“Maybe a week there, a couple of weeks here, and then you fly back again.”
Bobby’s knee was still bouncing like crazy.I put my hand on it, forced him to be still.“Bobby, I don’t even know if I want to do it.”
He blinked as though he’d forgotten we were talking.And then he smiled—the big, goofy one, but with a shadow of something else behind it.“Right, I know.”
“These deals aren’t always to the writer’s advantage,” I said.“Besides, isn’t this a little, you know, crazy?”
“Crazy?No.You’d be great!I’m just thinking out loud.But yeah, you’re right, let’s wait and see.And whatever you want to do, Dash, you know I’ll support you.”
I tilted my head, studying him from a new angle.“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I hope Vivienne doesn’t murder me, because that would put a big damper on being your boyfriend.”
Bobby’s burnt-bronze eyes were surprisingly hard.“We’re going to figure this out.It’s not going to be like last time.”
“I guess.”My phone buzzed, and when I worked it out of my pocket, a calendar notification showed on the screen.“Shoot.There’s this panel—”
“Want me to stay?”Bobby asked as he got to his feet.
“No, God, I can’t believe I dragged you down here.I’m sorry.”
“Dash, I want to be here.I love you.Of course I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”I even tried for a smile that might, I hoped, be convincing.“Thank you.”
Bobby gave me a kiss and a searching look.“Public spaces.With people.The whole time.”
I did the Scout sign.
For some reason, that made Bobby sigh.“Where’d you park?”
“Uh—that way.”
“And what time is the conference over?”
“There’s an opening social, and then it gets kind of loose after that.”
“Call me.I don’t want you walking to your car by yourself.”
“Bobby, it’s not—”
“I want you to call me.”
I sagged and gave him the Scout sign again.
Bobby pecked me on the lips, murmured, “Be safe,” and headed for the door.
I let him go before I headed into the crowd.Bobby wasn’t wrong—those precautions were safe and sensible, and I was emotionally evolved enough to admit that I liked having a protective boyfriend who was going to make sure I was safe in a dark parking lot.Bobby and the sheriff were going to figure out what was going on.
On the other hand, I was also aware that Bobby’s efforts—no matter how thorough—weren’t going to be enough.Protecting me was a reactive job.We were always going to be one step behind Vivienne.And although the termcriminal mastermindgets thrown around a lot these days, in Vivienne’s case, it was true.She’d lived a life of murder, literally and figuratively.She had no qualms about lying, stealing, or killing to get what she wanted, and she had the track record to prove it.If she wanted to get back on top, she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.
And in the meantime, what was I supposed to do?Sit around and wait for Vivienne to act?
So, I decided I had to do the obvious thing.
I had to figure out what she was up to.
