Page 78 of Obsession

She hated that her dad was worried about her. Thank goodness he didn’t know about someone shooting at her. A chill raced down her spine. Was someone shooting at her because she was getting too close to discovering what had happened to Mary Jo?

42

He pressed his phone close to his ear. Jack Winters had left, and Ryker and Emma had moved away from the living room, making it difficult to hear them. If only he’d had time to place the other bug in her kitchen. Twice he’d about had a heart attack when someone fumbled around the bookcase.

One thing for sure, Ryker hadn’t told Emma how he’d hugged her friend. Confirmed Ryker was trying to hide it from her. And he didn’t tell her that he’d had a fight with her brother at the tavern. That was something he could put in his arsenal and use against Ryker.

They had discussed Mary Jo’s sister, Sandra. That was a problem he hadn’t anticipated. Did she remember him? They’d met only that once and briefly at that, but had Mary Jo talked about him? He didn’t want to kill Sandra—he wasn’t a monster. He hadn’t meant to kill Mary Jo. Ryan, yes, but not that sweet girl.

But in the end, she hadn’t been so sweet. Screaming those horrible names at him because he’d shot Ryan. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but she shouldn’t have run from him.

He stiffened. Emma was crying. What had Ryker done to her? He pressed his lips tight. This could not go on. This week, maybe tomorrow, he would dosomethingto make sure Sam Ryker would never hurt Emma again.

43

After Jack left, Sam’s thoughts whirled as he helped Emma put the dishes into the dishwasher. Mentally he made a list in order of priority, starting with talking to the owner of the Hideaway, but first he had to get his name.

“I saw your dad the other day,” Emma said.

Sam stopped with a plate halfway to the bottom rack. He hadn’t seen that coming. “So?”

She ducked her head. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

He heard the tears in her voice and quickly set the plate down. “What’s going on?”

“Really, I shouldn’t have mentioned him.”

“I’ll agree with that.” He used his knuckle to raise her head. Tears glistened in her eyes. “But something else is going on. What is it?” Tears leaked onto her cheek, and he brushed them away. “Is it Ryan?”

“No. Maybe.”

He pulled her to his chest. “I’m sorry this is happening. You deserve better than this. Ryan deserved better. We’re going to get his killer.”

“I keep thinking if I could just talk to my brother again, there is so much I would tell him, but most of all that I loved him. I’ll never be able to do that.” She pulled away from him, and for afew minutes they were silent as she washed and he dried. “I’ve heard your dad has become a Christian.”

Sure, he has.To be a believer one had to admit they were wrong and ask God for forgiveness. People like his dad never admitted they’d committed any wrong. “I don’t want to talk about him,” he said.

With a sigh, she nodded and finished loading the dishwasher in silence. “There’s something I should have already told you.”

“If it’s about him, I don’t want to hear it.”

“He has cancer,” she said.

Sam absorbed the information. “I hate to hear anyone has cancer, but it doesn’t change the way I feel or what he did.”

“I get that, but there’s something else you need to know before it happens.” She took a breath. “I’ve heard your mom is going to let him come home so she can take care of him.”

“Mom would never do that.”

“She told her Sunday school class that’s what she planned to do. Her class is going to help with meals.”

The betrayal almost knocked his legs out from under him. He clenched his jaw so tight pain radiated down his neck. Sam made a point of checking his watch. “It’s getting late, and I better go home.”

“Don’t hold on to your anger, Sam. It’ll only hurt you.”

She hadn’t lived with his father. She hadn’t been called stupid and irresponsible. She hadn’t borne the welts on her back from his father’s leather belt. “I have a few things I need to do tonight. Do you know what time you want to take the cat to the vet tomorrow?”

His face burned under her scrutiny. “Whenever I can get an appointment.”

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