Page 112 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

So, she’d excused herself to the bathroom, and when Deborah wasn’t looking, she’d tiptoed down the stairs. She didn’t know what she’d thought she’d learn. Even if Dean had been the one to force her off the road the previous night, he surely wouldn’t confess that to Garrett. But she’d felt compelled to find out what she could.

She wished she hadn’t.

Which was foolish and stupid, but what else was new? Wasn’t it foolish and stupid to be in Coventry, in the town that hatedher mother and hated Aspen by extension? What was she doing here?

She’d thought she could figure out what happened to her mother. As if she had any insights the police didn’t already have.

She’d hoped to learn more about the woman who’d borne her. And she had.

To her detriment.

But she’d believed that, if nothing else, there was Garrett. He’d come to mean something to her. For the first time in her life, she’d thought maybe she was falling in love.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

She’d taken out her heart and handed it over to him, and he’d been lying to her all along.

You were supposed to keep an eye on her, let me know what she’s been up to.

Dean’s words told Aspen they’d agreed on this plan long before tonight. Garrett hadn’t disputed what he said. Hadn’t clarified.

Garrett had been Dean’sspy.

Which meant he knew his uncle was involved. In the bombing? Maybe. In the attempt on her life?

From the moment she’d looked into Dean’s eyes, she’d known exactly what he was.

The enemy.

And now she knew Garrett was too.

She reached the corner of the residential street and peered to the right and the left. She hadn’t been paying enough attention during the drive and had no idea which way to turn to head back to town.

As if she could walk the entire way. She needed a plan.

Headlights came on at the house across the street from where she stood. She was tempted to hide, but why? She wasn’t doinganything wrong. And it wasn’t Dean’s house. What were the chances that a random person would want to hurt her?

In Coventry? Even money.

The car drove out of the driveway, its beams crossing over Aspen. It turned the opposite direction, then stopped and backed up, stopping again when it was even with her.

Aspen considered pulling the handgun from her holster but waited as the stranger’s window came down.

“You all right?” It was a woman’s voice, and vaguely familiar.

“Yeah, just…” Just what? Trying to walk back to town without a map on a freezing cold night?

The woman said, “Caramel macchiato, right?” When Aspen didn’t respond, she smiled. “I take it by the fact that you’re out here on the street that the desserts didn’t go over well.”

Aspen felt herself smile. “You have a good memory. It’s Josie, right?”

“Yup. And you’re…?”

“Aspen.”

“Great name. You need a ride, Aspen?”

“Oh. Um…”

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