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The waiter stopped by to refill their glasses, and her mom excused herself to the restroom.

Allye lifted her glass with trembling fingers. She’d successfully changed the direction of their conversation, but she needed a moment to regroup. Keeping such a big secret from her mom was not something she enjoyed. They usually shared everything going on in their lives. It was so hard not to ask her advice about doctors and medications or, like tonight, to pretend things were okay when they weren’t and come up with excuses for the things she couldn’t do.

Soon, she told herself. She’d know something soon, and then there would be no more secrets.

Once Mom knew what was really going on, she would understand Allye’s reticence to date or purchase a home. She’d also be a lot more worried than she was right now.

That was the part Allye dreaded.

“Allye!” A deep, jovial voice pulled her from her thoughts, and Allye looked up to find the mayor striding toward her.

“Mayor Jennings, how are you?”

“Great, as always. I’ve been meaning to check on you.” He looked around and lowered his voice as he reached her table. “No more episodes, I hope?”

She blinked. “Episodes?”

“Like what happened with you falling Thursday night,” he clarified.

“Oh yes—I mean no.” She slowed when his brows knotted in confusion. “I mean, yes, I know what you’re referring to, and I have had a few run-ins with that guy, but I’m okay,” she hurriedto assure him. “But no, no ‘episodes.’ I didn’t fall Thursday either. The police found evidence to prove it.”

The confused look didn’t leave his face. “But I found you. You’d obviously fallen.”

“I’m still not sure how I ended up at the bottom of the steps,” she admitted. “Maybe the guy got scared off when he heard you. But I know what I saw, and there’s been a body found matching a description of the man I saw being beaten.” Just saying those words left an acidic taste in her mouth. She grabbed her glass and took a drink to wash it away.

The mayor slipped into a seat beside the one her mom had vacated. “Are you sure about all this?”

She nodded. “The police had me go through mug shots to try to identify my attacker, but he wasn’t in there. Next step is to work with a forensic artist to try to get a sketch of him.”

“Are you absolutely sure about what you saw? I know you’re under a lot of stress with your health right now. That could affect your perception of things.”

She gaped at him. He knew about her health issues? How?

Mayor Jennings gave her a concerned fatherly smile. “Don’t get upset with him, but Wesley mentioned your health struggles the other day.” Apparently he’d read the question in her face. She’d never been good at hiding what she was thinking. He patted her hand and continued. “I know that has to be such a weight on your mind, and medical problems and stress can work together to create ... scenarios that feel real but aren’t quite what they seem.”

Was he calling her delusional? Officer Moore had practically done so the other night, but this was Mayor Jennings. Surely he knew her better than that. And Moore’s insinuation was before they’d found the body. It took her a moment to find her voice. “That’s true, but there is evidence to confirm that a crime occurred.”

“I’m not saying one didn’t. If there’s a body, something had to have happened to him. But that doesn’t mean you witnessed it.And if word gets out that you might have seen the murderer, it could put you in serious danger unnecessarily.”

“I think I already am in danger. I’ve been attacked again.”

“Again? What else happened?”

“He broke into my house Friday night. Scared me half to death, but I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me.”

“Broke into your house? The same man?”

“Yes, but like I said, he didn’t actually hurt me. I’m not sure why he was there.”

The mayor ran a hand through his thinning hair. “This is serious, Allye. I don’t like it. You’re too vulnerable living there alone, and your health only makes things worse.”

“I know,” she admitted reluctantly. “But I can’t do nothing. A man is dead, and this guy has come after me twice. He knows where I live.”

The mayor thought for a moment. “If the situation were different, I’d recommend you do all you can to ensure justice is served. But so many details of what you’ve experienced don’t add up. The way I found you, the green glow. I think you need to seriously consider whether you really witnessed what you think you did before you make yourself a target.” His gaze shifted, and a smile lit his face. “Julie! I didn’t realize you were Allye’s companion.” He rose and embraced her mom.

Allye watched them, feeling like her insides had frozen. She hadn’t mentioned the green glow. How did he know about it? As they started to turn back to her, she snatched another slice of pizza and took a large bite. She wasn’t at all hungry now, but she needed something to help hide the shock she knew would be all over her face.

“I’d invite you to join us, but it’s our monthly mother-daughter date,” her mom was saying.