“At least,” said Evan. “I noticed you too . . . but the timing was never right.”
“Is it right now?”
The interview with Jerry Chiavo suddenly thrust to the front of his brain along with his earlier realization that Rowan was somehow intertwined with several of his cases. “I don’t know,” he blurted.
Her hand stilled in his.
“I mean . . . I’m ready. Definitely. And it appears you are too.” He looked her way and she nodded. “But you’re connected to several of the cases I’m working on. I don’t know if I’m crossing a line somewhere. Honestly, I’m not sure where that line is.”
“I understand.” Her fingers tightened on his. “We’ll figure it out. It’s not like I’m a suspect.” There was a smile in her tone.
“No, thank God.” Evan turned into her driveway, and Thor stood on his seat, tail wagging, ready to be let out.
Rowan hesitated. “I told you that Thor growled before I saw Adam in the backyard. He did the same thing at my back door yesterday. He almost never growls.”
“Shit. You think Adam was here?” Anger flooded him.
“I don’t know what to think, and I can’t come up with a good reason why Adam would come here. It really surprised me to hear a growl two days in a row.”
“I’m going to check the house first,” Evan said. “Give me your keys.”
“Adam is in jail—well, he will be as soon as he leaves the hospital. I have nothing to worry about now. I’m sure it was a coyote or bobcat in the yard.”
“Humor me.” The image of those footprints in the shrub bed popped into his head.
Is there a second man?
He—or Noelle—needed to talk to Adam.
Rowan handed him her keys. She hadn’t added any more protests, and that bothered him a little. Either she knew it could have been a person in her yard, or she was very tired.
He would put money on the latter.
Ten minutes later he’d cleared her home and brought her and Thor inside. It was nearly 1:00 a.m. He stood at her front door, his fingers on the handle, knowing he needed to leave but not wanting to. Rowan was tired, her usual energy dim. She looked at his hand on the door and then met his gaze.
“You should go,” she said softly. Her eyes suggested something else.
Evan debated. He was highly tempted. But this wasn’t how he wanted to start something. He wanted to take her to dinner or maybe a movie or perhaps on a hike, really get to know her. He was old fashioned that way, and he didn’t want to mess this up. It was important.
He stepped away from the door and slid one hand around her waist and the other into her hair, pressing her mouth to his. She sighed into the kiss, and her hands were hot against his chest.
It felt right. More right than any other kiss he’d had.
After several moments he pulled back and touched his forehead to hers. “I’m going home. But you need to know that I don’t want to . . . but I feel it’s the correct thing to do tonight.”
She nodded. “I know.”
Minutes later Evan was driving home, his window all the way down and warm night air blowing over the giant grin on his face.
32
I never questioned Liam about the Ford that was parked outside for a few days.
It was none of my business, and I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the answer.
Silence is always best.
A few days ago I dropped him off up in the mountains where he said he was meeting someone and wouldn’t need a ride back. I don’t have a license, but he’d taught me to drive. I always drive exactly the speed limit and never make an error. He’d told me if I was pulled over, I’d end up in prison once they knew that I’d helped with the bodies.
I don’t want to go to prison.
The day I dropped Liam off was a good day. I rarely got to drive alone. I’ve been tempted to simply keep driving, but he said there is a tracker on the truck. I know these exist; I’ve read about them in books, so he’d always have a way to find me. And if he didn’t find me, he knew where my previous family lived and would kill them.
I know he can kill.
But still I dream of leaving, having a real bed, shoes always to wear. But I have no money. No identification. He’s been good to provide for me.
Family is forever. We never betray the family.
That is the worst sin of all.
So instead I rolled down the windows in the truck and carefully drove home. I turned on the radio but didn’t dare adjust the volume or change the station. He would know.