“True. However, you and Quinn already solved the gambling case. I’ll let Officer Bagger know that information tomorrow.”

  “Good. And I think that we should go to the dry cleaners. We need to question them about Ann Marie.”

  “Yes, we do. But neither Maggie nor I should go. We have to go a different day to get the information we need.” About the mob link. It was ridiculous, but they were almost done, so might as well finish.

  “True. You’ll give away your identity.”

  “I guess you and Quinn can go and question them. Just need to be careful that no one from the game is there.”

  “I don’t know that they’ll recognize me, but they might. It wouldn’t matter at that point. If Bagger does his job, then Tyson should be shut down before I even arrive.”

  “Yeah.” He wasn’t sure that Bagger was doing his job. If he had been, these simple cases could easily have been solved.

  A duck landed on the water and dipped its head forward. Then another and another. Each came up with a fish flapping wildly in their bill. Water splashed over Ericka, and she lifted her hands to fend it off, giggling the entire time.

  She ran up the hill to distance herself. Greg followed behind a little slower.

  “Did you still want to go for a walk?”

  “If you want to.” Greg would let her decide.

  “Let’s do it.” She actually held out her hand.

  He reached down and grabbed it. He squeezed only slightly as they took off down the darkened path. The sound of animals scurrying out of their way would have overwhelmed him, if Ericka hadn’t started with a running monologue.

  “We had a place like this close to the Drust house when I was younger. Harrison and I used to sneak off and hide in the trees some nights. Most of the time we were hiding so that Cecilia wouldn’t whip us. Then she’d find us and break a limb out of the tree we were in.”

  He widened his eyes, but she couldn’t see them in the darkness. He couldn’t imagine a childhood like Ericka had experienced.

  “I used to sit in the tree and watch the water move across the pond and imagine what my parents were doing. Once I imagined they were international spies, and they were hiding in the woods while foreign agents sought them. Then I thought that maybe they were world class swimmers, and they were attempting to swim the English Channel. I imagined that would take a lot of practice. I had all kinds of theories.”

  “I’m sorry, Ericka. I know that finding out the truth didn’t work out the way you’d hoped.”

  She guffawed under her breath. “Nah, it sort of did. You see, I never imagined us being a family. They always had something more important to do, and that’s how it worked out, right?”

  She pulled her hand away and shoved it in her coat pocket. He didn’t try to reach out and get it back. When she stopped at the water’s edge, he couldn’t help himself. He reached for her and pulled her back against his chest. He placed his arms around her and just held her. He could feel her body shaking with sobs. He didn’t talk.

  He waited.

  One day her life would be different. He’d thought about it often. If she’d allow him to, he would make her life very different.

  ****

  He rubbed his finger across his dripping nose then rubbed the snot on his thigh. The couple across the river held each other like they liked each other.

  Most people didn’t come to the water’s edge at night. Too many rumors about people falling in and disappearing or getting eaten by a bear kept them away. But these were those city slickers, and apparently, they didn’t know any better.

  Marty watched them.

  He’d seen them at the party as well and they hadn’t seemed that lovey-dovey. But then again, they had been on the job.

  Was every couple that way?

  Ann Marie had been lovey-dovey for a while. Of course, as he’d come to find out, she’d been lovey-dovey with everyone for a while. He hadn’t liked that. As soon as he realized she’d moved on to Jaxon, he’d dumped her.

  Then the rumors.

  All the rumors of her going to that special lady doctor in the next town. Everyone on the team started avoiding her. No one could afford to have a kid attached to their name. Scouts that came to see them play weren’t interested in taking on a high schooler with a family.

  The last scout to watch them had told them so.

  Now that she was dead none of them had to worry if the rumors were true or who the father might be. Still…

  Marty couldn’t help but wonder.

  It had to be someone on the team. No one else would have it out for Ann Marie like they did. Heck, they hadn’t even invited her to the party, and she had been at every party since she was like eleven. Her older brother had been on the team before joining the service. If he came back to town and found out who murdered his little sister before the cops did, that wouldn’t be a good thing.

  A small hand appeared on his bare shoulder. He tried not to moan in pleasure in case his voice carried.

  “Are you coming back to the tent?”

  “In a minute.”

  “Please don’t be too long…” The feminine voice trailed off.

  Tomorrow he would go to the cops and let them know that he had nothing to do with Ann Marie’s death, but he would listen for gossip to help them solve the murder. He wouldn’t let his good name be tainted. He needed a baseball scholarship to get out of this town.

  Despite his current female companionship, he wanted nothing more than to run as far away as possible.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ericka forced herself to stop crying as Greg wrapped his arms tightly around her. His chin rested on the top of her head as they watched the ripple of the water. A couple of times she thought she saw something on the other side. Not yellow eyes like from an animal, but human eyes.

  Anything was possible but knowing that someone might be watching them made her shiver.

  “Are you cold?”

  He’d already given her his jacket. The nice button up shirt that he wore couldn’t be keeping him warm.

  A hot flush covered her face as she envisioned him taking off his shirt and wrapping that around her as well. She’d seen him on base without his shirt. His stomach muscles were defined. Each layer of abs had rippled with his every movement. It had been enough to make a girl swoon!

