Page 120 of Deception

“I, ah, I’m not leaving right this minute.”

She straightened, and he flinched under her unwavering gaze.

“I know you, Steven. Something is wrong.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” If she kept pushing, she must know what he had planned. But how? He hadn’t told anyone. Sweat beaded his forehead, and he swiped it away. “I think I’m coming down with a bug. And then my mom calls and tells me Dad is weaker. Couldn’t happen at a worse time.”

“Okay, I’ll buy that.” She chewed her bottom lip. “But if something’s bugging you, you’d tell me, right?”

“You know I would. Even though you’re a woman, we’re still brothers-in-arms.” He quirked his mouth in a grin. “You’d help me with anything.”

“You know it.”

“Uh, I thought I’d drop by Madison’s house and tell her goodbye.”

“After burying her grandfather, she may not be up for company. Could even be in bed.”

“At eight o’clock? I doubt it, but I’ll call her.” He quickly dialed her number, and when she answered, he explained why he was leaving and asked about coming by.

“I’m sorry about your dad,” Madison said, “but maybe we better say goodbye over the phone. It’s been a hard day—”

“But I have something I want to give you, a reminder of Noah, and Terri’s with me—I’m sure she’d like to see you.” He ignored the puzzled look his friend shot him.

Madison hesitated. “Okay. Come to the back door.”

“See you in a minute.” Then he turned to Terri. “She’s good with it.”

“Yes, but why did you tell her—”

“I don’t know. Maybe to seal the deal. Ready?”

“Uh, sure.” She dropped her gaze to the backpack once more, then looked at him with narrowed eyes. “That the present?”

“Yeah. I’ll get it, and you can bring the suitcase down.” He’d caught the tremor in her voice. Undoubtedly, she was remembering the backpacks with IEDs in them in Afghanistan.

Terri Davis had to die now. He knew this with a certainty he couldn’t think away or dismiss. Even if she had saved his life in the Middle East.

63

Clayton buckled his smaller Sig around his ankle. His gut told him something was happening tonight, and he wanted to be ready for it.

It was still early, just a little after eight thirty, but it’d been a long day and everyone had retired to their bedrooms. He walked through the first floor of the house, rechecking the windows and doorways and that the alarm was set. There was no way an intruder could get inside without warning him.

Madison was coming down the stairs, still dressed in the jeans and T-shirt she’d changed into after coming home from the funeral. “I thought you were resting.”

“I was, but Steven called. His father has taken a turn for the worse and he’s leaving and wants to stop by a minute. He has a present he wants to give me. Terri is coming with him.” She turned toward the kitchen. “Where is everyone?”

“In their rooms.” Headlights flashed in the window. “I guess he’s here. I’ll leave so you can have privacy.”

“I’d really rather you stayed.”

Clayton eyed her. “So, something about them bothers you too?”

“Yeah. Steven had said his father sent him here to give me photos of Chad’s son, Noah, but the thing is, I never thought his father liked me.”

Both Steven and Terri triggered his radar—something wasoff about both of them, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. “What’s with the two of them? Are they a couple?”

“I don’t think so. Just really close friends—being in Delta Force and Afghanistan together does that, I understand.”

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