Page 41 of Cornered

He cleared his throat and shot her a sideways glance. “Nothing.” He paused. “I know she visits Benji and her father—or tries to. They still won’t see her?”

“Not since they heard she was going to testify at their trials. She still has a hard time reconciling that her father was the one in the parking garage looking for a way to attack me. And was also the guy at the library. And the one who attacked Stan, trying to frame him. Talking about all of that on the stand ... well, it’s safe to say she’s dreading it.”

“I’m sure that’s hard for her.”

“Terribly, but she’s determined.”

“Tell me about Stan. How’s he doing?”

Steph often visited Stan in the rehabilitation center and was touched that Tate asked about him when he knew she’d been to see her former boss. “Recovering. He’s still got some memory loss. I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen to him.” The man had basically been a stooge, but he’d also made his choices.

“Time will tell.”

They fell silent, but finally, it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. She found she enjoyed being in Tate’s company whatever they were doing.

Except dodging bullets and people trying to kill her. “When you texted last night, you said you wanted me to meet your parents. Tell me a little more about them. What are they like?”

“They’re awesome. Mom’s a high school science teacher and Dad’s a financial advisor.” He glanced at her. “I can’t believe we haven’t already had this conversation.”

“We’ve been a little busy.”

“True. Anyway, I believe you’ll really like them. They’re good people and they’re very excited for me to introduce you.”

Her stomach fluttered at the thought and what it all could mean. But she was excited too.

He cleared his throat. “I have a question.”

“Sure.”

“I know we haven’t seen much of each other since the ... event, but I keep wondering how you knew to drop like you did when Cherry was talking to her mother.”

Thatwas his question? Maybe the silence was more awkward for him than it was for her. “I don’t know,” she said. “I just felt like she was trying to tell me something even while she was keeping her mother mostly calm. Then when she said ‘drop,’ I dropped. I had no idea she was planning on tackling her and wrestling with the gun, but I think she saved me.”

“She definitely did.”

“So now I have a question. How’d she get away from you?”

He cleared his throat. “Ah, well...”

She studied the flush creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. “You knew she was up to something, didn’t you? Youlether go.”

“I can neither confirm nor deny that.” He paused. “But yes, we needed to calm Helen Bolin down and give her something to make her believe we were listening.”

“Well, it worked. So thanks.”

He finally pulled into the lake home driveway, parked, and came around to open her door. Then he took her hand, hiswarm and endearingly a little damp, and led her down to the dock.

“Wait,” she said. “Where’s everyone else?”

“They’re coming. I wanted to get here a little early so we could talk.”

“Okay, sure.”

On the deck, the wind was chilly coming off the water, and she pulled her gloves from her pocket.

“Too cold?”

“No, not at all.” She walked over to the firepit and cranked it up. “We have it all to ourselves.” She chose the cushioned love seat–sized swing hanging from the wooden structure James and Cole had built last month. He sat next to her as she’d hoped he would.

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