Hearts Divided (Cedar Cove #5.5)(43)

And that’s the point, she remembered belatedly. We’re hoping someone is watching.

“Let’s get out of here.” His voice was rougher than usual. He took her hand and led her down the steps, tucking her into the passenger seat of the Porsche.

Chloe checked the side mirror several times as they neared downtown Seattle. “I don’t see Gray, do you?”

“He picked us up two blocks from your house.”

She searched the mirror again but didn’t see a car following them. Traffic was moderately heavy, and all around them cars, trucks and SUVs switched lanes, turned off the street or sped up to pass Jake’s Porsche. None of the vehicles appeared to remain steadily behind them. “I can’t find him.”

“Good.” Jake flashed a grin. “Then he’s doing his job.” He flicked a glance in the mirror. “He’s about six cars behind us, opposite lane. He’s off duty so he’s driving his own car, a gray SUV.”

Chloe looked over her shoulder, counted back six cars and found Gray. “Clever. He’s very good at this, isn’t he?”

“That’s why he’s a detective.”

“I hope he knows how much I appreciate that he’s giving up his off-duty time to help me.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Jake slowed, merging with the line of cars waiting to turn into the Second Avenue entrance to the underground parking lot. It was fifteen minutes before they found a space and left the Porsche.

Chloe draped the shawl around her shoulders and took Jake’s arm. “Is Gray parked here, too?”

“One aisle over. The only time we’ll be out of his sight is when we take the elevator upstairs to the Boeing Company Gallery. But we’ll have lots of other people around us.” Jake nodded at the well-dressed couples streaming toward the bank of elevators. “Even if our man is here, the crowd will provide a buffer.”

“Right.” Chloe’s fingers tightened unconsciously on his sleeve.

“Nervous?”

“A little.” She looked up to find him watching her. Confidence and strength sat easily on his shoulders and the butterflies in her stomach instantly quieted. She drew a long breath. “I’m fine. Lead on, Macduff.”

Jake laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

They rode the elevator up to the gallery and joined the chatting, laughing crowd as it moved on to the Grand Lobby. The curved bank of windows that separated the lobby from the city skyline allowed late-evening sunshine to fall across the plush carpet. Sconces were already lit inside the vast, elegant room, their light glittering on ladies’ jewels and highlighting the bright colors of their dresses.

Jake pushed back his cuff and looked at his watch. “We have another fifteen minutes. Would you like a glass of wine?”

“I think I’d just as soon find our seats, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Jake covered her hand with his where it rested on his arm, pressing it closer in reassurance, before he released her to get their tickets from his coat pocket.

The usher led them down a hallway and then through a door and held open a curtain for them.

“Box seats?” Chloe smiled with delight. “You didn’t tell me Gray’s aunt had season box seats.”

“No?” Jake shrugged. “That’s why Gray thought this would work. He’s two boxes over and one level up. He can see almost the entire auditorium from there and he’ll watch the audience with binoculars. Anyone whose eyes are on us instead of the stage will stand out like a sore thumb.”

“If the man’s actually in the audience,” Chloe said.

“Right,” Jake agreed. “And if he isn’t, maybe he’ll follow us home and Gray will spot him then. And if not,” he continued, picking up her hand and threading her fingers through his, “we’ve spent a nice evening at the symphony. No hardship, right?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Definitely not a hardship.”

Four hours later, Jake pulled the Porsche into Chloe’s driveway and turned off the engine. Chloe reached for the door handle.

“Wait.”

She froze. “What is it?” she whispered.

“Maybe nothing.”

In the street behind them, a plain blue sedan drew near. The car didn’t slow down, didn’t speed up. It did nothing to arouse suspicion as it drove past them, the sole occupant never even glancing their way. A moment later, Gray’s SUV passed by.

“That was Gray. Do you think he’s following the other car?”

“Yeah. I do.” Jake pushed open the driver’s door and got out, coming around to open Chloe’s. He bent toward her and murmured, “Don’t look down the street after Gray. Pretend we’re just a couple returning from an evening out.” She nodded and he took her hand, drawing her from the car, and they walked up the sidewalk to the porch, climbing the steps to her front entry.

Chloe unlocked the door and went inside. Jake followed her, closing the door behind him.

“Don’t turn on the lights.” He moved swiftly to the narrow side window and shifted the curtain a scant inch to look outside.

Chloe stood in the center of the tiled entryway, her shawl clutched to her chest, barely breathing as the minutes ticked by. The sound of her heartbeat thudded in her ears.