Her Detective's Secret Intent

So much for feeling good.

What did you say to him? he texted back.

He paced back to the living area, to the balcony, as he awaited her response. The job wasn’t supposed to be this emotional roller coaster he’d been on for the past couple of weeks. It was supposed to be his head fully engaged,

not his heart.

After his sister’s death, Tad had made it that way. He was going to be a positive influence on the world. A help, not a hindrance.

And he was never, ever going to love anyone again as much as he’d loved Steffie.

Told him to ask you. Sorry. I passed the buck, came the eventual response. And then, I drew a blank. Can’t tell him who Danny is or why you know him.

He read her response twice.

Why not?

Seemed to him that telling her son about Danny might be smart. If the boy knew that sometimes kids were in danger from family members, it would give him an awareness he might need if any of his father’s family came looking for him.

Chief O’Connor had mentioned one family member of Ethan’s father who could pose a risk, and that had been on the edge of his consciousness since the second he’d heard it. Made him anxious to get to dinner and have a closer look at Miranda’s house. To make sure she had dead bolts, the windows were all securely latched. That...

He’d look at it all. He’d add more watch time, too. He’d been loitering around enough to be familiar with the neighborhood, to recognize her neighbors as they came and went.

He’s only six. He doesn’t need to know about the seedier side of life yet.

He disagreed. Completely. Given her circumstances—about which he supposedly knew nothing.

But he got her message. He wasn’t supposed to say anything about Danny’s situation to Ethan.

Telling himself he’d find a discreet way to approach the topic with her, Tad settled for, Got it. And thanks for the heads-up.

Her response was almost immediate. Thanks. Complete with a smile emoji.

Chapter 9

She had to do this. Not only for herself and Ethan, but for all those who came after her. For Marie and the Maries yet to come.

She had to be proof that life existed after domestic violence—even when the threat was so severe you had to run for your life. Others might not know her circumstances, but by living a happy, fulfilled life, she could teach others to do the same. She could teach with confidence.

Sometimes confidence was as much a factor in helping someone as facts were.

And someday, with life following a natural progression, her father and the threat he posed would be gone. Then she could use her story as an example to others.

Thoughts firmly stationed, she watched the clock, her stomach filled with butterflies as Tad’s arrival drew close.

She’d originally planned for them to spend the majority of the early-evening get-together out on the patio, but the wind had kicked up, chilling the air, so she’d had to give up on that option.

Inside the cottage it was. She’d set the table in the smallish eating area off the kitchen. Ethan and Tad could play Zoo Attack from the game box controller attached to the living room TV. She’d cleaned the bathroom in the hall. And shut both bedroom doors. For privacy, not because they weren’t equally spotless.

In skinny jeans, a dark blue tank and a white, mostly see-through top with three-quarter-length sleeves, she examined her appearance one more time as she did a last check on the bathroom. She’d left her hair down, happy with the natural waves for once, and the rest... She’d never been a heavy makeup kind of girl. Basic foundation, a hint of eyeliner and that was it.

A thrill of anticipation swept through her as she caught her eye in the mirror. She was hoping that Tad really was attracted to her.

As much as that scared her, considering her secrets, it also felt good. Damned good. Her escape from hell wasn’t a success unless she and Ethan lived a normal life. Anything less made her remain a victim trapped by the fear of further abuse.

Back out in the living room, she noticed that her son hadn’t budged from his cross-legged position in front of the TV, where he was cleaning up his zoo, when the doorbell sounded.

“Remember, if you want to have a friend, you have to be a friend,” she told him quietly as she passed, bending down to kiss the top of his head, hoping he’d lighten up and let the whole Danny thing go.