Page 113 of Another Girl Lost

Stalking Lynn might not be a good dinner conversation starter. “Working on the prints. All colors have been applied.”

“If they’re anything like the pieces you auctioned off for the Judge, I’ll buy one.”

“Proceeds go to the recreation center.”

“I know.”

“Where are you going to hang it?”

“My bedroom.”

“Nice.”

“Do you see your art displayed often?”

“Almost never.” I moved closer to the counter, and he remained on his side. Fear boiled. This felt like that moment I’d stood at Tanner’s open van door. My life would change after this.

“Eyes forward.”

“Yes.” I sipped. “Tell me about your week. Win any cases?”

“No. Lots of prep. Going to trial on a corporate case in a couple of weeks. The hope is that I’ll be so sharp and prepared that the other side will settle before trial.”

“You don’t want to fight it out in front of a judge?”

“Not if I can help it. Always better if these things can be settled privately.”

“That I do understand. No one likes their life on display.”

“Has it been like that since Tanner Reed?”

“Not much of a tiptoer, are you?”

His gaze didn’t budge off my face. “Hard when you have big feet. That a problem?”

“It’s kind of a relief.”

“Good. Because these feet will never be subtle.”

I’d wanted ordinary, and he was dishing it up with a glass of red wine. “It was a big deal in the first two or three years after. It’s not fun. You survive a trauma and then everyone else wants to relive it over and over. You want to get beyond it but feel anchored by it.” I sipped more wine, realizing I was headed to oversharing. “But in the last few years, I think everyone has basically forgotten. Which is good.”

“But.” He stared at me over the rim of his glass.

“But? What do you mean?”

“You can tell me to back off anytime. But I have a special radar for the unsaid. Believe it or not, some clients lie to their lawyers.”

I chuckled. His radar must be buzzing loud now. “How familiar are you with the case?”

“Versed well enough.”

“Remember the girl in the diner?”

“Rescued right before Tanner was caught?”

“That’s a kind way of putting it. The girl I tried to lure into a van.”

His gaze sharpened. “You called for help, according to the reports.”

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