Page 35 of Hidden Depths

“Yes and no.”

“She’s not well?”

“Whenever I visit her, she has no idea who I am. In some ways, that’s harder than losing a parent. It feels like I’m losing her over and over again every time I see her.” He cleared his throat. He hadn’t intended to share that part of himself. This was supposed to be about getting information from her. “Anyway. An opportunity came to work with the FBI, so I took it for lack of anything more productive to do. Turned out I like it, and I’m very good at it.”

“Have you put any bad guys away recently?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I had a big win just before coming here.”

She pointed at his hands. “Is that where those marks really came from?”

“Oh, that’s right, you want the truth.”

“And you don’t seem to want to give it to me.”

“I could say the same about you. There’s plenty you don’t want to share.”

She crumpled up her wrapper. “I should get going.”

“Wait.”

“I thought we were supposed to have a nice lunch.”

“It has been a nice lunch. I don’t want it to end like this, and I’m sorry. I know I said I’d drop it, but you want me to come clean with you without having to offer any truth back.”

She tried to look him in the eye, but struggled. “You’re right. I’m not ready for this. I’ve got stuff to do at home anyway. It’s fine.”

He stood when she did. “You want me to walk you home?”

“No offense, Tom, but I’d rather you didn’t know where I live. I barely know you.”

“That’s understandable.”

She turned to go, but he grabbed her arm. “Wait. I’d like to see you again.”

“Maybe I’ll see you next Sunday at church.”

“Maybe?”

She looked at the ground and sighed. “I’m sorry. Lunch was good, for the most part.”

“For the most part?”

“It’s clear we’re both keeping secrets, but I’m in a really good place right now, and I don’t want to lose that.”

If the mafia was in Florida for her, she’d lose more than the glimpse of happiness she’d found.

“And spending any more time with me would change that?”

“I don’t know.”

He could see her mind working. She was confused. If she wasn’t willing to share the truth about her life, he couldn’t risk divulging what he knew until he found out for sure if those guys were after her.

If she had a desire to help people, he had to give her a reason to help him so he could keep her close. It was the only way to make sure she was safe while he looked deeper.

“Sara, I’m not putting any pressure on you, and I don’t mean to keep secrets. If you want the truth, I’ll give you the truth. These bruises on my wrists are from when I was tortured.”

“What?”

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