LITMIR.BIZ

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do you do for them?” They’d been over some of that already, but it seemed like a safer—friendlier—conversation than bringing up Sarah again.

      Build trust. That was what he needed to do if he wanted to find answers. He’d had the opportunity to do that very thing with the man who’d killed his sister. If he could go back, he would go through whatever means necessary to make the man open up. Maybe Lauren would still be alive if he’d tried a little harder, if he’d pressed a little deeper, if he hadn’t given people the benefit of the doubt. He hadn’t been a cop back then, but he’d been in contact with the perp all along; he just hadn’t realized it.

      “I’m a programmer. CybCorp handles security for various businesses throughout the country. They’re a smaller company, but they’re reputable and they allow me to work from home.”

      “Must get lonely working at home.”

      She cut a sharp glance his way. “Let me guess—you’re trying to trap me into confessing I abducted Sarah because I was lonely.”

      He shook his head. He actually hadn’t been. He’d just tried to imagine what it would be like being single and also working alone. “I was just making conversation.”

      Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I like solitude, believe it or not.”

      “You said earlier that you’re not married.” He already knew the answer, but he needed to develop some rapport with her. He’d read the police report—these details didn’t appear relevant to the current investigation but were essential for putting together a psychological profile of Laney.

      Laney frowned, staring out the window and rubbing her hands together. “No, I’m not. Not anymore. I’m widowed.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “I’m sure you are.” Her shoulders slumped even more, as if the burdens she carried overwhelmed her. “Sorry. You didn’t deserve that one.”

      “What happened?” He kept his words soft and light.

      “He survived Afghanistan, only to be killed by a home intruder here in the States. He’d only been home for three weeks when it happened.” Her voice cracked and she finished with a deep gulp of air.

      “I can’t imagine. How long ago did that happen?”

      A new somberness washed over her. “Three years. I was down in Norfolk at the time. I decided to get a fresh start here in Richmond afterward. There were too many memories down there. I had to get away.”

      “Makes sense. How did the two of you meet? A computer programmer and a navy SEAL.”

      “Proof that opposites attract, I suppose. I was actually in my last semester at MIT. I came with some friends down to Virginia Beach. I nearly got pulled out to sea by a riptide. Thankfully, Nate was there with some of his SEAL buddies. We were an unlikely pair, but Nate wasn’t the type who always had to be macho and tough. He liked watching sitcoms and eating popcorn with melted mints at the bottom and playing old-school arcade games. We were inseparable after that. I graduated and got a job down in Norfolk so I could be near him. We got married four months later.”

      “Sounds like a nice story.”

      “Yeah, it is...it was.” She absently rubbed her arms. “I know you probably won’t believe me, but I was actually planning on being at that school banquet with Sarah tomorrow night. I’m incredibly sad that won’t be happening. I’d been so looking forward to it.”

      “You like Sarah?”

      “She’s a great girl. Smart. Curious. Personable.”

      “Let me guess. She reminds you of yourself at that age.”

      A sad smile tugged at her lips. “Actually, she kind of does. It might sound crazy or maybe even expected. I don’t know. But I guess I did see part of myself in her—my old self, at least. I’m not that person anymore.”

      He pulled to a stop in front of her house. It seemed the press hadn’t caught wind of this case because they were surprisingly absent, and, at the moment, all the neighbors were inside their houses. Hopefully that meant no drama. The front door had been temporarily fixed—more to prevent an insurance claim than to be helpful.

      Laney’s hand went to the door handle, and she turned toward him. “Thank you.”

      He nodded toward her house. “I’m going to walk you in.”

      She visibly bristled at his announcement, as if the very idea offended her. “You don’t have to do that.”

      “I do,” he insisted. “I need to make sure your door was put back on its hinges and that no one is nosing around your place. Believe me, it happens. No more tragedies today.”

      She seemed to hesitate before nodding. “No more tragedies.”

      They climbed out of the car and started through the dry grass toward the porch.

      At the door, Laney slid her key into the lock and paused, her lungs heaving with what he assumed was anxiety. Inside, there were probably too many bad memories for her. The invasion. The accusations. The interrogation that followed. Besides, the flash bang could shake up the steadiest of personalities.

      “Let me go first,” he said.

      Before she could argue, Mark slipped past her. He kept his hand on his gun as he walked from room to room. This time, he saw the house through different eyes. No longer as a potential suspect’s place, but instead as the residence of someone whose life had been turned upside down.

      He saw pictures on the wall and on the entryway table of Laney with a man whom he presumed to be her deceased husband. He saw the pictures of vacations together. Of Laney in front of the Christmas tree. Of the smiling couple standing in front of a backdrop of autumn-entrenched mountains.

      She appeared to have had, at one time, a full life.

      How did someone go from that to being such a loner? It seemed like a shame.

      Of course, some people might say the same thing about him. He lived for his work. He had ever since his sister disappeared. He’d found it easier to pour all of his time and energy into a single cause than to let his thoughts linger on the tragedy in his life.

      He had let one person in, though. Chrystal. He thought he might find healing in falling in love, but instead all he’d gotten was more heartache. She’d broken his trust just like his stepfather had. He was better off growing old alone than trusting someone else and being disappointed.

      He walked back toward Laney, ready to give her the all clear. Before he could, a gunshot pierced the front window.

      He ran toward Laney and threw her on the ground, praying he wasn’t too late to protect her.

THREE

      Fear coursed through Laney as she heard glass shatter. As she realized a bullet was being fired. As she felt the detective throw her to the ground. As she quickly acknowledged the fact that someone was shooting at her.

      Had the whole world gone crazy? How had a day that had started so ordinary turned into such a nightmare?

      What she wouldn’t do to turn back time. Not just on today. But to bring Nate back. To feel happy and safe again. To believe the whole world was in front of her.

      But that wasn’t possible.

      Right now, she just had to survive. Take it day by day, moment by moment. That’s how she’d gotten through the last three years.

      Please, Lord, help me. Please.

      “Are you okay?” Detective James yelled over her.

      She could feel his heart pounding into her back. Or was that her heart? She couldn’t tell.

      Laney thought she said yes to his question, but she could hardly

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