“Glad Jade’s doing okay, even though I know she feels like shit this morning,” Grant said, his eyes full of concern.

Lance cast his gaze around the table in the police workroom, seeing the same expression on everyone’s face. Nodding, he said, “Thanks. I’ll tell her you all asked about her.”

“She taking some time off?” Sam asked.

“Hell yeah. The ER doctor said she couldn’t go back until Monday, so with the next two days off and then the weekend she’ll have four days to recuperate.”

“Even so, she’ll need to take it easy with a bunch of second graders and all the activity they require,” Burt added. “My six-year-old runs me and the wife ragged.”

“She’s with Tori right now,” Lance said, with a nod toward Mitch, “so that’ll help.”

Grant piped up, “Jillian and Katelyn’ll be over this afternoon to help as well. You’ll need it as much as she does.”

“I’ll check in on her too,” Ginny added, her face turned toward him with a smile.

A strange feeling slid over Lance as the words from his co-workers—and friends—hit him. A warmth spread from his chest outward. The realization that not only were these good people friends of Jade’s, but that they were friends of his as well. Nodding was the only response he was able to offer, as his voice caught in his throat.

Mitch, stepping in, said, “Okay, we need to get to the body investigation, but also the truck that ran into Jade.”

“I’m running the plates, but—”

Mildred interrupted as she hurried into the room. “Sorry, Chief, but I was looking at the report Grant asked for and this just came in.”

Looking at the paper she handed to him, Mitch’s jaw tightened. “Seems a truck matching the description Jade gave us has just been reported stolen. It belongs to Donald Haskins. He’s got a farm in North Heron county about five miles from here.

“He’s just reporting it stolen?” Ginny bit out.

“You and Lance head out to talk to him. When you get back, we will hopefully have more identification on the body. The first of the State lab reports come back today.” Looking at Lance, Mitch added, “Check with Mildred when you get back. She’s ordered more BPD polos and I’m sure they came yesterday.” Grinning, he said, “Approval for you to be the new part-time detective for Baytown came through at last night’s town meeting. Congratulations.”

Lance met his grin as he accepted the congratulations from the others around the table. Nodding, he said, “Guess I’ve got paperwork to sign?”

“Yeah, Mildred’ll take care of you and then we’ll get your badge and firearm. For this trip, Ginny’ll take the lead.”

With a nod, Lance and Ginny left the room and headed out to one of the BPD vehicles.

* * *

“Thank you so much for letting me be here today,” Jade gushed, her smile on Tori. “I know you’re supposed to take it easy.”

“Oh, pooh,” Tori waved Jade’s concerns away with a toss of her hand. “I’m good. I just need to watch that I don’t overeat at one time and I really have to stay away from spicy food. I’m fine and so is the baby, so the doctor has me on no restrictions at all.”

Smiling, Jade watched as Tori’s hand sought her stomach as she spoke. “I hate being out of school today,” she confessed. “My kids are so good, but I know it would be hard to move around the classroom.”

“You think you could handle it, but I think you’d hurt a lot more just having to keep up with the kids. You’re much better off having these days to rest your body.”

“I know,” Jade sighed gingerly, “but it’s so inconvenient.” Blushing, she added, “Thanks for the help with the shower earlier.”

Smiling, Tori moved back into the kitchen and fixed an easy lunch. Calling out a few minutes later, she asked, “I hope homemade tuna salad is okay?”

“Absolutely!” came the reply from Jillian.

Tori stepped into the hall, grinning as Jillian and Katelyn came through her door. “I should have known you’d come for lunch,” she laughed.

“I brought dessert,” Jillian said, holding out a pie from her coffee shop.

“And I’ve got a pasta salad I made last night,” Katelyn offered.

“Yum,” Jade grinned as she accepted gentle hugs from her friends.

“So,” Katelyn began as they piled their plates full and handed one to , “tell us everything.”

Swallowing, she asked, “About the accident?”

“Well, of course, but also about Lance. How he ended up with you last night and how you managed to get the town hermit to come out of his shell. See what I did there? Hermit, shell, get it?”

Frowning, Jade said, “He’s not a hermit! He just prefers…privacy.”

Katelyn quickly set her plate on the coffee table and rushed over to her, taking her hands in her own. “Oh, Jade, I’m so sorry. I truly meant no offense.”

Jade’s frown relaxed as she held her hands. “It’s okay…really, it is. I’ve just gotten to know him and keep hearing him referred to as a hermit or a recluse. They’re such negative terms. Although,” she admitted, “when I first had a run-in with him, I called him worse things than that!” Giving Katelyn’s hands a squeeze, she added, “I should apologize to you for being oversensitive. But he truly is a good man.”

