Page 33 of Three Girls Gone

“Ah, sure.”

“Wonderful. I’ll see you in about ten, fifteen minutes.” Amanda was smiling when she hung up. A break away from a case in the first twenty-four hours was almost unheard of.

“I overheard. You’re running away?” Trent said.

“I am. That’s if you’re okay to handle things.” Maybe she misspoke and assumed incorrectly that he’d be fine on his own. “Or maybe you could pop home and have abite with Kelsey?”

“Kels won’t be home. She just texted a minute ago that she’s going out for dinner and drinks with some colleagues.”

“Oh.” Amanda hadn’t intended for that one little word to slip out, and after seeing Trent raise his eyebrows, she wished she could reel it back in.

“Meaning?”

“Nothing.”

“No, it’snotnothing.”

“That’s a lot of negatives.” She grabbed her light jacket and headed for the door.

“Just talk to me.”

If there was a way out of this, she’d take it, but he’d stay on her. She stopped walking and turned around.“You know how this job is unpredictable and has us breaking promises to those we love?”

“Yes.”

“It’s good that you found someone who has fluidity to her life too. Don’t take that for granted.” Even as she doled out relationship advice, jealousy reared its ugly head.

“It is. Here, let me get the door.” He slipped ahead of her and held it open.

“Where are you going?” The question tumbled out of its own accord. It shouldn’t matter to her where he was headed.

“I assume I’m allowed to eat too.”

“Of course you are. Never mind me.” She smiled, but it failed to cut through an awkward undercurrent. In the back of her mind, she was imagining the three of them going out for a meal. That being her, Zoe, and Trent.

“If you and Zoe want company, I could tag along. I’d just hit a drive-thru otherwise.”

Now, he’s reading my mind…She choked back on the fact that he’d just invited himself along, but why should she make a big deal out of this? Zoe knew Trent was her partner, and sheliked him. They all needed to eat… “Sure. Why not? I mean, I’m sure Zoe will be happy to see you.”

“Nice.” Trent grinned. “She’s a good kid.”

“That she is.”

He stopped walking and looked over the parking lot. “I guess the question becomes your car or mine.”

“Let’s take your Jeep. I’m good with being chauffeured.” The truth was this impromptudatehad her mind spinning. She was best to focus on the job. “Since we’ll be out, we should call McGee again to let him know we can swing by Eastern to pick up the files.” She made it sound like the thought just occurred to her. He didn’t need to know this was her original justification for stepping out.

Trent unlocked his Wrangler and got behind the wheel while she hefted herself up into the passenger seat.

“I’ll call on the way. Just tell me where I’m headed.”

She gave him Libby’s address, and he got them on the road.

He placed the call to Detective McGee using the vehicle’s Bluetooth. When McGee answered, Trent said, “It’s Detective Stenson.”

“We just spoke. I need more time to get the files together and over there.” McGee sounded irritated, and it fueled Amanda’s temper.

“That’s why I’m calling. No need for you to bring them over or send them with someone. Detective Steele and I can pick them up.”