Darcy flung the door open and stared at the man. She had no desire to talk to this guy again today, even if he was the most delicious eye candy she’d seen in a long time. She was tired, she was sore, and she was in no mood for company.
“What is it now, Detective Baker?” She planted a hand on her hip, annoyance written all over her face.
“Good to see you, too, Darcy.” He allowed a smile to play around his mouth. “I need to talk to you. Would you rather stand here with the door open with you in your…lingerie…or let me come in?” He eyed the flannel nightgown up and down.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake. Come on in.” Darcy waved her arm to motion him inside when Warlock decided to greet him as well. The black cat wound around his ankles and rubbed his chin on Baker’s legs. Well, would you look at that. Warlock didn’t like anyone, yet now he acted as if this was an old friend come to call. She tossed the feline a disgusted look. Traitor.
“Nice cat.”
“No, he’s not,” she snapped. “Have a seat, Detective.”
“I’m sorry to bother you again, Darcy, but I saw your name in a police report. Someone tried to run you over?” He settled into a red and white gingham-checked wingback chair.
“I’m sure it was just an accident,” she answered.
“Darcy, this is serious. Yes, it might have been a coincidence, but it just seems too ironic. They could have been after you. The witnesses said it came right at you. Did you get a look at the driver at all?”
Darcy shivered and pulled her bare toes under her gown. She didn’t want to think about that possibility, though she had to admit it had been playing on her mind all evening.
“I didn’t have time to see anything but the ground coming up to meet me.” Her hand instinctively rubbed across the raw spot on her chin. “Besides, you said you were going to keep my identity a secret, right?”
“Yes, but a few people have to know. There could be a leak.” His face scowled in concern. “Pasquale has long arms, and they might be squeezing somebody on the force.”
“You mean…somebody might have told him my name?”
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Chances are slim, very slim, but it is a possibility.
The serious tone of his voice sent tremors along her spine. Surely no one had given her away already? It hadn’t even been 24 hours.
“No, surely not. It’s too soon, isn’t it?” Her brown eyes deepened with worry.
“Maybe, maybe not.” He watched as her face crumbled. “Hey, I’m not telling you this to scare you. I just want you to use extreme caution. I’ve got extra surveillance on your house, and you’ve got good, sturdy locks on your doors. Do you have an alarm system?”
She shook her head.
“Well, you will have tomorrow,” he growled. She started to protest, knowing she couldn’t afford it, but he held up his hand to silence her. “It’s on the city’s tab.”
She had her doubts that the city would pay the bill but stayed silent. She was too terrified to argue.
“We’ll get this guy, Darcy. He can’t hide forever.” She looked into his silver-blue eyes long and hard, wanting to trust him. But could she? Maybe she ought to just run away, put all this behind her. She had enough savings she could take off to someplace on the other side of the country, and nobody could find her.
And give up her house? Give up Sophie? Live life always looking over her shoulder?
She passed a hand in front of her eyes to wipe away a wave of exhaustion. It was all too much.
“Darcy.” She felt his hand tugging hers down from her face and looked into his concerned gaze as he stood over her protectively. “We’re going to get through this together. I promise.”
Once again, Darcy spent a sleepless night. After Nick Baker left, she double checked the locks on all the doors and windows and tried to go to sleep, but her nerves were tight as bowstrings. She sat on the window seat in her bedroom and was comforted when she saw two patrol cars crawling down her street in less than thirty minutes. At least apparently there were cops watching her place.
Finally, near dawn, exhaustion won over, and Darcy fell into a deep, dark sleep filled with visions of gunfire and roaring SUVs.
Darcy didn’t leave the house for the next couple days. She just stayed home and brooded about Papa and the others, about her own uncertain future and the danger she could be in. She only spoke to Sophie on the phone and jumped every time she heard a car door slam or a tree branch brush against the windows.
A man came and installed the alarm, so she felt a little safer, at least, but she also felt like a caged rabbit. The third day she got up determined to go on with her life. She couldn’t let fear rule her.
Today she was going to file for unemployment, go to the grocery, and come home and make lasagna. She’d call Sophie, too, and ask her to come for dinner. Time to get back in the game.
While she was at the store, she remembered that tomorrow was Halloween, even if the weather was still warm and sunny. She picked up some candy for the many trick or treaters she always had and grabbed a gallon of apple cider. Halloween was one of her favorite holidays, and she wanted to enjoy it like imaginary ghosts and goblins were the scariest things in her life.
There was still no news about Pasquale. He hadn’t been picked up yet, and according to Detective Baker, he hadn’t been seen on the streets. She tried hard not to think about it, but she caught herself looking over her shoulder and constantly glancing in her rearview mirror. Was he out there? Was he following her? The idea sent chills chasing through her despite the warmth of the day.
Sophie came over, and they sat in front of the TV indulging in lasagna and watching chick flicks. They’d talked about watching old horror movies in honor of Halloween but decided against it. Darcy didn’t need anything else to give her nightmares.
Darcy topped off her wine glass and leaned her head back on the sofa. It was good just to sit here and relax with her old friend.
“Want to spend the night? We could drink more wine, or I could break out the good stuff.”
“Oh, I’d love to, Darcy, but I’ve got a date at 11:30. Jack works second shift at a factory, you know, so we planned to meet late.” Her green eyes narrowed. “But if you need me to, you know I’ll stay. I don’t blame you if you’re scared. I know I would be.”
“No, no, I’m fine. Really.” She reached out and gave Sophie a hug to prove it.
“You don’t really look fine. You’ve got circles under your eyes, you’re pale, and your hands shake every so often.” She frowned, her warm brown eyes filled with concern. “I’ll call Jack. He’ll understand.”
“You’ll do no such thing. Now get up and go meet Jack.” She pulled Sophie to her feet and gave her a quick hug. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure, Darcy? It’s not a problem.” Sophie ran troubled fingers through her short cap of raven locks.
“Positive. Now go, or you’ll be late.”
Darcy hustled Sophie out the door and watched her safely get in her car, then shut the door and lock it, leaning against the wood door with its stained-glass panel. Sophie was a good friend. Darcy loved her dearly, but she lied to her anyway. She assured Sophie she wasn’t scared, but she was. God, she was scared right down to her bones.