Мэри Эндрюс - The Newcomer

“After we put Evan Wingfield behind bars,” Agent Hill repeated.

“Maybe we do something to spook Wingfield. Make him believe it’s urgent to get Letty out of his hair once and for all?” Joe said. “What if we let him think she has proof that he killed Tanya? He’d come after her then, right?”

“But I don’t have proof,” Letty objected.

Vikki Hill nodded slowly. “He doesn’t know that. I could contact one of the NYPD detectives investigating Tanya’s murder. Get him to pay Wingfield a visit, yank his chain a little, maybe hint that they’ve been in contact with Letty, and she’s cooperating. Which is true. That would light a fire under him, right?”

“Maybe,” Letty said.

“I think it’s worth a shot,” the FBI agent said. “I’ll text Wingfield, tell him we need to talk. When he calls, I’ll tell him I’ve found a guy who can do the job. If he balks, I’ll turn up the heat. Okay?”

“Are you absolutely positive Evan doesn’t know where I am?” Letty asked.

“No way. I’ve covered my tracks,” Vikki Hill insisted. “I promise you, he’s never heard of the Murmuring Surf. He’s clueless.”

“Well? What did you think of Agent Hill?” Joe asked. They were in his truck, driving back to the motel.

“She’s okay. I guess. For an FBI agent.”

“Yeah. Not very likable. But she seems to know what she’s doing.”

Letty stared out the window at the passing scenery, chewing on a ragged bit of cuticle. “You really think this scheme of hers will work?”

“I wouldn’t have brought you to meet her today if I didn’t.”

“And she would have arrested me anyway and dragged me back to New York.”

“No,” he said, turning to look directly at her. “I would not let that happen.”

“What happens if Evan doesn’t bite? If they can’t prove he killed Tanya and tried to have me killed? What then?”

“We’ll figure it out,” Joe said.

“We?”

Without slowing down he veered sharply right into the parking lot of a strip shopping center. He slapped the gear in park.

“Yeah,” he said, solemnly. “We. You and me. And maybe Ava and Isabelle will help too, but I’m thinking it will mostly be you and me. Unless you’ve got a problem with that.”

Letty chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t know what to say. I’m grateful, but Joe, I’m not … I’m not in a place where I can do this right now. Not with everything that’s hanging over my head. And with Maya. When and if we ever get this mess with Evan straightened out, she’s got to be my priority. I’m all she’s got. And I promised Tanya…”

“Did you promise her you’d never have a life for yourself?” he asked.

“I promised I’d keep her daughter safe.”

He laughed. “What’s safer than hanging out with a cop?” He reached under the passenger seat and brought out a set of handcuffs. “I’ve got a nightstick under the seat too, but I can’t reach it right now.”

She managed a smile. “You know what I mean.”

“Okay, set aside all that stuff. Just tell me, yes or no. Are you at all attracted to me?”

“A little.”

“One thing you don’t have in common with your sister? You’re a terrible actress, Letty Carnahan.”

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips before she could disagree.

She returned the kiss, but reluctantly pulled away from their embrace after only a moment. “You sound like my last agent.”

An elderly woman pushing a shopping cart with a dachshund strapped in the child seat stopped as she was passing the truck and wagged her finger at Letty in disapproval.

“We should go,” Letty said. “I’ve got work to do and it’s not fair to leave Maya with your mom when she’s trying to work too.”

“You’re still avoiding my question. What about us? Me and you? Anything?”

“Let’s keep things strictly professional for now, please? My life is too complicated.”

“What if I told you I don’t mind complications?” Joe said.

“Okay,” she said, relenting. “You’re right. I am attracted to you, and more than a little. But here’s the thing, Joe. I don’t want a relationship based on being rescued by you. You’re sweet and I appreciate that you’re so good to Maya, but that can’t be all there is to us. Years ago, I stupidly got involved with Evan because I let him ‘rescue’ me. It’s the same damn trap my mother fell into, over and over again, relying on a man, instead of figuring out how to make it on her own. That’s where Tanya learned it, you know, to use her ‘charm’ and feminine wiles—which really meant to lie and keep secrets. I don’t want that for me, and I don’t want Maya to think that’s how she needs to live her life.”

Joe sat, speechless.

“Rescue you? That’s what you think I’m trying to do?”

“Yes. You’re a cop, and I know that’s what cops are trained to do, but I don’t want to be a victim anymore. I won’t be a professional victim for the rest of my life.”

He pounded the dashboard with his closed fist. “Dammit, Letty. Yeah, I’m a cop. I can’t turn that off and on. But that’s not why I’m trying to help you, not because it’s my job. Hell, if I were doing my job, I would have turned you in as soon as I figured out you were a fugitive. But I didn’t. Because I knew you couldn’t have done what you’re accused of. I care about you, and I want to be with you. Is that a crime?”

“No,” she said quietly. “Not a crime. Just not right for me. Not now anyway.”

He pulled the truck back into traffic, steering with one hand, the other braced on the open driver’s-side window. “What now, then?”

“We get through this, as best we can,” Letty said. “No emotional attachment though. Please?”

Joe shrugged. “You’re the boss.”

32

AS SOON AS LETTY WALKED into the office, Ava pounced. “How did it go with the FBI?”

“I’m not sure,” Letty said.

She bent down and kissed the top of her niece’s head. “Have you been having fun with Ava, lovebug?”

“I made a puzzle,” Maya said proudly. “And now I’m making you a necklace.”

Letty pulled her chair up to the reception desk and powered up the computer, and began checking the reservation portal. “This is good,” she said, looking over at her employer. “April is really starting to fill up. The efficiency is totally booked, all the way into mid-July. I wonder if we should have bumped up the rates a little more?”

“Letty!” Ava exclaimed. “What happened with that woman? You can’t just waltz in here and clam up like that.”

“I’m not sure I’m supposed to talk about it.” Letty glanced meaningfully over her shoulder at Maya, who was stringing wooden spools on a length of red yarn.

“Does she believe your story?” Ava asked in a near whisper. “She’s not going to arrest you, right?”

“Yes, I think she believes me. And no, I don’t think an arrest is imminent,” Letty said.

Ava craned her neck, looking out toward the parking lot. “Where’d Joe go? I thought he had the day off?”

“He said he had some stuff to take care of,” Letty said. Anxious to divert Ava’s laser focus, she pointed at the screen of the computer. “According to the portal, you’ve got guests checking into unit twelve the Monday after Easter. But I thought you told me the Sheehans aren’t driving home until that next weekend.”

“What?” Ava peered over her shoulder at the screen. “This doggone new booking software has me so confused, I don’t know who’s coming and who’s going. Does that mean we’re double-booked?”

“You were supposed to input all that data into the new spreadsheet,” Letty said, trying to sound more patient than she felt.