Had it been that long? Why hadn’t she done something—tried to find Mom’s killer—before now? As for the new detective, she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but fresh eyes and new interest had to be good, right?
“I think talking to him is a great idea,” Cole said. “Remember, I’m looking into this too, and working with the police is the best way to go. I’ll try to set something up.”
Jo leaned her head against the headrest. A murder on the ferry. Her mother? Her father? What next?
She skimmed her smartphone. Maybe she shouldn’t, but she wanted to see if her story had gone viral. She spotted multiple news stories about the murder on the ferry, and her gut clenched. Nausea erupted. But she needed to see. She needed to know.
“Oh ... no...”
“What?” he asked.
“Too many viral images of me.” She looked up and held his gaze. “What was I thinking, coming out of hiding?”
“Let me see.” He leaned in as she held the phone for him to view the screen.
He watched a few moments, then sighed. “You look different here, Jo. Maybe you won’t be recognized.”
Then again, maybe this was all good. Stirring up trouble could be the best way to get answers. Hadn’t she hidden long enough?
“They’ll still publish my name. Someone is going to find me. Whoever chased me out of Michigan, whoever killed my mother, now knows I’m in Washington. They could already be here.”
“They only know you were here. They don’t know youlive here. People travel across Puget Sound for multiple reasons. Tourists. Business travelers.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“We’ll figure it out. I’ll find a place for you to stay.”
“You don’t have to give me protection. I know you have other obligations. Other commitments.”
“That all involve you.” He held her hand and looked at her, deep and long.
This wasn’t the professionalism she’d asked of him, but Jo was powerless against the gentle caress of his thumb and the longing in his eyes. The way he squeezed her hand made her want to move closer and melt into him.
Get a grip.
“Nothing ... nothing is more important than your safety,” he said. “Solving the mystery of your mother’s murder isn’t more important. Figuring out what’s going on with your dad isn’t more important. My job isn’t more important.Youare what’s important to...”
He let his words trail off. What had he been going to say?
To me...
He’d almost said it. Sheknewit. She couldn’t breathe.Oh,Cole...
Jo pulled her hand away. Now she could breathe. “Solving her mystery can help me to be safe.”
Hurt flickered briefly in his gaze, but then he smiled, and that reassured her. “I’m glad you see it that way.”
Jo turned her attention to the cars ahead of them, willing the ferry to go faster so she could put distance between them. A lot of space. Getting out of this vehicle would go a long way.
“You do understand that your safety is my priority, Jo, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“So please let me help you. I’m good at this.”
Though she kept her focus ahead, she smiled at that. “I have no doubt.”
“I can give you a list of protective detail references if needed.”
