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It was early afternoon the following day before Echo caught up with Liz for the trip to the grocery store. “I’m sorry I’m running late.”

“It’s all right. We still have plenty of time to make dinner.” Liz jangled her SUV keys. “Would you like me to drive?”

“This is my project. I don’t mind driving.” Echo hopped back inside her car and waited for Liz to join her. “I put together a shopping list. I think our biggest problem will be tracking down a few of the ingredients.”

“Meijer has a pretty good selection of specialty items. If we can’t find them there, I know a little international food shop in nearby Rockville.”

“Cool. Hopefully, we won’t have to make too many stops.” Echo rambled on about the food and the dishes and it was clear the woman was nervous. “Before I forget, I wanted to let you know that I spoke to Sheriff Nelson and told him I didn’t know Mick Grotto. In fact, after you gave me his name, I jotted it down on a piece of paper and did some research.”

“To see if you could figure out who he was?”

“Yeah.” Echo shot her a quick look. “It’s scary to think an ex-convict was looking for me.”

“He’s from Detroit, which is where you’re from,” Liz pointed out.

“He is. I know it seems like too much of a coincidence, but I swear I’ve never met the man before.”

Liz’s gut told her Echo was telling the truth. She truly didn’t know the man, and if she really thought about it, Liz probably would’ve done the same if some strange man showed up on her doorstep looking for her and was viciously attacked only hours later. The fact he was a convicted criminal made it that much worse.

So far, everything Echo had told her checked out.

“Thanks again for forwarding the job application.” Echo insisted she was still interested in applying for the job with the county but had been busy, which may have been true as well. Rasmussen Farms was a bustling place. Perhaps she wanted to make sure she was settled in before making a job change.

Another thought occurred to Liz, a reason for her reluctance to switch jobs on a more personal level. “How is Treece doing?”

“Good. He’s been trying to bring the farm’s technology up to date, but his dad and Uncle Dale are set in their ways. They’re old school and not interested in more modern practices.”

“I have to agree the older I get, the less I like change.” Liz adjusted her seatbelt. “You know the saying — ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ ”

Echo laughed. “I believe Floyd used that exact phrase earlier today when Treece was pitching a new software program to him.”

They reached the grocery store and, with the list on Echo’s cell phone, the women made their way up and down the aisles, gathering the ingredients.

At the checkout, Liz and Echo split the bill evenly and wheeled the cart back to the car.

Echo finished unloading and glanced at her watch. “That took us longer than I thought it would. We’re running out of time.”

“The main dish is easy peasy. Between the two of us, we can get the souvlaki and dipping sauces whipped up in no time. What sort of beverage were you planning on serving?”

“Beverage?” Echo wrinkled her nose. “I…forgot.”

“A sparkling red grape juice would be perfect. ”

“I’ll be right back.” Echo sprang from the vehicle and ran inside the store. She was gone for a long time.

Liz pulled her phone from her purse to text her when she caught a glimpse of her jogging back toward the car. She stashed the grocery bag in the trunk and climbed back in. “I found the juice, but now we’re running even more behind.”

“We’ll just have to speed it up a bit.” They would be cutting it close, considering they were two inexperienced cooks trying to muddle their way through preparing a sumptuous Greek feast.

There would be no room for mistakes and starting over. Preparation was going to be a one and done.

Echo sped toward the stoplight as it turned yellow. “We can make it through before it changes.” She stepped on the gas. With tires squealing, the car careened around the corner and onto the main road .

Whirr. Whirr.

Liz glanced in the rearview mirror, her heart plummeting when she spotted a police car with lights flashing right behind them. “I think we need to pull over.”

“Oh, my gosh. I didn’t know there was a cop at the light.” Echo eased onto the side of the road. “This is going to be bad.”

“It will be all right.” Liz could see the officer sitting in his car. Long moments ticked by. Finally, he emerged from the patrol vehicle and approached the driver’s side.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.”

“H-hello,” Echo stammered.

“Do you realize you just ran a red light and were driving recklessly?”

“I didn’t mean to. We are…we’re in kind of a hurry. The light was yellow when I went through, although I may have been going a little too fast. ”

“I’ll need to see your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance.”

Echo reached across Liz, flipped the glove box open, pulled out a small envelope and handed it to the officer. “Here’s my registration and insurance.”

“I need your license.”

“Of course.” Echo’s hand trembled as she fumbled inside her purse. She pulled out her wallet, removed her driver’s license and handed it to the cop.

Echo watched as the officer walked away. She placed her hands on the steering wheel and her forehead on top. “This is not good.”

“He might not give you a ticket,” Liz said.

“You don’t understand.”

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of Liz’s stomach. Something told her there was more to it than Echo being pulled over .

Long minutes passed. Finally, there was a light tap on the window and the officer leaned in. “Echo Quigley?”

“Yes?” Echo whispered.

“We have a problem.”