  Several times she had to turn away before she ran to him. He’d talked about girlfriends, a fiancé, there was one in particular that he waited to go back to. She didn’t want to be that girl, the one that took away the man while he was away in the military. But she’d dreamed of it more than once.

  His hands began to rub up and down her arms. “Ericka? Earth to Ericka?”

  “Oh, yeah, um, I’m fine.” She was more than fine. She’d finally secured the man of her dreams. Now if only she could get over the nervousness of being with him. Or get over the fact that it might not last, things would be better. But that was trivial compared to other people’s problems.

  She yawned behind her hand. Had he seen that?

  “Cold and sleepy. Maybe we should go back. This little jaunt has helped me get sleepy.”

  She knew that he was saying all that for her benefit. Greg Kane was never tired, at least that she’d seen. But she’d go along with it.

  “Maybe you’re right. We have a big day tomorrow. Besides, I kind of feel like we’re being watched.”

  “You feel it too?”

  She shivered for effect.

  “Let’s head back.” He grabbed her hand, and she didn’t resist.

  They walked back toward the car. Moonlight lit their path, along with a few streetlights. She released him, grabbed a pole, and twisted around it, doing a pose she’d seen in a movie.

  He chuckled. And when she stepped down and enacted a bow, he followed what she’d done and wrapped a circle around the pole as well.

  Once they were both on the path, they held hands again. This time it felt much more natural.

  “Your goofy side. I’ve always loved that.”

  “Oh, really? I thought my goofy side bugged you.”

  “Nope. But I can’t tell people that I enjoy your goofy side. At least when it’s on the job and I’m in charge, you see?”

  “Oh, I see how you are.”

  He snickered under his breath and scratched a spot next to his nose.

  She knew full well about his own goofy side. When he’d been pretending to sing to give her the confidence to do it, the goofy side had been fully revealed.

  They reached the car. He opened the passenger door, and she climbed in and wiggled against the cool leather. The driver’s side door opened, and he slid under the wheel.

  “Do you think the person watching us had anything to do with the case?” Greg started the engine and backed out of the spot.

  “I guess. Truthfully, it could be anyone.”

  The park had been surrounded by woods. Anyone could have been skulking through the trees. However, it could very well have been someone from the case.

  Greg pulled into the parking lot of the bed and breakfast. The ding on his phone had him pulling it out before he even turned off the motor.

  After reading the text, he laid his head back against the head rest and sighed. “So, apparently Quinn and Fanny came home with a cab and Maggie and Tristan took the car to a club and now it won’t start.”

  Ericka groaned. She’d been looking forward to the warm sheets in her room. Even though it turned out that she’d had to share it. They had less space now than they had before. Those were the breaks.

  “I guess we should go get them. I mean, we’re already in our going out clothes.”

  “You sure? I could beg Quinn to get them.” Greg enacted that little sideways smile of his.

  She would have loved to have gone in, maybe sit by the fireplace with some hot chocolate and just study the flames before rushing off to bed, but they were needed. They were always needed.

  “Let’s just go get them.”

  The drive to the club was only a few miles. Conversation halted while they waited outside for the couple to come out.

  At the club, a sullen Maggie and an upset Tristan climbed into the back seat. Neither looked at each other on the drive back to the B&B. When they parked in the lot, they fell out opposite sides and moved in close enough to whisper. Ericka thought they bickered, but she couldn’t be sure.

  Their voices carried on the evening wind. At least enough for Ericka to discover that Tristan wanted to return to New York. Maggie wasn’t happy about the choice, but she agreed not to stop him.

  What could Maggie do, other than quit her job?

  Which was a question that Tristan put forth.

  Greg reached over and grabbed Ericka’s hand. Neither of them wanted that to happen, but they both understood.

  Then the two of them were inside.

  “I guess we should go in now.”

  “Yeah. I’m glad we waited. I don’t really want to be a part of that argument.”

  Ericka and Greg entered and walked up the stairs together. Greg gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and they parted ways. Ericka entered the shared room. Everyone there seemed to have a lot on their minds. In fact, so much had been on her mind that she tossed and turned the entire night. Maggie hadn’t been much better. Poor Fanny. Every time Ericka faced her way, she was looking at the ceiling in a perfectly still pose.

  Ericka wondered if the guys fared any better. The night went by way slower than she’d hoped. In the morning she sat on the side of the bed and yawned over and over behind her hand.

  “Sorry, ladies about the rough night.” Maggie had her feet on the floor and looked over at them from the fold out couch.

  Fanny looked at her hands as she propped herself up in one of the double beds. “I can’t say I blame him. I’m ready to go back too. All Quinn does is work. I barely see him. It wasn’t like this in New York.”

  “How so?” Ericka couldn’t stop herself. As far as she could tell they were together way more than they were before. And Fanny’s statement without facts in evidence meant that she and Tristan had been talking about his desire to leave. Not surprising since they were together most of the day.