Katelyn returned to her seat, smiling as she said, “Then tell us about that good man.”

Laughing, she acquiesced. “I have no idea what has happened to him, or why he is such a private person, or anything about his past at all. We definitely haven’t gotten to the place where he confides anything in me and I know he needs more time to be able to do that. But,” she shrugged, “that’s okay. He will when he’s ready.”

“Oh, Jade,” Tori said, setting her plate in her lap, her eyes as warm as her smile. “You are so good for him. Mitch knew him, of course, back when they were overseas in the military. Even Mitch doesn’t know what happened that changed him so much, but he said last night that Lance is so much more like his old self since you came along.”

Tori’s words warmed her heart and she smiled genuinely toward her friends.

“So, any word on the bastard that ran you off the road?” Jillian asked, breaking the nice bubble she had settled around her.

“Nothing yet.”

“Well, what can we do to help for today?”

She thought for a second before saying, “I hate to ask, because there are a ton of stairs involved, but I thought maybe this afternoon, I could get back to my apartment. I’ve got a few things to do and I might as well get to them before Lance comes over this evening.”

“Things we can help with?”

“Oh no. I’ve got a few bills to pay online, need to look over my lesson plans for the sub for tomorrow. Just easy things like that.”

“That’s simple enough,” Katelyn agreed. “We can also do a quick grocery run for you, so you’ll have food for the weekend.”

Plans made, they finished lunch as they settled into easy conversation.

* * *

Driving along the dusty driveway of the Haskin’s farm, Ginny started to park outside the house when Lance pointed toward the barn where he saw a man enter. Nodding, she pulled down the drive a little further, parking where he indicated.

An older man looked out, his eyes narrowing for a moment before he threw his hand up in greeting. As they approached, he called out, “Couldn’t see who was coming down the lane. Glad to see it’s you. Got any news about my truck?”

Lance stood back as Ginny introduced them and watched Mr. Haskins carefully as he answered Ginny’s questions.

“Mr. Haskins, can you tell us when you discovered your truck had been stolen?”

“Wasn’t until the misses and me got back this morning.”

“Back, sir?”

“We went to Virginia Beach two days ago to visit with our new grandson. Margery hates to ride in the farm truck, so we took her little car. Got back this morning and the first thing I noticed was my truck wasn’t parked at the house. I looked around and then called the police. It was here when we left, so I have no idea when it was taken.”

“We have a report of a black pick-up truck with tinted windows, the first three letters of the license number as C A B, and it had a metal grill on the front—”

“That sounds just like mine,” Mr. Haskins said, excitedly. “Has it been found?”

“No, sir,” she continued. “If that was your truck, it was involved in an accident where the driver purposefully ran another car off the road.”

Mr. Haskins opened his mouth several times but no words came forth. Finally, sputtering, he said, “Someone stole my truck and was involved in an accident?”

“We are uncertain, at this time, if it was your truck that was involved. The paint on the other car is being analyzed, but we need to investigate on the assumption that, very likely, it was your truck.”

“Ran someone off the road?” Suddenly, eyes wide, he asked, “Oh, Lordy. Is the other person all right?”

“Minor injuries—”

“Oh, sweet Jesus,” he cried then looked over as a woman approached from the house. “Margery! Someone done stole the truck and used it to hurt someone!”

Margery’s steps became hurried as she made her way to her husband, her eyes first on him and then swinging to Ginny and Lance. “What?”

“Ma’am, we believe your truck was used to create an accident in which someone was injured. Any information you might have would be useful.”

“I don’t know…I just don’t know,” she said, her hand grasping her husband’s.

“Who locally knew you were going to be gone?” he queried.

Shaking her head, she suddenly looked at him, her eyes wide as she sucked in a gasp of air. “I’m on Facebook. I put out a status that we were going to see the grandbaby in Virginia Beach. I’m friends with most of Baytown…lordy, lots of people would’ve seen it.”

“Dang it, Margery, honey,” Donald said, “I told you that Facebookie thing was gonna be gettin’ too many people in our business.”

A tear ran down her cheek as her husband wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in for a hug. “Now, now, don’t fret. Hell, I told the workers we’d be gone as well, so it coulda come from me.”

“Can I get a list of your workers?” Ginny asked.

“Sure, but I got some migrant workers that just come in seasonally, and sometimes they change daily. But, I’ll give you my lead assistant and he can give you the rest of the information, if that’s okay.”

