Page 43 of Unforgotten

Which posed one more concern.

What had been on those cards that had made her so worried that she’d tell him about them? He was going to need to find that out.

15

Sitting beside Officer Mulaney in his Blazer, Candace felt uncomfortable. He’d been polite as ever when he’d picked her up to take her to the shopping mall out near Johnson City, but he was acting distant. His responses to her comments and questions had been almost curt. Had she done something to upset him? Or was he feeling like she was a big pain in his backside because of all her appearances?

If that was the case, she didn’t know what to do about that. Escorting her around the county and the surrounding areas had been the police department’s idea, not hers. But maybe he was having second thoughts?

When she glanced at him for about the fifth time and noticed that his jaw was clenched, she knew she was going to have to say something. Give him a way out of his responsibilities. “Ryan, if you have other things to do today, you can just drop me off at the mall. I’ll get someone else to take me home. It’s no big deal.”

Stopped at a traffic light, he eyed her curiously. “Who would you call?”

“I don’t know. My mom or dad. Maybe a girlfriend,” sheadded, though she wasn’t exactly sure who would be available. Most of her girlfriends had jobs that kept them busy.

He shook his head. “Candace, don’t worry about it. I told you I would take you and stay by your side. And I will.”

The light turned to green, and he drove through the intersection.

“I just wanted you to know that I don’t expect you to continue doing this,” she said in a rush. “I mean, you’ve probably got other things to do.”

“I do. But one of my jobs is to escort you to appearances.”

“But maybe there’s an intern or something?” She vaguely remembered a kid in one of her classes her junior year who had received some credit for shadowing a police officer. She hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but if it was someone brawny with half a clue, that would be enough to deter most people.

Though he didn’t smile, the lines around his eyes crinkled. “You’re gonna give me a complex, Candace. Do you really think I’m no better than an intern?”

“No. I mean, of course not.” When she saw a dimple appear in his cheek, she flushed. “You’re messing with me.”

“Only a little bit. It’s hard not to, the way you are always trying to lose me.”

“I’m not. It just seems like you’re bothered today, and I’m afraid it’s because of me.”

Stopped at another light, he stared at her for a long moment. “I just have some things on my mind.”

“Anything I can help you with?”

“What, are you starting to think you want to be a police intern too?”

Easing a bit, she chuckled. “No. But, ah, I’m a good listener.” Liking the idea that she could help him with something, she added, “I could be your sounding board.”

As they reached a stop sign, he glanced her way again. “If I do ask you something, can we keep it between us?”

“Sure.”

“I’m serious.” After a pause, he added, “It doesn’t really have anything to do with a case, but I’m feeling at a disadvantage because I’m new in town.”

“If I can help, I will. But I haven’t paid a ton of attention to city things. I’ve never kept up too much with politics in Marion.”

“It’s nothing like that. It has to do with Bethanne.”

“My cousin? What about her?”

“I want to know what she’s like.”

Candace went into protection mode. “What do you mean, what she’s like? Bethanne is Amish, Ryan.”

“That doesn’t tell me anything. There are a lot of Amish around here.”

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