Page 42 of Watch Me

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don’t think she’s connected.”

I stopped walking. “Did you seriously think she was?”

Ethan opened the passenger side door. “No, I didn’t, but I have to follow all leads.”

“Okay, good.” I stepped up into the cab. “Then what changed your mind?”

He shut the door and went over to the driver’s side. After buckling his seatbelt and starting the engine, he said, “I can’t share anything with you because I don’t want to put you in any more danger.”

“How would telling me how my daughterisn’tconnected put me in more danger?”

He took a deep breath. “I want to tell you—I really do—but I’m already walking a fine line because I’m still on this case.”

“Okay?”

“Just”—Ethan laced our fingers—“trust me. I promise I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”

“I know you will.”

He kissed the back of my hand. “And since you still want to go to school and work, off duty cops will be with you when I’m not.”

“They will?”

“Yes. They’ll be nearby in plain clothes.”

“Okay. That’s probably for the best.”

“Yes, it is.” He pulled out of the parking lot and turned toward my school. After a few minutes, he said, “I’m going to ask you questions, and you just need to answer them. Don’t ask me something I can’t tell you.”

I swallowed and looked over at him as he drove. “Okay.”

“Besides your home, where have you used your laptop?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you taken it with you to do homework or anything at a coffee shop, library—anywhere you’d have to use public Wi-Fi?”

I thought for a moment. I hadn’t taken my laptop anywhere except for his place, school, and work, but Judy’s didn’t have Wi-Fi. “I’ve just used my laptop at your place and school.”

I felt his hand tighten slightly in mine. I didn’t know why, and I didn’t ask. “What about before we got back together?”

“I … I don’t remember.”

“Okay, that’s okay.”

“Is it?”

“I think I might know the link.”

“What is it?” Ethan cut his gaze to me. “Sorry, I just want to know.”

“I know, but I can’t tell you. Shawn’s going to Judy’s now, and afterward, he’s meeting me on campus. I’m going to run my theory by him, and after you’re done with class, I’ll get your detail to go with you back to my place and see if this pans out.”

I sighed. “Okay. What will they do? Shadow me?”

Ethan pulled into the parking lot at my school. “Yeah. Or, since you’remyReagan, I can introduce you to them, and they can walk with you like they’re a friend. They’re all my friends. Everyone in the department is.”

I loved hearing him call mehisReagan. It caused a flutter in my belly and made me warm inside. I had no doubt he’d do anything to protect me. “Okay, so, backing up slightly, you don’t think Maddie’s involved because I must have used my laptop somewhere and some guy got my info?”