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“What’s a fight going to cost you?”
She held up the glass, turning it, watching the water weep down the sides of the glass “More than I have”
“Freedohtly Asis best Maybe it’s better to walk away”
Deidre sipped her water, wondering how much it would take to wash down the bitterness “Yeah I suppose” Walking aasn’t her style
“How about dinner toer place that serves those ers Maybe we can even split a milkshake”
Laughing, Deidre rolled her neck from side to side She didn’t want to like Leah, but she did “I’d like that”
“Are you okay for now?”
“I’ base with you helped”
“My ear is here for the bending Always”
Deidre heard the conviction underscoring Leah’s words “Thanks, Leah Text you a time and place tomorrow?”
“Perfect”
She ended the call and strolled across the living room toward the overstuffed couch in her den She’d moved into the place a couple of weeks before, finally deciding to give up the rented hotel suite for a e with no possessions and no h, so she’d opted for a partially furnished place Already she looked forward to the day when she could decorate the place with her own stuff Other than her clothes, coed to her
She took another big sip of water The price of freedom
A clang of the trash cans outside had her turning back to the French doors that led out onto a patio The heavy sheers over the panes blocked out most of the backyard view of the woods She rose, set down her glass, and reed toward the doors, checking her watch As she reached for the door handle, she spotted the note taped to the outside pane Written in a thick ic marker, the note simply read, I see you
As she glared at the note, a quick test of the door handle found it locked Quickly, she unlocked the door, snatched the note, and relocked it She studied the lined yellow paper I see you
“Where?” Her first thought was Tyler This felt like more of his bullshit “Damn you”
She crumpled the note in her hand and turned away fro back toward her purse She set her sidearain, and dialed his nu, the call went to his voice e”
A litany of oaths crossed herhe left it there, but she recognized his handwriting She could run fingerprints His ue she’d stolen the legal pad he always kept on his desk A frame-up, he’d say
She sed the oaths and ended the call, tossing the phone onto the table as she shoved the note in her pants pocket They were scheduled to e on Tuesday, and she didn’t need to hear her voice ranting to his voice one
“I’ll put the screws to you in court” A second phone in her purse dinged, signaling a text It was the burn phone she’d purchased with cash a feeeks before
I’M HERE
Tyler quickly forgotten, she put down her personal cell Her heart rate ju and he was here This time, if he wanted his money orthe bait So close to ending this nightmare
WHERE?
OUTSIDE
NOW? WE MEET TOMORROW
I WANT TO MEET NOW IMPORTANT
Sliding her shoes on and with gun in hand, she ined, but it would work She’d dealt with her share of bad guys in her ten years with the Nashville Police Departer
The heating system hummed as it blew a fresh burst of warm air from the floorboards Deidre paused in the hallway, steady, listening and waiting Adrenaline raced through her “We’re a little old for games, don’t you think?”
Again, her ansas the steady hum of the furnace Slowly, she lowered her weapon and released the breath she’d been holding