Page 68 of Forged in Steele

Jared caught up to Harri. Jared needed to verify the guy’s alibi and make sure Harri didn’t talk to Wilma and tell her how to alibi him out before Jared could.

“Wilma,” Jared said the moment they entered the waiting area. “Harri says he was working yesterday around eleven-fifteen in the morning.”

“Sure was.” Wilma cast Harri a sharp look. “Didn’t even leave for lunch. We were swamped, and I had tacos brought in.”

“Thanks.” Jared held his hand out to Harri. “I know you two divorced, but I’m sorry for your loss.”

Harri gave a sad nod and went back to the shop. Jared flashed a quick smile at Wilma and exited the building before she started asking questions. By the time he got back to the taco stand, Bristol had placed two baskets holding a taco, chips, and salsa on the table, along with two drinks in bright blue cups.

Jared’s stomach rumbled as he sat.

“Sounds like it’s a good thing there was a taco truck in the lot.” Bristol grinned, then dipped a chip into chunky red salsa.

“Might not have made it to a drive-through.” He laughed and took a bite of the soft taco, then groaned.

“Good,” he mumbled around a mouthful.

She bit into hers, the rich sauce dripping into her basket. “Very good. Reminds me of when we had taco night at camp.”

He took a long pull on the drink that turned out to be iced tea. “Those really were good days, weren’t they? Our biggest worries were if the managers or the kids were going to catch us making out.”

“And now here we are looking for a kidnapped baby.” She dipped another chip and shoved it into her mouth.

He picked up his taco again, careful to keep the contents inside of the flexible tortilla. “Talk about extremes.”

“Back then I never thought I’d reach this age and not be married.”

“Me either. I had it all planned out. Do my stint in the Navy. Get out. Choose some sort of law enforcement career. Then get married and have a few kids.”

She sat back, chip in hand, eyeing him. “You got the first parts right, though I have to go on record as saying you could’ve had it all by now if you’d never dumped me.”

His appetite fled, and he set the remains of his taco in the basket. “Were you thinking marriage then?”

“Honestly?” She met and held his gaze. “Yeah, I was.”

“I can only say how sorry I am that I wasn’t. That I didn’t… I…” He shook his head. “I wish I could change what I did. You deserved so much better.”

“Do you really?”

“I do.” He wiped his mouth with a coarse white napkin. “I don’t know if we would’ve gotten married though. I mean, since then I thought I’d found someone to share my life with. Twice. That fell through both times.”

She cocked her head. “What happened?”

“Law enforcement, like you said earlier. Seems like women don’t want to put up with the constant interruptions and demands of my work.” He picked up his drink again. “I don’t blame them. I would have a hard time being married to me.”

“Yeah. Being married to me would be a challenge too.” The sadness in her tone cut right through him.

Could they be together? She was getting out of the law enforcement game and said no to a husband in law enforcement in no uncertain terms. So no point in hoping, right?

His phone rang. Perfect timing for an interruption. He looked at Detective Hale’s name on the screen and accepted the call. “Tell me you have something good.”

“We located Reya Isaacs’s Civic.” Hale’s voice was higher than normal.

“Where?”

“About a mile from her house.”

“Text me the address, and we’re on our way.” Jared hung up and relayed the information to Bristol. “Let’s move.”

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