Page 87 of Say Yes to the Death

“Who’s that guy by your car? That isn’t your cop detail, right? Should we call the detective?”

Claire sighed. “No, that’s not my cop. It’s fine. I’ll explain later.”

Jack Hartley leaned against the hood of Claire’s Audi. Luke stood by his car, staring suspiciously at Jack, and Sawyer hovered two cars down. To a passerby, it probably looked like a strange photo shoot for an album cover.

“You better not be putting yourself in danger again,” Nicole said darkly.

“I’m not. Can I help you take that back to your car?” Claire picked up Nicole’s tote, desperate to delay her departure for another few minutes. Maybe she could just walk home. It was probably only four or five miles. Anything would be better than confronting what waited for her in the parking lot.

“I think you have enough to deal with,” Nicole said. She took the tote from Claire. “But thanks. See you on Wednesday for the final approval of the staging?”

“I’ll be there. How are the pieces looking?”

“Great. The gallery is almost done. We’re having a six-by-four frame brought in for the print of Aaron’s drawing.”

“Perfect.” Claire reached for her notebook. She jotted down a quick note and tossed it back into her bag. “Have you seen the work in progress?”

“I saw it on Friday. He took some lessons. It’s so good,” Nicole said, smiling in the same dreamy way Claire did when she was imagining a happy ending. “He took such care with the details—the wrinkles in his jeans, the curls in her hair.”

“I can’t wait to see it.” A thrill ran through Claire. It was going to be nothing short of magic. “And you’re sure blowing it up isn’t going to make it look all pixely and terrible?”

“Relax, I know a guy. It’ll be perfect.”

“Did you get the box of twinkle lights I sent over?”

“Yes, I was thinking of putting them—hey, knock it off. I know what you’re doing. Stop dillydallying and go deal with that shitshow.” Nicole gestured toward the parking lot. “And text me later.”

“Damn it.” Claire slung her bag over one shoulder. “Fine.”

She took her time crossing the field and untying Rosie, uncomfortably aware of the three sets of eyes on her. Though slightly out of breath by the time she trudged up the hill, she would rather be kidnapped by Barney again than admit it.

“Jack,” she said.

“Afternoon, Claire,” he said formally. A gust of wind shot through the parking lot, but not a single hair moved on his moussed head. Was wind-proof hair maintenance something they taught at the FBI?

He bent and extended a hand to Rosie, who sniffed it suspiciously. She didn’t bark, but she hid behind Claire’s legs.

“I was wondering if you had given any thought to what we discussed earlier,” he said, standing back up and crossing his arms.

“I’ll do it,” Claire said. Survivor’s guilt had settled heavy on her heart after days of staring at the bright faces of the Widowmaker victims. Five women before her died because they didn’t have a Sawyer to leap in and tase Barney. If she had the ability to get some closure for the families, she would squeeze every last bit of information from that chloroform-toting maniac. The new murder binder in her purse contained notes about what Jack had told her and pictures of the mark on her neck.

“Really?” he asked, eyebrows raised above the rim of his mirrored sunglasses. “You’ll go see him in prison?”

She nodded. It was sure to be the worst thing she’d done since getting abducted, but this time Barney would be in chains. The control was hers.

“Come by the precinct tomorrow,” Jack said. “We’ll discuss your tactics.”

“Tomorrow doesn’t work. I’ll come on Tuesday,” she said firmly, staring him down.

“Very well.” He walked around the front of his car and opened his door. “Oh, and Claire?”

“Yes?” If he was going to ask her for some other exorbitant favor, she was going to give him a colossal wedgie and roll him down the grassy hill into that children’s soccer game.

“Nice form down there,” Jack said, gesturing to the football field.

“Roy taught me a lot,” she said over her shoulder as she buckled Rosie into her seatbelt.

“I’m sure he did.” His smile faded, and he ducked back into his car.

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