Page 47

Bishop

I was in the middle of a friendly poker game with Crosby, Rook, David, and Saul when Rook’s cell chimed. He placed his cards face down and picked it up.

“The girls have gone to the mall.”

“Does that woman of yours tell you every move she makes?” David asked.

“She does if it’s a change from what she planned. In our line of work, even retired, one can’t be too careful with the lives of the people we love. I need to know where she is just in case something happens.”

“Susannah would have my head if I demanded that level of detail.”

Rook snorted. “Like you don’t have a tracker on her cell. You know where she is every second of every day. At least I’m open about my need to know Dally’s whereabouts.”

The fine hairs rose on the back of my neck.

“I thought she might be planning to divorce me.” David shrugged and leaned back on his seat. “I didn’t want to be taken by surprise. She’s had flings before, but this last one …” His gaze shifted to me. “It was different.”

“Different how?” Crosby leaned across the table to top up everyone’s drinks.

“Usually, her dalliances only lasted for a date or two. This last guy … she saw him regularly for at least six months. I thought she was preparing to ask me for a divorce, but then everything changed, and she’s been very … focused on our marriage lately.”

“When did you put the tracker on her cell?”

“Too late to find out who she’d been seeing, unfortunately. I don’t care who she fucks, but the rule has always been no more than a couple of times with the same person. If it hadn’t already ended, I’d have searched him out to make that clear.” He smiled at me.

“Did Magdalena say what mall they’d gone to?” I turned to my brother, who shook his head.

I pulled my cell out of my pocket.

ME: Are you okay?

Three little dots immediately popped up, but when no reply came through for almost a minute, I sent another message.

ME: Don’t lie to me. Are you okay?

The response was a photograph of a pile of clothes.

ME: What’s that?

EDEN: I’m hiding in a changing room with six pairs of jeans, seven t-shirts and three dresses that I have no intention of buying.

ME: And why are you doing that?

EDEN: Because everywhere is so open and I feel like I’m being watched.

ME: Do you want me to come and get you?

Those little dots bounced across the screen again.

ME: I’m coming to get you. What mall are you at?

EDEN: I’m not sure. Fern something?

ME: Fern Glen. I know it. I’ll text you when I’m there. Stay put.

I pocketed my cell and stood. “Sorry, I have to go. Eden is sick and needs me to bring her back to the house.”

Rook frowned at me. “Sick?”

“All the flying through time zones we’ve done over the past week is probably catching up with her.”

Rook’s expression didn’t change, but I could still tell he knew I was lying. “I’ll text Dally and get her to wait with Eden.”

I nodded, grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair and walked out of the room. Rook followed me. Once we were out of hearing of everyone else, he caught my arm.

“What’s really going on?”

I gave him half of the truth. “Stalker ex. She’s feeling a little too out in the open and unprotected.”

“Makes sense.” His eyes tracked over my face. “I’ll speak to Dally. Bring her back with you.”

***

ME: I’m outside. Do you need me to come and fetch you?

EDEN: No. I’m with Magdalena. Where are you parked?

ME: I’ll wait by the entrance and walk you back to the car.

I cut off the engine, climbed out and locked the car, then walked over to the entrance. It wasn’t a huge mall, and there was only one way in or out. I could see why Eden felt trapped. If Chester or one of his friends had been there, she wouldn’t have been able to get out without them seeing her. I thought it was unlikely that there would be anyone who recognized her inside, but I’d also been around long enough to know that anything was possible.

Leaning against the wall beside the entrance, I watched as people moved in and out, milled around outside, caught up with friends or said their goodbyes. After a couple of minutes, two familiar figures stepped through the doors. I straightened and walked over to them.

“I’m parked over here.”

I took a position slightly behind them both and guided them to where I’d parked the car. From where I walked, I could see if anyone looked in our direction. Nobody did, and we reached the car without incident. Popping the trunk, the girls put their purchases inside. Eden caught me looking at the bags, and flushed pink.

“Let me guess. Six pairs of jeans, seven t-shirts and three dresses?”

Her cheeks darkened further. I knew what had happened. She’d grabbed clothes to justify spending a long time in the changing room, and then when she came out felt obliged to buy them.

I said nothing, closing the trunk, then opened both passenger side doors for them. Magdalena climbed into the back while Eden took the front. I rounded the car and settled behind the steering wheel.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, Magdalena leaned forward between the seats.

“You know the thing I hate the most about Rook’s former job is the people he has to associate with. I really don’t like Susannah.”