Page 20 of Speak No Evil

“Do you want—” Gwen stopped speaking. “Will?—?”

As he watched, the vehicle disappeared past the row of parked cars. He’d noticed earlier that the lot wrapped around the restaurant to the other side. This place seemed popular, but, if the driver found a space, he would come inside any minute. What were the chances this person would be the driver they’d noticed earlier surveilling Gwen’s apartment?

* * *

Gwen sank back against the red vinyl seat. She’d been practically clinging to the windowsill, following the progress of the big black SUV as it rolled out of sight. Her throat tightened. “Did you see what just came into the parking lot?”

“Yeah.” Will swiveled to stare at the restaurant entrance.

“Shouldn’t we get out of here?” Gwen set her BLT on her plate and pulled her tote up onto the seat beside her.

A frown puckered his forehead, and when he looked her way that wave of dark auburn hair flopped over his brow. “This is a public space. We’re safe.”

He chewed and swallowed, keeping hold of the half sandwich in his hand. A slice of tomato slipped to the plate, which he ignored. His brows lowered, and the edges of his eyes crinkled. He set down his meal. “Do you want to leave?”

Wow, Will wasn’t going to boss her around, a trait she hadn’t encountered very often in the male species.

“Not really. I’m loving my malt.” She smiled. “Thanks for stopping here.”

“Only because you wanted Rocky Road.” His lips twitched. “If it had been chocolate or strawberry, I might have driven past.”

“This has ice cream in it.” She tapped a fingernail against the glass.

He picked up his sandwich and then put it down again. “We can get some Rocky Road to go.”

“No, really. This is enough. Stop teasing.”

He took another bite and caught her gaze. She couldn’t look away. He lifted the last of the sandwich half. “This is great, by the way.”

“Because it’s got bacon.” But she ignored her food to tear a strip off her paper napkin. She’d been debating actions if they spotted the car again. Sitting still and waiting to see what would happen next didn’t feel like the right thing to do. “Have you had experience in this sort of situation before? Being followed?”

“Not in the U.S., but yes.” He picked up a fry.

“Did you see who was at the wheel?” She tore another strip.

He wiped his mouth and moved his plate aside. “The driver just now?”

She nodded.

“A man. That’s all I could make out.” Will chewed another fry.

“We don’t have a clue what the guy parked in the bushes looked like.” She balled up her pile of napkin strips.

“You’re right. But I think we’ll know if it’s the same guy.”

A gust of warm air accompanied by noises from the street traffic, swept inside. Gwen straightened and peered toward the entrance. The hostess held the door wide, and a gray-haired woman with a cane tottered inside, followed by her equally senior citizen husband.

“I doubt that couple came in a black SUV.” She pulled the toothpick from her sandwich and took a bite. What on earth had she ordered? It tasted like sawdust. She switched to her malt. “It doesn’t seem like a senior-citizen-type vehicle.”

“They might like the protection of all that armor.” Will stood and tossed a couple of twenties on the table. “Finish my fries if you want. I’m going to check around outside. Stay here.”

“But what if—” Will’s long legs had already taken him halfway to the exit. What if the mysterious “driver” does come in? I think we’ll know if it’s the same guy. Will probably meant was that if the man surveilling her apartment came inside, he’d stalk right up to their table and take Will’s seat.

Maybe she should hide? Or ask the jerk if he knew a tall, skinny guy with long black hair?

“Everything all right?”

Their waitress stood beside the booth with her empty tray propped on her hip. She scooped up the little pile of napkin pieces and slapped a new one beside her. “Can I get you anything else?”

---