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Back The Newcomer Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgments
  69. Also by Mary Kay Andrews
  70. About the Author
  71. Newsletter Sign-up

“You know that’s not true. If I’d wanted to, I could have turned you in weeks ago.” He touched her cheek lightly. “I care about you, Letty. You and Maya. You’ve got to believe me. I’m on your side. Meet with Agent Hill tomorrow and hear her out. Okay?”

She brushed his hand away. “What other choice do I have? If I try to leave here tonight, you’ll arrest me, won’t you?”

“Try to get some sleep,” Joe said, opening the patio gate. “She wants to meet with you tomorrow.”

30

“JOE!” HIS MOTHER’S VOICE STARTLED him awake. He opened his eyes and when he struggled to sit upright his cramped back muscles screamed in protest.

Ava was standing beside the driver’s-side window, both hands on her hips. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He yawned and opened the truck door. “I was sleeping. Until you started screeching at me.” He started walking toward the office. “And now I’m gonna go take a pee inside. Unless you want me to whip it out right here in the parking lot of your motel.”

He took his own sweet time washing his hands and splashing water on his face. Ava was waiting when he walked out of the bathroom.

“Why were you sleeping in your truck in my parking lot? Were you drunk last night? And aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?”

He yawned again, then headed for the coffee bar. He poured himself a mug and gulped half the cup down.

“I wasn’t drunk. I’m taking PTO today. Anything else?”

“When are you going to tell me what’s going on with Letty?” Ava asked. Her arms were crossed over her chest. He should have known she’d figure something was up.

“You’re right, there is something going on. But I’m not really at liberty to discuss it right now.”

“That woman who checked into the efficiency yesterday. Vikki something. Who is she really? And don’t tell me it’s none of my business. She’s staying at my motel. I have a right to know.”

Crap. He didn’t need this. He’d been awake half the night, sitting in the front seat of his truck, wedged tightly behind Letty’s Kia, just in case she decided to make a run for it. He’d finally dozed off around three.

“Vikki Hill is an FBI agent. From New York. I really can’t talk to you about this right now, Mom.”

Ava would not be deterred. “Just tell me this. Does it involve Maya? Is she in some kind of danger?”

“Maya is involved … indirectly,” he admitted. “But I’m going to make damned sure she’ll be okay.”

Isabelle came bounding down the stairs from the apartment. “Hey, bro,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Aren’t you supposed to be out chasing criminals?”