Page 24 of Secret Stalker

Her ridiculous happiness at seeing him faded and she shook her head. “I’m not ever going back there.”

He cocked his head, as if he was sizing her up, planning strategies. “I want to make sure you’re safe, Bex.”

“I’m not taking any foolish chances. I’m going home as soon as feasible.”

“Not to Pigeon Forge to relax a few weeks first?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve...decided to go straight to Knoxville.” Because now she realized that if she went to Pigeon Forge all she’d do was think of Max and the last time they’d been there. And that wasn’t something she could handle right now.

“How about we have dinner and talk about your plans, and your safety? Plus, I need to talk to you about Marcia Knolls.”

She shouldn’t say yes. And she really didn’t want to discuss anything to do with Marcia. But she heard herself saying, “You buying?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. I’ll join you, but only because I’m too financially savvy to pass up a free meal. And the bagel I had this morning has long since lost its ability to stave off the growling in my stomach. But don’t expect any miracles. I’m telling you right now that nothing will make me agree to go downtown with you.”

“Downtown? You make it sound like we’re a big city. You’ve been gone way too long.”

The reason for her being gone seemed to hang like a heavy cloud over both of them, making his smile fade and her body tense. The surprisingly easy camaraderie that had flowed between them a moment ago evaporated, leaving them both on edge and uncomfortable once again. She hated that this was how things were between them. But there wasn’t anything that could be done about it.

Bex crossed to the desk and handed Martha the clipboard and pen. “You can mail me a copy later. No rush.”

“Oh, nonsense. It’ll only take a minute for me to notarize this and make you a copy. I’ll be right back.”

Bex was about to protest, but Martha was already heading down the hallway behind her desk again.

Max crossed his arms and rocked back on his boots. “I didn’t see your RAV4 out front. Is it at Eddie’s?”

Eddie’s Auto Barn. Bex smiled ruefully. “That place is still around?”

“Yep. Ralph Putnam bought it from Eric Green last year.”

“Has anyone ever figured out who the original Eddie was who started the garage?”

“Not as far as I know.”

She smiled and felt a tug of nostalgia for the happy years she’d spent growing up here. “Maybe I’ll ask Ralph to pick up my car and repair the windshield. I’m driving my mom’s Taurus right now and haven’t had a chance to put the RAV4 in anywhere to be fixed.”

The phone in his pocket buzzed and he pulled it out. He tilted it to see the screen, then frowned. “I’ve got to take this. Be right back.”

She nodded and he headed through the open doorway into the little hallway just outside. Feeling restless, Bex toured the reception area, walking the perimeter of the small room and studying the surprisingly nice artwork. She wondered whether a local painter had created it and leaned closer to look at the signature.

“No, she refused to come to the station. I don’t think I can convince her, either.”

She straightened, realizing she was unwittingly eavesdropping on Max’s phone conversation out in the hall. She was about to move away when he said something else.

“You’re changing your mind now? You’re the one who ordered me to talk to her in the first place. I’m telling you it’s all ancient history with us. We were kids. It meant nothing. Our past isn’t why she’s refusing to go. It’s her past, the Caldwell thing.”

She sucked in a breath, his words cutting through her like knives.

Ancient history.

It meant nothing.

“You like that painting? My oldest granddaughter did that.”

Bex turned around to see Martha standing behind her desk, papers in her hand, a proud smile on her face.

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