Page 64 of The Last Close Call

Bryan caught the tension in her voice and watched with a feeling of dread as she poked through the bag again. She took out a sippy cup and a tattered pink blanket. Then she pulled out a gallon-size ziplock bag and handed it to him. Inside was a folded yellow flyer.

“That was under my wiper blade yesterday.”

He read the flyer through the plastic. It was an ad for a pizza restaurant with a coupon at the bottom. WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD was scrawled beneath the coupon in green block letters.

He glanced up.

“It’s probably nothing.” She waved her hand. “Maybe I’m being paranoid but... I don’t know.” She leveled a look at him. “It gave me the creeps.”

He nodded, not sure what to say.

“None of the other cars had them, and that restaurant isn’t anywhere near us. So I picked it up with a tissue and put it in the bag. But... I don’t know. It’s probably nothing, don’t you think?”

“I’m sure you’re right.”

He instantly regretted the words. But he couldn’t take them back, so instead he tucked the ziplock bag into the jewelry catalog—right beside the picture of the locket that some sadistic dirtbag had stolen from her house.

Bella ran back as Bryan stood up.

“Mommy, I want lunch.”

“We’re leaving, sweetie. Look, here’s your juice.” She handed her the sippy cup and then stood up.

“Thank you,” Bryan repeated.

“Let me know if anything comes of that.” Her brow furrowed as she nodded at the items in his hands.

“I will.”

She picked up Bella and balanced her on her hip as she grabbed the blanket off the bench. Bryan reached for the big black bag and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” she said, hitching the strap onto her shoulder.

“Again, we appreciate the call, Evie. If you think of anything more, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

“I won’t.” She gave him a somber look. “And keep me posted about everything else, too.”

FOURTEEN

Jack’s place surprised her. Not only that it was in a trendy part of town but that he’d lived here for years.

Rowan checked the address on her phone screen and eyed the glowing window on the building’s second floor, three in from the corner. She was pretty sure that one was his. She had counted the units, plus whoever lived there stored a mountain bike on the balcony.

Rowan dropped her phone into her purse and got out. Once again, she was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans, but for once she didn’t care how she looked. She glanced up at the building as she locked her car, hoping she had the address right.

“Hi.”

She turned around.

Jack walked across the parking lot toward her. He wore shorts and running shoes, and his long-sleeved gray T-shirt was soaked with sweat.

He stopped and frowned down at her, hands on hips. “Everything okay?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Come on up.”

He gestured for her to go ahead of him.

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