Nodding, they walked with him back to the barn where they got the information needed. As they drove back into town, he glanced at his watch.

“You need to be somewhere?” Ginny asked. “You need to get to Jade? ‘Cause you’re only part-time, so you’re off the clock right now.”

“I’ve got an appointment, if you wouldn’t mind dropping me off.”

“Sure thing. Where’re we heading?”

Hesitating, he wished he had just told her to drop him off at the station and he could have walked. Sucking in a breath, he answered, “The Eastern Shore Mental Health building.”

With a nod, she simply said, “No problem.”

Appreciating her discretion, he waved a few minutes later as she drove away after dropping him off, before he turned and walked through the doors.

* * *

More comfortable with his counselor than previously, Lance held Charles’ eyes as they began. “A lot’s happened in the past week,” he acknowledged. “Mostly good, some not good but, all in all, it’s pushed me out of my shell.”

“Gotta say you’ve captured my attention,” Charles admitted. “We’ll start with whatever you want to start with.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, he thought for a moment. “Hell, I’m not sure where to begin.” Sucking in a deep breath, he said, “I guess the most important news is that I’ve met someone who makes me want to be with her…you know, really get to know her, but that’s fuckin’ scary.”

“Do you know why?”

“Yeah, ‘cause if I get to know her then it’s only right that she’ll get to know me too. And laying myself bare to anyone scares the hell outta me.” After a moment of silence, he looked up to see Charles was waiting patiently. Chuckling, he continued, “Okay, and you’re wondering why?”

Charles grinned in return.

“Scary because my family is fucked up and she probably comes from a picture-perfect family and wouldn’t understand why I’m estranged from my parents.”

“That’s an assumption you’re making. First, you’re assuming her family is close and second, you’re assuming she will reject you based on your family situation. Sounds to me like you aren’t really giving her a chance…or a choice.”

Lance sat quietly for a moment, thinking that over. He realized that by holding himself back, he was keeping from learning more about Jade and not letting her know more about him. He then remembered her statement in the hospital about her mother. Only call her in an emergency.

“What are you thinking?” Charles asked, interrupting his musings.

“Sorry, I was actually thinking that you’re right. I really want to get to know this woman better, so I’m gonna have to force myself to get past my hang-ups and go out on a limb with her.”

“So, the not so good news?” Charles prompted.

“She was involved in an accident and, well, you might have heard, she was also the one who discovered the body on the beach—”

“Jade Lyons?”

“Yeah, unfortunately she’s becoming well known for it, since the paper and a TV station in Virginia Beach picked up the story…” His words trailed off as he began to think of the timeline of Jade’s notoriety and the truck running her off the road. Jolting as he heard his name called, he looked up quickly, shaking his head. “Sorry,” he mumbled, “my mind was engaged for a moment.”

“You’re a man with a great many things on his mind nowadays,” Charles laughed. Sobering, he added, “For someone who values their privacy, how are you doing with these changes?”

He held back for a second before responding, “Well, I haven’t told you about all the changes yet.” Seeing the counselor’s lifted brow, he said, “I’ve decided to continue my law enforcement career again. I’m the new part-time detective for Baytown.”

Unable to hide his surprise, Charles shook his head, exclaiming, “You have had a busy week.” Holding his gaze, he said, “Change in relationship status and a new job are two very stressful, albeit good, changes in your life. I’m glad but, concerned…are you ready for such big changes all at once?”

“I sure as hell hope so,” he answered honestly. “Jade? Yeah. I really like this woman and, while it’s been a long time since I had any kind of romantic relationship, I’m ready to take the plunge with her. And, God knows, my protective nature has reared its head with her.”

“And the job?”

“Right now, it’s only part-time, which is fine with me. I’ve still got some things to work on…with you…with myself, and figure this just forces me to face them a little sooner than I might have.”

“All right,” Charles smiled. “Then I suggest we face some of those fears.”

Lance nodded, ready to talk. It was time to let the fears go.

* * *

His phone vibrated in his pocket, but with others around, the man did not answer. Sweat broke out on his forehead and he pulled off his cap, wiping the drops away with the back of his hand. As soon as he was alone, he slid his hand into his pocket, his fingers twitching as they closed around the phone.

Pulling it out with trepidation, he viewed the screen. His heart pounded as he listened to the voice mail, the threats renewing.

I tried. I looked. Who knows where it was hidden? He was running out of time. The problem was, he had no idea what to do about it. Hearing his name called, he waved and plastered a smile on his face, moving on about his job.