Page 35 of Fatal Betrayal

"I talked to a bartender," she replied. "He confirmed that Kristine worked there. She didn't socialize and was kind of quiet. He said she wasn't a good fit for the bar business. She left after a few months."

"That describes the Kristine I know."

"He also said she's still part of a run club that meets at the bar on Thursday nights. He saw her about two weeks ago and said she seemed happier than she used to."

"Thursday is a long time to wait to get more information on her from the run club."

"Well, if we don't have anything else before then, we can check it out," she said. "I have to say I didn't think LA was going to feel like such a small town. I didn't think I'd run into anyone I knew. First you, then TJ. And Naomi knows Neil, Larry, and Jillian."

"Well, they're all in the same business, so that's not that surprising."

"I guess not. Are you really going to call TJ?"

"No. And I don't think he'll call me. People say they want to get together again and then it doesn't happen, which is fine. I don't need to hang with TJ."

"You used to like him."

"I don’t dislike him now. He's just not a part of my life anymore, and that's fine."

"I get it. Anyway, I need to get back to the office."

He nodded as they started walking down the alley. "What's next?"

"I don't know. I need to regroup."

As they walked out of the alley and crossed the street, a car came screaming around the corner, bearing straight toward Andi, who was slightly in front of him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, shoving her behind a row of trash bins as he dove on top of her.

CHAPTEREIGHT

The vehicle hitone of the cans, knocking it over with a loud crash, and then the car sped away. Cooper's heart jumped against his chest as he looked down at Andi's shocked brown eyes. He couldn't believe how close they'd come to being run over. "Are you all right?"

"I—I think so," she said breathlessly. "Are you?"

"Yes," he said, suddenly becoming aware of her soft body beneath his, which seemed more dangerous than the speeding car. He rolled to the side, then helped her to her feet. They ran toward the street, but the car was long gone.

"Did you see what kind of car it was?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I was blinded by the headlights."

"Me, too."

"He drove straight toward us, Andi. It was deliberate."

"Maybe it wasn't," she said, her voice uncertain. "He came around the corner so fast he might not have seen us." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I should have been paying better attention. I got distracted talking to you about the past, and I can't be distracted on the job. That's why you and I should not be working together."

"Your distraction wasn't my fault." He didn't like the way she was reframing the situation. "Instead of blaming me, you should thank me for saving your life."

Her eyes suddenly blazed with fire. "I'm not blaming you. But you didn't save my life. You just gave me a shove."

"Which got you out of the way." He felt a driving need to keep the anger between them, because whatever else was brewing was a lot more terrifying.

"You are so annoying. You always have to be right," she complained.

"Me? I'm not the one who always has to be right. That's you."

She blew out a frustrated breath. "I need to get back to work."

"This wasn't an accident," he said again.