Malloy coughed. “No, I guess I don’t. He went to a lot of trouble to track you down and bug your house, Mrs. Dean. He’s here for you. I doubt he’ll give up that easily.” More papers rustled. “I can put you somewhere safe, if you’d let me.”
Dread pooled in her abdomen. What should she do? “Thanks, Detective. I can take care of myself. Please call me with any updates.” She clicked the phone shut, focusing on her husband. “You’re a liar.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You never left the country. No overseas missions. Just here.”
“Are you sure?”
Josie shrugged. “Malloy is sure.” Anger increased her heart rate. What else had Shane lied about?
“I’ll have to check that out—though I’m starting to remember missions out of the country.” Shane opened the door.
“Maybe you didn’t only work for our military.” Could he be some sort of spy? Her stomach lurched.
He stiffened. “Maybe.”
God. Who was this man?
“Don’t go anywhere by yourself, angel. Stay in a group and stay safe.”
She was safe so long as he was out of her life. They both knew it. Now if only her body and heart would get the hint. She should’ve told Malloy the truth. But what if he was wrong? The military kept secrets, right? There was no doubt Shane was a soldier. But he kept secrets, too. Families could never survive secrets, that much she did know.
“Good-bye, Shane.”
Chapter 9
Josie clutched the bouquet of flowers to her chest, the sweet scent of roses churning her stomach. She leaned back in the front seat of Tom’s Chevy, her gaze on the rainy dusk outside. “Thanks for driving me.”
Tom nodded, his concentration on the wet road. “Not a problem. No reason to work late tonight, anyway.”
Maybe she should tell Tom that Shane dropped by the office. But why worry her friend? Great. Now she was lying and hiding facts from people in order to protect her killer of a husband. Her life had become a movie. And not a good one. “No work, huh?”
Tom grimaced and shrugged his flannel-covered shoulders. “Not so much. And it’s weird being on my own now. I mean, I had a company of six people back in Texas. When I went under, I thought I’d end up hiring people here as the business took off. So far, it’s just me.”
“The construction business is picking up, finally.” She forced her problems to the back of her head. “Right?”
“Yes.” Tom flashed her a goofy grin, good humor settling once again on his attractive face. His unkempt hair made him all the more boyishly handsome. “Still, I wish you could’ve seen our offices and my company when things were good. I was quite the catch.” He snorted, turning back toward the road.
“You’re still quite the catch.” And he was. Good-looking, smart, hardworking, and even better, he made her laugh. At first it bothered her that he was a couple years younger, but now she usually forgot about the age difference.
“Do you think I could catch you?” He lost his smile and his voice deepened, but he kept his gaze straight ahead.
She stiffened. “I, ah, I think you’re great.”
His shoulders jolted, and then he threw back his head and laughed, deep and loud.
Unable to help herself, Josie joined in. “I mean, I…” She gasped for breath, trying to speak. Her shoulders shook as she laughed, tension escaping her for the first time in days.
Tom wiped the corner of his eye. “Yeah, okay. You figure out the deal with your soon-to-be ex, and then I’ll make my move.” He chuckled again and then sobered. “But in all seriousness, if you’re in danger, I swing a mean hammer. I can keep you safe.”
Was it her smaller size that had men reassuring her they’d keep her safe? She’d been alone her whole life, and yet here she was. Perfectly capable of keeping herself safe. Even scared, she could think and plan. “Thanks.”
Tom nodded. “Are you and Daniel still sparring?”
Josie stiffened. “We’re competing for the same promotion. Plus, the guy’s a jerk.” A condescending jerk. Guilt hunched her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I know you’re friends.”
Tom shrugged. “You two would like each other if the situation were different.”
“Not likely.” The car’s headlights flashed on the stone pillars that flanked the cemetery entrance. “Turn right once inside the gates.” She hated to ask Tom for such a personal favor, especially since Shane probably wanted him dead. But without her car, she’d needed a ride to the cemetery to visit Mona on the anniversary of her death. Josie had failed to be there for her friend in life… she wouldn’t screw up in Mona’s death, too.
Tom maneuvered his truck through the entrance, winding along the manicured drive. “All right. Who are we visiting?” He eyed the overgrown foliage.
The paper around the flowers crinkled as her grip tightened. “A friend named Mona Wilson. We were in foster care together in California.” Time rarely healed all wounds.
“When did she die?” Tom followed the road, as overgrown branches scraped at the truck’s cab.
“When we were seventeen.” Josie pointed at a fork in the road. “Go left.”