Page 112 of Out of Nowhere

“Damn it, Elle. That’s not at all what I’m saying. I’m saying she’s more devious. Make no mistake, while she’s murmuring sympathetically and looking at you with soulful eyes, she’s homing in on your jugular. She’s always after the bigger story.”

“What could be bigger than this one?”

“Your arrest for leaving the crime scene last night.”

That gave her pause, but she shook her head emphatically. “Compton and Perkins said they weren’t going to charge us.”

“It’s not their jurisdiction. What they said was that they were advising the other sheriff’s department not to charge us. I wouldn’t put it past Shauna to be laying a trap for you. She could be setting you up to have your arrest caught on camera.Hercamera. Nothing would please her more than to become an element of the story, just like she did when she broadcast our names.”

“I don’t think she’ll do anything that exploitative again. Not this soon. She has a reputation to protect.”

He looked at her from beneath his eyebrows and said quietly, “And an ex-boyfriend who is in love with the woman she’s interviewing.”

The profession was unexpected. It kicked the slats out from under her. But she armored herself with pent-up anger. “How dare you say that to me now.”

He came closer. “I dare because we know how suddenly dreadful things can happen to change the course of one’s life. Like that.” He snapped his fingers. “I didn’t want something dreadful to happen to either of us before I told you that.”

He took her face between his hands. “My heart had been missing from my life for a long time, Elle. You found it and gave it back to me.” He pressed a solid kiss on her mouth, then set her away and looked deeply into her eyes. “You’re absolutely certain you want to do this?”

Trying not to reveal how shaken she was by his declaration of being in love with her and the affirmation behind his kiss, she said, “Absolutely certain. For Charlie.”

Chapter 35

Glenda voiced her opinion of the planned interview. “It’s crazy! Shauna Calloway has been like a circling shark. Why are you giving in?”

“I’m not doing it for her,” Elle said. “I’m doing it for Charlie, and me, and Calder, and all the other casualties and their families.”

Glenda eventually surrendered to what she called Elle’s “stupid nobility” and agreed to drive her to her father’s fancy boathouse.

Calder asked if, on the way, she would drop him at his temporary apartment. “I’ve got to get some clothes.” In light of the current situation, Glenda’s planned shopping expeditions for burner phones and clothes for him had been suspended.

“Compton and Perkins might have someone watching the building.”

“They think I’m tucked inside here. You can pick me up there on your way back. If I get caught in the meantime, I’ll beg forgiveness,” he said, shooting Elle a smile.

They quickly prepared to leave. Calder’s laptop hadn’t yet been returned to him, so he asked to borrow the one belonging to the house again and grabbed it and its charger as they left.

Although they couldn’t be certain, they didn’t think the undercover guards had been posted yet. There were no suspicious vehicles parked on the cul-de-sac, but they didn’t breathe easily until they were clear of it.

His new apartment building wasn’t that far. Within ten minutes, Glenda pulled her SUV up to the entrance. He got out of the back seat and waited for Elle to lower the passenger-seat window.

He was aware of Glenda watching them with unabashed interest from the driver’s seat. He didn’t care what she thought of him, but he didn’t want to say anything that would embarrass Elle. “I’m keeping my phone turned on and within reach,” he said.

“They could track it.”

“Screw it. I’m leaving it on. Don’t hesitate to call if something goes wrong. Promise.”

“I promise.”

“You have your phone?”

She patted the side pocket of a purse on loan from Glenda.

“Good. Keep it turned off, but call or text me as soon as you’re finished. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.” He paused, then said, “Remember everything I told you.”

“I will. I won’t let Shauna trap me.”

“EverythingI told you, Elle.”

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