long drive.

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:16 p.m.

How did it go?

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:17 p.m.

Damage done. But cops showed up fast.

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:17 p.m.

Not the plan.

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:18 p.m.

I know. But ready 4 next step.

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:20 p.m.

Need to think about that.

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:20 p.m.

I can handle.

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:22 p.m.

Window is closing. Can be no mistakes.

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:22 p.m.

Won’t b. U have plan?

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:23 p.m.

Yes. Finalizing details. Will text 2morrow.

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:23 p.m.

What is timetable?

Al

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:26 p.m.

U there? Timetable?

Dan

Sat., Sept. 1, 10:27 p.m.

Soon. In two weeks, ER will be gone.

12

DOUG HAD SHOWN UP —and the corners of his lips rose when he caught sight of her waiting in the restaurant’s bar—but his face didn’t brighten like it always did. He was also late.

Neither boded well for their weekly lunch.

Giving him her warmest smile, Carolyn slid off the stool and wove through the crowd in the foyer toward him. “I thought you’d stood me up.” She used the coy, teasing tone men seemed to like. “I was afraid I’d have to eat alone.”

“Sorry. I was stuck in a meeting.” The apology was perfunctory, and he did no more than glance at her before motioning toward the dining room. “Ready for lunch?”

“Sure.”

She took the lead, weaving through the other diners toward their usual table, and slid onto her chair. As she picked up her napkin, Doug signaled for the waiter.

He wasn’t wasting any time on small talk, trying to stretch out their lunch as long as possible.

Another bad omen.

“I can’t linger today.” He straightened his silverware. “It’s crazy at the station.”

“I can imagine.” But the undercurrent of tension in the air suggested there was more to his haste than work issues.