Page 18 of One Final Target

“I want to go look at the stolen Honda before it gets to impound. Then I want to check in with the vehicle’s owner, see if he can tell us anything else. With any luck there will be camera footage from somewhere. It’s shoe leather time—you up for some snooping?”

“You bet.”

CHAPTER10

JODIE AND TARA ATE LUNCHat the Hangout. Jodie picked at her food and worked hard to keep her tone upbeat, hating it when Tara or Uncle Mike commented on her demeanor.“You’re frowning,” “What’s wrong?”and“I really miss your smile and laughter”were a few phrases she’d heard a lot since the IED blast, and she was tired of hearing them. She’d learned to wear a mask around people.

“Be real,”Sam had said. She couldn’t, not with people who didn’t understand.

“So I have to say I’m impressed.” Tara pushed her plate aside, breaking the silence.

“About what?”

“You. Cool as a cucumber. Someone shot at you yesterday.”

“Being shot at doesn’t come close to being blown up.” Jodieregretted the statement almost immediately. She set her fork down. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be flippant.” She inhaled and let her breath out slowly. “I hate to say it, but I’m almost glad I got shot at. It breathes life into the investigation.”

“I guess I can see where you’re coming from. Did you make it to the memorial site?”

“No. It’s not actually in Arrowbear. It’s in Green Valley Lake. I’m not on board with the memorial.”

“Why Green Valley Lake?” Tara asked.

“It’s Jonah’s memorial, his idea.”

“You’d think he’d pick a place closer to where it happened.”

Jodie shrugged. “A memorial is the last thing on my mind. The case is not over. The only thing I’m concerned with right now is catching the killer.”

“I’m with you there, girlfriend.” Tara raised her soda glass as a toast and Jodie tapped it with her glass of tea. The check came and Tara paid.

“You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. Let’s walk the pier.”

Together they crossed the street and for a bit, silence reigned as they strolled along the wooden slats.

“What are you going to do for the rest of the day?” Tara asked.

“I don’t know. I’m still figuring out this not-going-to-work life.” Jodie’s Sundays used to be about resting up for the workweek to come. Surf if the waves were good, maybe go to the movies, or play volleyball with friends. Now, each empty day stretched into another empty day. Her voice betrayed none of the turmoil boiling inside over her status. Truth was, while she had no long-term plans, she had plans for the here and now. She just wasn’t ready to share anything with Tara.

“It was a mistake to quit. How are you going to pay your rent? Half a pension won’t cover it.”

Jodie shrugged. “I have a trust fund, remember? The settlement from my parents’ deaths. I can always tap those funds.”

“Right.” Tara slapped her forehead. “You actually can be a lady of leisure. Can we still be friends since I’ll always be a working stiff?”

“Ha. I’ll have to get back to you.”

Tara smiled and stood. “Well, I’ll make sure to fill you in on anything I hear from Smiley. Take care, Jodie.”

They made their way back to the street and Tara left for her car while Jodie walked back to her apartment. She was a little amazed the trust fund idea had popped out. Yes, the fund would support her. After her parents’ deaths, the airline had been found negligent in the plane’s maintenance, so the settlement was generous. She hadn’t tapped into the fund yet and hadn’t made plans to. Jodie had moved in with her uncle Mike after the crash and had no reason to draw from the fund. And she hadn’t thought about it until now. She just didn’t want Tara, or anyone, to worry about her.

The trust fund money could make a lot of things easier for Jodie. Her rent would be paid, travel was possible—she could surf all over the world if she wanted. But leisure was the last thing on her mind. The money couldn’t buy her the one thing she wanted more than anything: to find the person who killed her team.

“Why the frown?”

Jodie looked up, startled, and saw Ian Hunter sitting on the short rock wall bordering the outside of her complex. Jaw set, Jodie determined she wouldn’t let him upset her. Ian had survivor’s guilt on steroids. The rift between them broke her heart. In his anger and pain, he was pushing everyone away; she’d heard that his wife had left him.

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