LITMIR.BIZ

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said, patting his arm. “Let’s not go there.”

      Aware of the sudden tension, Carlotta changed the subject. “I assume you’re both here to see Eva McCoy?”

      June nodded to her son. “Mitch knows Eva.”

      “We belonged to the same running club in Hawaii where I’m based,” Mitch said.

      Carlotta’s lips parted in surprise. “Hawaii—really?” Her hand closed over the charm bracelet that held the aloha charm. It was a coincidence, of course, but still …

      Mitch nodded. “Fort Shafter. Eva trained there for the Olympic marathon.”

      “Carlotta, will you take our picture?” June asked.

      “Of course.”

      Mitch handed her a digital camera. “Just push the silver button.”

      She framed them inside the small square and noticed that while June’s smile was bright, Mitch’s seemed a little forced. “Say ‘cheese,’” she encouraged, but he still looked stiff when she took the photo. It appeared that mother and son had some fences to mend.

      Carlotta handed the camera back to him just as an excited murmur swept through the crowd.

      “There she is,” Mitch said.

      Carlotta turned as the tall, slender brunette walked in wearing a white Olympic athletic suit trimmed in red and blue. She smiled shyly as the Atlanta crowd cheered for their hometown girl. Carlotta couldn’t help noticing that the woman didn’t seem to enjoy being in the spotlight. Eva waved with one hand, fingering the gold medal around her neck with the other hand. Her boyfriend, fellow Olympian Ben Newsome, walked a few steps behind Eva, dressed in a dark blue Olympic athletic suit, also waving to the crowd. If Carlotta’s memory served, he had medaled in a couple of track and field events as well.

      A short nervous man hovered next to Eva, probably a publicist, Carlotta guessed. A beefy-looking fellow in a sport coat trailed behind, his head constantly moving, scanning the crowd. His gaze stopped on Mitchell Moody for a few seconds, sizing him up. Mitchell did stand out in a crowd, Carlotta conceded. Especially since he was taking lots of photos of Eva and waving, trying to catch her attention. At the hovering presence of the bodyguard, Carlotta wondered briefly if the Internet rumors about Eva receiving death threats were correct.

      From the rear of the store, Jack and Maria came forward to speak with the bodyguard. After conferring, the three of them split up, circling the crowd, which had grown to overflow the aisles and available floor space. The detectives didn’t seem concerned, only attentive, so Carlotta tried to relax. As bodies shifted, she was separated from June and Mitchell, but Carlotta managed to wave before she was swept up in the mob.

      Hundreds of people had gathered to see Eva McCoy in person. Although Eva seemed a little stiff and preoccupied when she gave her talk, the crowd was rapt. She was appealing and soft-spoken—Carlotta couldn’t imagine why anyone would want the woman dead unless they were a nut job.

      Still, heaven knew there were plenty of those afoot.

      Eva held up her wrist to display her famous gold “lucky charm” bracelet that she said had given her the strength not just to finish the marathon, but to fight back and finish first. Then she spoke fondly of the children’s charity that would receive a portion of the proceeds of the Lucky Charm Bracelet sales. Afterward, she entertained questions from the members of the press in attendance.

      An attractive, plump redhead stood. “Rainie Stephens, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Eva, you’re the most decorated women’s marathoner of this decade. Are you planning to compete in the World Championships Marathon in Helsinki in a few weeks? It’s the only major marathon you haven’t won.”

      Eva smiled. “Thank you. And, yes, I am. That’s one race I want to win before I retire.”

      “Is it true that Body League sportswear is going to pay you a million dollars if you win the World Championships?”

      Eva looked uncomfortable. “That’s what I’ve heard.”

      The crowd laughed.

      “And what advice would you give to someone who’s facing a difficult task?”

      “Just keep finding ways not to quit,” Eva said with a smile. “And don’t try to do it alone. While I was running, I looked at my bracelet and thought of the people who gave me the charms. I drew on their strength.”

      Don’t try to do it alone. The words tugged on Carlotta’s heart. After her parents had left, she’d felt so abandoned and overwhelmed with raising her little brother that some days she had been an automaton—numb but moving forward. Everyone she’d counted on had left her high and dry. And yet, somehow she’d found an inner strength that she hadn’t known she possessed. Now that she had people in her life who wanted to help her—like Coop and Jack and even Peter again—she was having trouble letting them in. There was an upside to being lonely—at least it was safe.

      “I love you, Eva!” a man shouted. The crowd tittered.

      But instead of brushing off the outburst, fear flashed over Eva’s face. She shrank from the podium.

      “Marry me!” the dark-haired man shouted, pushing people aside to reach the front of the dais. He had a wild look in his eye, appearing to be drunk or otherwise impaired.

      Eva’s bodyguard stepped up next to her, poised to strike. Jack materialized in time to intercept the man who had caused the disturbance and guide him away from the crowd. The heckler didn’t resist, but looked over his shoulder as he was being led away.

      “Eva! Eva, I can’t live without you!”

      The man’s words ended when Jack jammed his hand over the guy’s mouth. The crowd parted to let them pass. They walked by Carlotta and she could smell alcohol rolling off the man.

      The store publicist quickly took the microphone, thanked Eva, and directed the crowd to the adjacent jewelry department where Eva would be greeting the public and etching her name into charm bracelets.

      Carlotta helped to facilitate the long, snaking line, unboxing charm bracelets after they’d been purchased and handing them to Eva to sign. The woman kept looking up, her gaze darting all around. Carlotta smiled and introduced herself in an attempt to put the athlete at ease. “Your own charm bracelet is beautiful.”

      Eva lifted her arm and studied the now-famous piece of jewelry with a fond smile. “Yes, it’s very special to me. My coach tried to persuade me not to wear it during the run—every ounce of weight counts, you know. I’m glad I trusted my instincts.”

      “Everyone here adores you.”

      “I have to confess that crowds make me nervous. I started running because it’s something I can do alone.”

      “I’m sorry about the earlier disturbance.”

      The woman sighed. “It’s not the first time something like that has happened.”

      “You’re very good at connecting with the public.”

      “No, I’m not,” Eva said with a miserable smile. “I fake it.”

      As one hour elapsed, then two, Carlotta noticed that each encounter took its toll on Eva. She grew more skittish and pale, fidgeting in the chair that had been set up for her in front of a tall, slant-top table. Twice she slipped and cut herself with the tool she was using to etch Eva on the back of the charm bracelets. Carlotta kept one eye on the clock, looking for an opportunity to slip away and check her cell phone messages. Wesley should be finished by now and she needed to talk to him—about the meeting with the D.A., and about the missing prescription drugs.

      “You’re probably bored to death,” Eva said as she handed Carlotta back yet another inscribed bracelet.

      Carlotta straightened. “Not at all.”

      “I see you have a bracelet, too,” Eva

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