  “There was down time. He would come over and we would talk about normal stuff. Here, it is like the entire town is all consuming. I hate it!” She stomped to the bathroom and slammed the door.

  Ericka cocked her brow. She hadn’t realized how this was affecting the others.

  “Well, that was interesting.” Maggie rose to her feet and shuffled to the window. She looked out and frowned. “I guess it doesn’t matter now.” She pointed.

  Ericka rose and went to the window as well. Outside, Tristan carted a large bag to a car that had just arrived.

  “I guess he found a rental.”

  “I guess so. And now he’s leaving.” She faced Ericka. “Should I go with him?”

  Ericka lifted her hands. “Oh, no. You can’t ask me that.”

  “But I am. You’re my only female friend. I need to know what you would do.”

  Ericka pulled her chin back to her chest and pointed at herself. “What would I do? I have no idea what I would do. And I don’t have to live with this situation, you do. What do you want to do?”

  “She wants to stay here with you guys, duh?” Fanny reentered the room. She plopped her suitcase up on the bed and unzipped it. Unceremoniously, she started throwing clothes in. “I get it. You’re like a family. That means there really isn’t any room for anyone else. Maybe one day you’ll wake up and realize that was a mistake.”

  Then she was out the door. It closed with a distinct thud. Ericka and Maggie just stared at it.

  Then Maggie said, “Is she going with Tristan?” She quickly turned to look out into the lot. “Yup, she’s going with Tristan.” Maggie moved away and ran her hand through her hair over and over. Then she went to the door. “I’ll catch you later. I need to talk to Greg.”

  “Of course.”

  Ericka watched her leave. Before she could think about it too long, she found her clothes and went to the shower. The hot water did nothing to heal her hurt. Not that that had ever helped before. She’d just hoped.

  Once she stepped out, dried, and dressed, she went into the room and grabbed her badge and gun. Greg knew she was going to the dry cleaners, so she didn’t need to tell him her intent. And Quinn probably wouldn’t be in attendance since he was busy with other things.

  What would he do? Fanny had been the only girl that he’d been in a relationship with since Ericka had met him. He wouldn’t want to end something so special. Ericka couldn’t blame him.

  Instead of bothering anyone else, she went on her own. Downstairs, she had the B&B owner call her a cab. She didn’t want to ask Greg for his car, and she still didn’t have one of her own. That was becoming real problem.

  Within what seemed like minutes, she was outside the cleaners. She paid the cab driver and told him to wait until her return.

  She tugged on her jacket and entered. No one was behind the register, so she rang the bell that rested on the counter.

  She tapped her foot and looked out at the road. Cars traveled by frequently. Not many stopped outside. Apparently, dry cleaners weren’t as popular as they once had been.

  “Hello, welcome. How may I help you today…”

  That voice.

  Ericka couldn’t breathe. There was no way. It couldn’t be. He was in witness protection. He was hidden away in some foreign place where he could never be found.

  It couldn’t be happening.

  It just couldn’t.

  “Ericka?”

  She rotated. Her feet almost came out from under her.

  “Joey…”

  “Nope, it’s Chet Mahon. Nice to meet you.” His hand trembled as he held it across the counter and waited for her to take it.

  A tear slipped from her eye and onto her cheek. How could the New York department send her to the place that Joey Malone and his family was in hiding? Who oversaw this ridiculous operation? When she found out they wouldn’t hear the end of it.

  ****

  Greg arrived at the office. He’d not told the others he was going, but he thought they’d figure it out.

  The door opened and Maggie entered. She went into a rant about Tristan leaving. Greg barely listened but he got the drift.

  He sighed. “Maggie, I know you need to do what you have to do but stop and think about this before you just leave.”

  “I love him, Greg. He’s leaving because of my job.”

  “I get that, I do. But if you go running after him and you lose your job, how will you live? Is he going to marry you?”

  “Well…” She looked at the ground and shuffled her feet.

  “Exactly. Let him cool off for a while. You can do the long-distance thing. I’m already reaching out to Director Manis about the situation, and I think he is trying to get us back home. It is just taking longer than he thought it would.”

  It was true.

  He’d called him that morning.

  After the Ann Marie case was solved, they wanted out. The town could easily take care of their everyday problems. And clearly the Local Leos didn’t want them there.

  “Fine. I’ll wait. But I won’t wait long.” She turned on her heel and headed to her desk.

  The office window had been replaced with cardboard and duct tape. Greg would have argued they needed a temporary office, or that they could share one with local law enforcement, but he thought better of it.

  Maggie settled in the chair behind her desk, palmed her chin, and stared intently at the computer before her. Quinn had yet to arrive as had Ericka. He’d almost called Ericka to check on her but stopped himself. She had a right to privacy and time to think. There was a lot to think about.

  “I got an email from Russ Thomas. He got the ME to rush through that DNA from Ann Marie’s lips and it turns out there was something there.”

  “What?” Greg squeezed his hands before him. If they found answers they might get to leave sooner than they planned.

  “It doesn’t say.”

  Greg moved closer and leaned over her shoulder, studying the screen. Indeed, the email was devoid of any real information. Just they had found something, but not what or from whom.