Overkill(77)

“And make things worse for myself? No.”

Hot, rampant anger surged through him. He used the turn signal only a second before swerving into the right lane, then pulled into the parking lot of a big box store, braked hard, and put the car in park.

“I resent being linked to what’s worse for you, Kate. What you and I do is none of that guy’s business.”

“He’s not a guy, Zach, he’s the most senior law officer of this state. He’s my boss. As such, he considers that you and I as a pair are his business, and he’s right. If it’s unethical by an eyelash, it’s unethical, period.” She made a gesture of impatience aimed at herself. “How did I let you talk me into coming with you?”

“I didn’t talk you into a damn thing. The way I remember it, I said, ‘So, do we head for my place?’ and you said, ‘I suppose.’”

“Which implies uncertainty. What I was thinking was that we should put distance between us.”

“Then that’s what you should have said. I’m not a frickin’ mind reader.”

“What I’m saying now is, if I need to lay low, I should be going to Hilton Head and staying with my parents.”

“There’s weather in Hilton Head.”

“There’s weather in North Carolina.”

“Yes, but no high surf warnings have been issued for the mountains.”

His quip fell flat. He cursed under his breath, which had fogged up the windows. He fumed for another moment or two, then broke the strained silence. “From here to my house is a two-hour and forty-five-minute drive. Are we going to argue for the whole trip?”

“I just feel like we should be doing something.”

“We are doing something, Kate. We’re getting the hell out of Dodge. What Melinda told us was an echo of Upton Franklin’s warning.”

“Melinda’s concern for her husband is understandable. In her shoes, I’d feel the same. I’d be frantic. But not even Eban Clarke can go around maiming or killing everybody.”

“No, but you can be damn sure he’s plotting something, and neither Melinda, nor Upton Franklin, nor you, nor I know what. And, in case it hasn’t occurred to you, whatever reprisal he’s planning will be accelerated if he learns about Rebecca’s downturn as of this morning. If he thinks she’s about to die—”

“He’ll hop on his daddy’s jet and leave the country. We’d be safe.”

“Possibly. Or, believing she might soon die, he may become desperate, and desperate equals dangerous. When you’ve got an opposing defense on your two-yard line desperate to make a turnover, you don’t give them an opportunity. You don’t do dumb shit like throwing deep from your own end zone. Instead, you play it safe and use your running game to gain some yardage.”

“Another football analogy?” she said archly. “Really?”

“Sorry. That’s all I’ve got.”

She sat silent for a moment, covered a snicker with her hand, then gave up and laughed outright. “Did Bing teach you that?”

“Yeah, and a lot of other stuff, too. Like not to take out your sexual frustration on the very woman you want to bone!” After that near shout, he added in a grumble, “It lessens your chances.”

Following a taut and interminable silence, he attempted to restore his dignity. Setting aside his indignation, he looked across at her. “You want to stay with your folks? I’ll drive you home, get my truck, and we’ll go our separate ways.”

As she contemplated, she rolled her lips inward. “If Mom and Dad found out that Eban Clarke had harmful intentions toward me, they’d lock me in my room.”

“They’d think you’re better off being in the mountains with me.”

She looked over at him. “If they thought I was going to the mountains with you, they’d put a double lock on my room.”

He smiled. “Was that our first fight? Are we done?”

“As long as we’re on the road and you’re behind the wheel, yes.”

“Which way, Kate? North or south?”

She sighed. “North.” However, being Kate, she added, “But this argument isn’t over. We’ll resume when we get there.”

“That gives me something to look forward to.” He winked, and that pissed her off, but he laughed.

It had begun to drizzle. As he drove onto the heavily trafficked interstate, he turned on the headlights and set the windshield wipers on low. Keeping his eyes on the road, he asked Siri to call John Meeker, who was in his contacts. He noticed that Kate raised an eyebrow when she heard the individual who answered the call say, “Sheriff’s office.”

He was put through to Meeker, and after swapping hellos, the sheriff said, “You’re back on TV, Mr. Bridger. My wife told me it’s all the ladies at the beauty parlor were talking about this morning. They all wanted their hair like Ms. Lennon’s.”

“That’s why I’m calling. I’m on my way home. When I get there, am I going to be ambushed by media?”

“Nah, you’re the town’s best-kept secret.”

“Maybe until a week ago,” he said. “Life hasn’t been the same since,” he added, sliding an accusatory look toward Kate. “What about the ladies at the beauty parlor?”