LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Which car is yours?” he asked.

      “What? Oh, the silver one over there.”

      “Nice.”

      “It was my husband’s,” she said flatly. “It’s paid for and it gets good gas mileage so I kept it. I suppose I should have traded it in on a smaller model but I just never got around to it.”

      “There’s nothing wrong with a luxury car. Where do you want this stuff? In the trunk?”

      “Yes.” She pressed a button on her key ring and the trunk unlatched with a click. “Thanks. I’ll pay you back as soon as I get everything sorted out.”

      “No hurry. You know where to find me on Sunday mornings. I’m looking forward to meeting Danny.” The startled expression on her face made him chuckle wryly. “Not very subtle, am I?”

      “No. Not very.” She began to smile and reached out, clearly offering to shake his hand.

      Thad shifted his own grocery bags so he could oblige. He hadn’t anticipated feeling her tremble. It was not that cold for a short walk outside.

      Rather than release her immediately, he held on long enough to ask, “What is it? What else is wrong?”

      “Nothing, I...”

      “Don’t you know it’s a sin to lie to a Sunday school teacher?”

      “It’s a sin to lie to anybody,” Lindy said. She seemed to be struggling with a decision for a few moments before she sighed and spoke again. “It’s a long story. My house was burglarized recently. I surprised them in the act so I didn’t think anything was stolen.” Her forehead furrowed. “Now, I’m not sure. I mean, the cards are still in my purse. They can’t have been used.”

      So that was the rest of the story he’d partially overheard. “You don’t have to have a card in hand to debit to it, you know. Look at sales on the internet. All you have to do is type in the right numbers and it’s a done deal.”

      She paled and swayed slightly. “Oh, dear.”

      “What did the police say about your break-in?” Thad asked, knowing what she’d probably say.

      “I didn’t call them.”

      “You should have.” He scowled, hoping his opinion would make her change her mind. “What stopped you?”

      “It’s complicated.”

      “Okay. Look, I have a little experience with computers. If you’ll let me, I’d like to help you.”

      “What can you possibly do?”

      “Start by checking your accounts to see when they were tampered with, file a claim to have the money returned, then tighten up security to make sure nobody can do any more damage.” He paused, smiling at the irrationality of his suggestions and wondering why he’d made them. “Or, you could just swing by the bank on your way home and do all that in person.”

      Lindy began to shake her head. “I can’t. My husband insisted we keep our accounts in Atlanta, even after we moved here, and I never got around to changing to a local bank.”

      “Then my offer stands. I learned a lot of useful tricks while I was working for Uncle Sam. I’m pretty sure I can help you.”

      “I’d heard you were a soldier. I had no idea that job involved computers.”

      “We had guns, too,” Thad said, continuing to smile for her benefit. “I was taught to handle both.” He eyed an old blue pickup that was parked several spaces away. “There’s my truck. Since you didn’t buy any perishables you can follow me to my office and we can get started right away.”

      “I don’t know, I...”

      He held up his free hand as though taking an oath. “I promise you. I am one of the good guys. I even have the medals to prove it. I can dig them out and show you if necessary.”

      “I’ll take your word for it.”

      “Good, then hop in your car and let’s go.”

      “Why are you doing this?” Lindy asked, still acting hesitant.

      “Because you look like somebody who needs help and I’m in a position to offer it, that’s all. No ulterior motives. Scout’s honor.”

      It was easy to tell she remained anxious. He assumed that was because of those useless bank cards and the fact that someone had violated her privacy. He could understand feeling that way. He just hoped she would take him up on his offer instead of changing her mind and driving off.

      Watching in his rearview mirror, he was relieved to see the silver sedan pull out and fall smoothly into line behind him. She was going to let him help. Good. If he’d ever met someone who needed a friend it was Lindy Southerland.

      Why care? he asked himself. That was an excellent question. Perhaps it was because of the woman’s demeanor. Or maybe it was meeting a widow who was raising her child alone that had tapped into his conscience and created such a strong desire to offer assistance.

      He’d seen plenty of widows overseas; enough to last him a lifetime. And every time his work had fractured more families, his gut had tied in bigger knots. Knots that still lingered and had resulted in a medical discharge in spite of his continued desire to serve.

      The doctors who had judged him no longer fit for duty hadn’t understood. Nobody did. There was no job Thad had ever tackled that he hadn’t approached with complete dedication. That was why he’d assumed personal responsibility for the outcome of every skirmish and why the shrinks who had debriefed him had insisted he be sent back to civilian life.

      Well, here he was. And, in retrospect, his presence had been advantageous after Rob and Ellen had died in the fire that Ellen’s sister, Natalie, had caused. But that didn’t make life fair; not for his lost brother, not for Rob’s orphaned kids who had been given to people who were not even kin, not for all the survivors who had to carry on in spite of broken hearts.

      That needless sense of loss continued to disturb Thad but not in the same way it had at first. His personal faith had faltered initially, then had deepened in the aftermath of the tragedy, yet he was still searching for a satisfactory explanation for all the pain his family had suffered.

      Perhaps he always would.

      * * *

      Lindy knew she was being foolish to trust a virtual stranger but there had been something about Thad Pearson that had emotionally connected him to her. From the moment he had touched her hand and shown such concern for Danny, she had liked him. She couldn’t help herself.

      But do I dare trust him this much? she asked silently. If she’d been the least bit computer savvy or had known someone else who might be willing to go to bat for her, she wouldn’t have turned to Thad. However, since he was not only handy but had dropped into her life at exactly the right time, as if heaven-sent, she felt compelled to let him try to help. Worst case scenario, she’d have to change the passwords on a few accounts. Other than that, she couldn’t see any big risk.

      Sensing movement out of the corner of her eye, Lindy glanced into her side mirror. Speaking of risks, what did the driver of that big, white, dual-cab pickup think he was doing? This narrow section of road was no place to try to squeeze by.

      Her hands tightened on the wheel. The other truck had pulled even with her and was easing to the right, encroaching on her lane.

      She tapped the brakes, slowing to give the larger vehicle room to drop in between her and Thad. Since she knew where they were headed, she didn’t need to stay right on his bumper. Besides, somebody had to do something before that other driver caused a wreck.

      Lindy fell back, waiting for the more massive truck to sail on by. It did exactly the opposite, pacing her exactly.

      Scowling, she glanced over, trying to see who was driving, but was thwarted

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