Page 58 of Walking the Edge

“That isn’t going to happen until after Mardi Gras.”

“I was just thinking aloud. Looks like nothing else has happened since last night.”

They doubled back a block to the pedestrian walk signal. On green, they crossed to the Jax Brewery shopping complex, Cath keeping pace. “I’m thinking.”

I’m ready. Mitch suppressed a smile.

She spun to face him. “I have to find him.”

Roger. “I know.”

“You agree?” Her auburn brows rose.

Uh-oh. “You’re talking about your brother?”

She shook her head. “Not Les. The drug dealer.”

“No.” Mitch pulled her out of the sidewalk traffic. “No way.”

“Why not?”

“Think about it.” This shouldn’t be too hard.

“I did.”

Not long enough. “Dealing drugs is illegal. We could run into another undercover cop. Get arrested.” He couldn’t take that risk.

“The police blew that operation when they arrested my brother. They won’t be around.”

“We don’t know that.” Mitch rubbed the back of his neck. Right when he got a handle on how Cath thought, she said something unbelievable. “Going to look for a drug dealer is too dangerous to consider.”

She slapped her arms to her sides. Her jaw jutted forward. “We finally know Les is looking for his dealer.”

“No. We’re assuming. Based on Justin’s assumptions. That’s a flimsy basis for a decision.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “I have to find my brother. Les is the only family I have left. I don’t have anyone else.”

“Because you won’t trust anyone else.”

“I trust plenty of people.” Her jaw tightened.

Mitch crossed his arms. “Name one.”

“Bea Harvey.” She looked skyward as if concentrating. “My neighbor, Rhonda.”

“With your deepest, darkest secrets?” She had been embarrassed for Rhonda to meet him.

Cath sagged against the building. The neon sign in the window sparked red highlights in her hair. “Why do you care who I share my”—she made air quotes—“‘deepest, darkest secrets’ with? You’re not exactly free with your own.”

“I don’t have secrets.”

She scoffed.

His failures were all out in the open, even if he hadn’t confided any of them to Cath Hurley. He’d even gotten a medal for the worst one. Besides, his secrets weren’t any of her business. As soon as the police caught whoever was after her, she’d be out of his hair. He was perfectly capable of finding her brother on his own. He hadn’t thought so before, but he couldn’t work with Cath. Not with the way she tempted him to cross all sorts of personal lines.

“Let’s go home.” She threw her purse over her shoulder and headed toward the shopping mall where they’d parked.

Mitch tipped his head to one side. No more arguments? “Glad you see my point.”

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