She needed to think. She needed to be smart, and careful, and several steps ahead of a man who had spent his entire career being exactly those things.
She turned from the window.
Then, before she could stop herself, she picked up the photograph again and looked at it one more time. Her eyes fixed on Thayer. On the stillness of him. On the way he was positioned, just slightly wrong.
Nausea pooled in her gut, so she set it face down on the dresser.
Do the right thing. Even when it costs something.
She pressed her fingers flat against the back of the photograph.
Maybe doing the right thing meant not staying here. What if she was putting everyone in danger? Especially since Vince knew she was here.
How far would he go?
Or maybe that’s what he wanted. Maybe he wanted to drive her away, all so he could enact the next part of whatever plan he’d come up with.
Then she straightened. She shoved the picture between her mattress and boxspring, where no one would find it.
Then she squared her shoulders and walked downstairs.
CHAPTER 18
Wes stood outside with Caleb.His friend had just taken a phone call and had stepped away.
It was just as well because Wes’s mind hadn’t fully been on their conversation.
It kept going back to the kennel. To how Rowan had looked when she’d walked out. Her back had been straight and her chin level. That envelope had been tucked against her side like she was trying to make it smaller than it was.
He couldn’t help but think that whatever was inside that envelope contained bad news.
He pulled out his phone and found Rowan’s old number. Maybe her current number. He wasn’t sure.
He typed:
Is this still your number?
A few minutes later, his phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen.
It is. I never changed it.
He typed back:
I need to talk to you. Somewhere private. I know a pull-off up on Shenandoah Ridge Road—passed it on the way in. Good view. No one around.
The three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Okay.
Relief filled him. He typed back:
I need to finish up here first. Can you be ready in two hours?
Her response came quickly:
Can Reese Witherspoon act?
He hid a smile. Classic Rowan response.
