They jumped apart as a voice called from above.
April twisted her head around and spied Adam waving from a second-story window. She lifted her hand. “I wonder if he wants us to come up.”
Then Adam disappeared from the frame and closed the window.
“Guess not.” Clay opened the car door for her. “I’ll follow you over to this guy’s place. Do you think it’s safe?”
“They’re a couple of young guys whose only violent tendencies probably come from the video games they play.”
“Who got duped into trading a car for a worthless rock.”
“I’m going to make good on that.”
“You’ve never been the best judge of character, April.” Clay shut the car door on her retort and strode back to his truck.
She bit her lip as she watched him in the rearview mirror. The only character she’d ever accurately judged was his.
The drop-off with Ryan went smoother than expected. That might’ve had something to do with Clay’s large and in-charge presence hanging over the negotiations.
She made things official by signing off on a transfer and then joined Clay in his truck.
They spent the hours-long ride back to Paradiso catching up, as before they’d been too busy discussing heads and headless bodies and Jimmy and Adam and mules. Jimmy’s death had freed her, and she couldn’t even feel sadness for the man he’d been when they first met—because he’d never been that man. That Jimmy had been Adam’s creation—and she’d fallen so easily into his trap in her desire to push away the memories of Clay.
She turned her head to the side and drank in his strong profile. As if she could ever forget about Clay.
Maybe they had a chance now. Maybe the ugliness that had swirled around her after Dad murdered Mom and disappeared had taken a permanent hiatus, and she could start living the life she wanted.
Clay jerked his head to the side. “What?”
“Just contemplating my future.” She stretched her arms in front of her, entwining her fingers.
“Our immediate future involves getting back to Meg’s so that I can pick up Denali.”
She adjusted her sunglasses as Clay headed west on the turnoff for Paradiso. “I wonder if Meg and Kyle have gone on a date yet. He’s not married, is he?”
“No. You think they hit it off?”
“Duh.” She cracked open her window, preferring fresh air to AC. “I’m surprised they hadn’t met before. Paradiso is hardly a bustling metropolis.”
“I’ve never played matchmaker before—except maybe between you and Denali. Now, that was love at first sight.”
She whispered, “I missed...that dog.”
“He missed you.” Clay’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “And he’ll miss you again.”
April pressed her lips together as a pulse beat in her throat. She’d have to play this by ear. She had no right to spring random thoughts on Clay until she’d had a chance to examine all angles. Hell, maybe he didn’t want her back, anyway.
Ten minutes later, they were rolling up to Meg’s house. Clay parked his truck behind Meg’s car in the driveway.
“Good, she’s home.”
“It is Saturday.” April jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “What are you going to do with that bloody towel you found in my trunk?”
“I’m not sure yet, but don’t tell anyone about it...including your brother.”
Grabbing the door handle, she cocked her head. “I’m sure he already knows about it.”
“Then there’s no need to tell him we have it.” Clay raised his eyebrows before jumping out of the car.
She didn’t blame him for being suspicious of Adam, but did he think he faked his own abduction?
Halfway up the walkway, the front door burst open and Denali bounded down the porch steps. He shot past Clay and danced and circled around her legs.
April laughed. “Good boy. You know who’s gonna give you the treats.”
“Some welcome home.” Clay crouched down, and Denali barreled into his chest, licking his face. “That’s more like it.”
“He heard your truck and started going crazy.” Meg stood on the threshold, framed by the door, propping the screen door open with her foot. “Everything go okay in New Mexico?”
“Just fine.” April waved her hand in the air. “Everything okay here? No more body parts showing up, I hope.”
“N-no, nothing quite like that.” Meg crossed her arms.
Clay’s head shot up. “Did the other woman’s body turn up?”
“No.” Meg turned toward the house. “It’s probably nothing. I’ll show you.”
April poked Clay in the back as she followed him up the porch steps. When he twisted his head over his shoulder, she rolled her eyes.
Once inside, Clay tripped to a stop and April plowed into his back.
“Hey, Kyle. You checking up on the security system?”
Kyle raised his beer. “Something like that.”
April nudged Clay’s upper arm and he rubbed it as if she’d punched him. “Why do you keep poking and prodding at me?”
She winked and then turned to Meg, hovering by the kitchen counter. “What did you have to show me?”
Meg slid an envelope off the counter with two fingers and held it up. “This was stuck under my windshield wiper today. It has your name on it.”
April caught her breath but forced a smile to her lips. “Mysterious. You didn’t see who left it?”
“No. I was at the grocery store. My car was in the parking lot and it was there when I came out.”
Under Meg’s watchful eye, April inserted her thumb beneath the flap and ripped it open. She withdrew a single sheet of paper, and her blood ran cold in her veins.
Chapter Thirteen
Clay nodded as he responded to Kyle’s question, but his heightened senses were focused on April, a white sheet of paper in one hand and an envelope crushed in the other.
He held up one finger to Kyle. “Excuse me a minute. What’s that all about, April?”
She held up the paper in front of her face and flipped her hair over one shoulder. “Just a note from a friend... Carly. She heard I was in town, but didn’t know how to reach me.”
Meg fanned herself. “Whew.
