Her Detective's Secret Intent

She was no longer in fear for her life, but Miranda still felt uneasy.

Standing by the first couch, she faced Tad—aware of Chantel’s presence just outside the door. “What’s going on?” Maybe she and Ethan weren’t on the verge of running or dying, but this wasn’t good, whatever it was.

Taking her hand, he sat down. “Sit, please.”

It was Tad. He was touching her. So she sat.

“I know who you are.”

Heart thudding, she felt as though the cereal she’d had for breakfast was coming up. Clogging her airway. Swallowed a couple of times.

“I’m Miranda Blake.”

Chantel’s smile a second ago had been...compassionate. Was it Sara? She’d told them?

She’d told Miranda not to say anything!

Which could only mean...

“He’s here.” Shaking, she stood. She had to go. Get out. Now.

Tad pulled her back down. “There’s no evidence that anyone’s following you,” he said. “And no evidence that you’re in any immediate danger.”

Immediate.

Ethan! She had to get to Ethan. Jumping up, she reached in her pocket for her keys. Didn’t have them.

Tad had ditched their cars—the cars someone might recognize as theirs.

“I have to get Ethan.”

“Chantel has an officer assigned to him until further notice. It’s probably not necessary. But we’re taking no chances.”

“You don’t know my—”

Tad took her hand again. “Dana, it’s okay.”

Trembling like she’d never trembled before, she couldn’t answer him. And wasn’t sure she could even stand.

She had to get Ethan. Go.

“Please, just listen to me for a minute?”

She nodded. Mostly because she needed a minute to get herself under control. To figure a way out. She had her bag in the car. Had stashed the money in it.

She didn’t have a car, didn’t have access to her own.

“There may not be any danger at all,” Tad told her. Not at all what she’d expected to hear. Chantel was involved. Ethan was under guard.

She wasn’t an idiot.

“You don’t know him like I do...”

“We think he’s dead, Dana.”

“Don’t! Don’t call me that. My name is Miranda. Miranda Blake.”

“You don’t have to be! That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Chantel’s just waiting on final confirmation, but it would appear he really is dead.”