Page 29 of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

“No,” Connor says. “I don’t want that.”

“It’s not just your decision,” I say. “And why not?”

“You know why not.”

“Is someone going to fill me in?” Oliver asks.

“He doesn’t want the police to know someone is trying to kill him,” I say.

“Why?”

Connor crosses his arms. “It’s none of their business.”

“So, you’ll just let them keep trying until they succeed?” I ask. “What could go wrong?”

“I thought you didn’t want to be involved?”

“Couldn’t it have been a mugging?” Allison says. “Rome is notorious for petty thefts.”

“I agree,” Oliver says. “That’s the most likely explanation.”

Connor looks around the half circle of us, then blows out a breath. “Forget it. All of you. Thanks so much for your concern.” He starts to leave, then stops next to Harper. “I’m sorry you got hurt, Harper. That was never my intention.”

She nods at him but says nothing as we watch him walk away.

“That’s probably my cue to leave also,” Allison says.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” I ask.

She gives me a bright smile. “I’ve come back from worse than this.”

She means me, right?

Me and Connor. All those headlines… Those stupid stories I’d told about falling head over heels with him before I knew about her. It was a story made for TMZ, like we were royals behaving badly, and not just an author, a private detective, and his long-suffering wife.

“I’ll walk you back, Allison,” Oliver says. “If you two are okay on your own?”

“Yes, of course,” I say. “Thanks for your help.”

“Not at all. I’ll see you at dinner.”

I close my eyes briefly. Dinner. Something else I should’ve seen coming. “Great.”

Oliver and Allison leave. I watch them for a moment, then turn my attention back to Harper. “Do you need to have that cut looked at?”

“I think it was just a nick.”

“What was in your purse?”

“My wallet and credit cards. The usual.”

“My cards?”

“Yes.”

“Shit.”

“It’s fine, I’ll call the office. They’ll take care of it.”

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