Page 67 of Call Back

He shook his head.

“What do you want?” I asked, knowing I sounded desperate. “I’ll give you anything you want for what you know. You want all the gold? You can have it. Just tell me what you know.”

“Oh, Maggie. I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

I turned away from him. “Take me to my mother’s.”

“I know you’re pissed.”

I swiveled back around. “Pissed? You treat me like I’m some stupid idiot, unworthy of the truth or unable to deal with it, and you think I might be pissed?”

“No. I’m not treating you like an idiot. I’m trying to protect you.”

“Why does everyone think I need protecting?” I shouted. “Sure, I may not be a cop, but I can handle bad things. After everything I’ve been through, I think I’ve proven that.”

“What have you been through, Maggie?” he asked quietly. “Why did you slink away from me twice tonight? There was pure terror in your eyes when you saw the pocket knife in my hand.”

Oh, shit.I had said too much.

“What happened the night you disappeared?”

It was the second time I’d been asked that question today, but unlike my mother, Colt didn’t deserve answers. Not when he was keeping them from me. “None of your fucking business.”

He sighed and turned back to the steering wheel, grabbing hold of the lever to shift gears, but he paused. “I know it may not seem like it, but I am on your side. I’m stuck in the middle of something I don’t want you involved in, but I’m doing everything in my power to keep you safe.” Then he put the truck in drive and drove around the side of the building.

We were quiet on the ten-minute drive, and the closer we got to Momma’s house, the more my anger subsided, replaced by uncertainty.

Colt pulled into my mother’s driveway. He grabbed the steering wheel, his jaw tightening. “I think you should go to Bennett’s tonight.”

“You could kiss me like that and still send me back to Brady?” I asked in disbelief.

He didn’t answer for several seconds. “I care about you enough to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

I’d never been more confused in my life, but I had to believe Colt wanted me to be safe. Otherwise, he would have left me behind earlier, after the sedan came back. Had he cared more about his safety than mine, he would have slipped into that building alone. Instead, he’d stared down the barrel of a gun in the hopes it might keep me safe. A gun he wouldn’t have faced if I hadn’t shown up. And I had to agree with Colt’s reasoning about going to Brady’s, even if I felt lower than scum for going back to him after I’d so willingly kissed Colt.

I shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the seat, then opened the truck door. Colt grabbed my arm. “Maggie. Text me when you’re in his apartment, okay?”

“Yeah.” I hurried out before he could say anything else and ran up to Momma’s front door. I unlocked the door as quietly as I could and let myself in, hesitating for a moment as I watched Colt pull out of the driveway. I went into the kitchen to find a piece of paper and a pen to write her a note saying my car had broken down so I’d borrowed hers, but I’d drop it off at the catering business early in the morning and walk to Ava’s. Maybe she could call Tilly to pick her up. Then I grabbed the keys out of the bowl on the entry table and left.

I was paranoid enough to continually check my rearview mirror, but the drive was uneventful. Then again, I was probably safe—at least from this threat—until Saturday night. I’d worry about how to handle this newest threat tomorrow.

Once I was in the parking garage, I parked in a space in front of Brady’s car, relieved to have gotten there safely. After I got out, I walked toward the elevator but tripped on a crack in the sidewalk and put my hand on the hood of his car to keep from falling on my face.

It was warm and water droplets still covered the roof and hood. Brady had driven it recently.

I took a second look at it. Brady drove a dark sedan like the one that had been at the industrial park tonight.

I gasped and stumbled backward. There had to be an explanation. I almost didn’t go up but decided I was being overly paranoid. Brady had checked in with me throughout the day to make sure I was safe, and like Colt, he had shown that he was concerned with my well-being.

Still, my nerves were frayed, and I spent the whole elevator ride up to his apartment second-guessing my decision. By the time the elevator doors opened, I’d decided to go back to Momma’s. Tomorrow I’d find some time to buy another gun to replace the one that had been stolen from my purse with the gold—I’d feel better if I could protect myself rather than relying on someone else. But just as I was about to push the call button to close the doors, I saw the door to Brady’s apartment open. Owen stepped out. He glanced at me and did a double take.

My body froze, and I started to panic, but I told myself to calm down. I had no proof that Owen was the man in the parking lot. In fact, I suspected he wasn’t. But I didn’t have time to speculate about what he did or didn’t do or know. I had to assume the role of a good girlfriend, and I had to assume it fast.

Brady noticed his odd behavior and stepped over the threshold, carrying a large mailing envelope in his hand. “Maggie. You said you were staying with your mother.”

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