Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(31)
He sighed. “Right now you’re fairly safe at Marsh’s. I can keep watch periodically, but I need to do some research.” He stood and prowled toward the door. “Do me a favor, will you? Call Detective Malloy for an update and see if he’s found out anything about me. About my past.”
“I’ll call him after lunch.”
“Now… please, Josie,”
She rolled her eyes and punched in the number.
“Malloy.”
She wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt. “Detective. It’s Josie Dean calling for an update.”
“Ah, yes. Well, Mrs. Dean, I can tell you that the military is quite hushed about your husband. Sealed files. Four years of service. But one interesting thing…”
She raised her gaze to Shane’s. “What’s that, Detective?”
“His unit worked within the United States. When you said he was out of the country, well, he wasn’t.”
She frowned. “Of course he was. While we were married, he left the country all the time.”
“Not according to my buddy, the one person who’d tell me anything. Apparently your husband worked exclusively within our borders. They won’t even tell me what it was that he was doing. He lied to you.”
“I see.” The news shouldn’t surprise her. Nor should it hurt. Yet her stomach ached. “Any ideas where he is?” She glared at the quiet man by the door. One word from her and Malloy would know exactly where the lying bastard stood.
“No. My guess is that he’s taken off.” A rustling of papers echoed across the line.
Josie sighed. “You don’t believe that.”
Malloy coughed. “No, I guess I don’t. He went to a lot of trouble to track you down and bug your house, Mrs. Dean. He’s here for you. I doubt he’ll give up that easily.” More papers rustled. “I can put you somewhere safe, if you’d let me.”
Dread pooled in her abdomen. What should she do? “Thanks, Detective. I can take care of myself. Please call me with any updates.” She clicked the phone shut, focusing on her husband. “You’re a liar.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You never left the country. No overseas missions. Just here.”
“Are you sure?”
Josie shrugged. “Malloy is sure.” Anger increased her heart rate. What else had Shane lied about?
“I’ll have to check that out—though I’m starting to remember missions out of the country.” Shane opened the door.
“Maybe you didn’t only work for our military.” Could he be some sort of spy? Her stomach lurched.
He stiffened. “Maybe.”
God. Who was this man?
“Don’t go anywhere by yourself, angel. Stay in a group and stay safe.”
She was safe so long as he was out of her life. They both knew it. Now if only her body and heart would get the hint. She should’ve told Malloy the truth. But what if he was wrong? The military kept secrets, right? There was no doubt Shane was a soldier. But he kept secrets, too. Families could never survive secrets, that much she did know.
“Good-bye, Shane.”
Chapter 9
Josie clutched the bouquet of flowers to her chest, the sweet scent of roses churning her stomach. She leaned back in the front seat of Tom’s Chevy, her gaze on the rainy dusk outside. “Thanks for driving me.”
Tom nodded, his concentration on the wet road. “Not a problem. No reason to work late tonight, anyway.”
Maybe she should tell Tom that Shane dropped by the office. But why worry her friend? Great. Now she was lying and hiding facts from people in order to protect her killer of a husband. Her life had become a movie. And not a good one. “No work, huh?”
Tom grimaced and shrugged his flannel-covered shoulders. “Not so much. And it’s weird being on my own now. I mean, I had a company of six people back in Texas. When I went under, I thought I’d end up hiring people here as the business took off. So far, it’s just me.”
“The construction business is picking up, finally.” She forced her problems to the back of her head. “Right?”
“Yes.” Tom flashed her a goofy grin, good humor settling once again on his attractive face. His unkempt hair made him all the more boyishly handsome. “Still, I wish you could’ve seen our offices and my company when things were good. I was quite the catch.” He snorted, turning back toward the road.
“You’re still quite the catch.” And he was. Good-looking, smart, hardworking, and even better, he made her laugh. At first it bothered her that he was a couple years younger, but now she usually forgot about the age difference.
“Do you think I could catch you?” He lost his smile and his voice deepened, but he kept his gaze straight ahead.
She stiffened. “I, ah, I think you’re great.”
His shoulders jolted, and then he threw back his head and laughed, deep and loud.
Unable to help herself, Josie joined in. “I mean, I…” She gasped for breath, trying to speak. Her shoulders shook as she laughed, tension escaping her for the first time in days.
Tom wiped the corner of his eye. “Yeah, okay. You figure out the deal with your soon-to-be ex, and then I’ll make my move.” He chuckled again and then sobered. “But in all seriousness, if you’re in danger, I swing a mean hammer. I can keep you safe.”