Jeremy walked out from the shadows. "I caught the dog. He's back at the car now. Sorry for the inconvenience, officers." A small smile. "It seems he's not ready for off-leash walks quite yet."
"There was a man following your--"
"Wife," Jeremy said, his arm going around my waist. His face gathered with concern. "A man was following her?"
"A blond man."
Jeremy looked at me. "Did you notice...?"
"No, but I was looking for the dog."
Oh, come on! Problem
solved, officers. Dog's found, helpless pregnant lady safe with her husband. Now move on.
Clay was out there, chasing someone, thinking I was there to back him up. It took everything I had to keep from blurting "Thanks, officers," and running after him.
Jeremy did the right thing, trying quickly but patiently to bring the encounter to a close. He confessed to the officer that maybe these nighttime dog walks weren't such a wise idea, but I'd been having trouble sleeping lately, with the baby kicking and all...
As he handled it, I struggled to hold myself still. Had Clay caught the man? Was he holding him, waiting for us? Had something gone wrong? Was he hurt, while we were stalled, parked out of sight behind this greenhouse--
"Ready to go, hon?"
I started out of my thoughts. Jeremy smiled down at me.
"Getting tired finally, I see."
He turned back to the officers, thanked them again, then led me away. I counted ten steps, then started to look over my shoulder.
"Not yet," Jeremy whispered.
"But Clay--"
"I know."
"But--"
"I know."
I bit back a growl and counted off ten more steps.
"No," Jeremy said, before I even started to turn.
"But--"
"He lost him."
"How--?"
"Look right. Along the sidewalk."
There was Clay, walking along the north sidewalk on Gerrard, his path set to intersect with ours. Jeremy gestured--the slightest flutter of his right hand--and Clay paused, then turned and walked across the road. We crossed at the lights, and found Clay around the corner, hands jammed in his pockets, eyes seething.
"Lost him," he said.
"I got waylaid by--"
"The cops. I saw."