Secret Stalker

“I think it’s for the best. I’ll stop at my lawyer’s office in town, then I’m off to Pigeon Forge for a couple of weeks to clear my head before going home.”

He was reaching for her suitcase but stopped with his hand on the handle. “Pigeon Forge?”

It dawned on her what he was thinking about, and she belatedly wished she’d thought more carefully before answering him. She nodded and refolded an afghan at the foot of the bed that didn’t need folding. Pigeon Forge, nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, had been their place, where she and Max had gone on many trips their junior and senior year. Always with friends, to satisfy her mom that they were well chaperoned. But she and Max had found plenty of time to sneak away to be together. It had been the happiest time of her life. And it had become her habit since leaving Destiny to go to Pigeon Forge every time her life seemed like it was falling apart. The moment she’d found out about her mother, she’d reserved her usual cabin in the Smokies for once she was finished with her duties in Destiny. Now she wasn’t sure it was a good idea anymore. Rather than healing her soul, it just might crush her.

Without a word, Max picked up her suitcase and carried it out of the room.

Bex sighed and followed him, grabbing her purse and car keys along the way.

Once he’d placed the suitcase in her trunk, he straightened and leaned against her car. “I may need to contact you with more questions as the investigation goes on.”

“Mr. Leonard has my contact information. He’ll be able to get in touch with me.”

“It’s probably better that you’re leaving. Bobby Caldwell’s death is a fresh wound again now that you’re back in town. A lot of people, like it or not, believe you got away with murder. Marcia’s just one of them.”

She paused beside the driver’s door. “Just like you.”

“No.”

She looked up at him. “You don’t think I killed Bobby?”

He swore and ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever...resentments I have toward you, I never once believed you had anything to do with Bobby’s death.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that. “You told Marcia I saw my mom, that I called her every week. How did you know that?”

He shrugged. “Small town. Word gets around.”

“Only if my mom told someone about it. And she wasn’t the type to gossip, not about me. And her close friends wouldn’t share that type of information, not with you. The only way you could have known is if Mom told you.”

He didn’t say anything.

“You’re the one who planted the lilies, aren’t you?”

Again, he remained silent. But the truth was in his eyes.

“You really did visit my mom regularly, didn’t you, Max? Why?”

He straightened away from her car. “Just because you pushed me out of your life didn’t mean your mom did. I always planned on marrying you, Bex. From the moment we started hanging out in middle school. I thought of your mom as my future mother-in-law for so long I couldn’t just turn that off when you threw my proposal in my face.”

She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t throw it in your face.”

He waved his hand in the air. “Just go see your lawyer and run off to Pigeon Forge. You’ve probably got some guy waiting there for you. Don’t let me keep you.”

She glared up at him, her hands on her hips. “And don’t let me keep you from those interns you’re sleeping with, either.”

His jaw tightened and he held the door open for her.

Her anger evaporated in a shaky sigh. Tears burned at the backs of her eyes. “Can’t wait for me to leave, can you, Max?”

Something passed in his eyes—regret? His anger seemed to rush out of him, too, and he looked tired and resigned.

“This is never how I wanted things to be between us. But it’s probably for the best, Bex.”

She nodded. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so scared when I heard that gunman saying the cop had interfered and they were going to kill him. I figured that was you. I was so scared. I was trying to find you to warn you when I got trapped behind that display of T-shirts.”

“You were looking for me to warn me? Are you insane?”

She stiffened. “Apparently so. Take care, Max. I mean it. I want you to be happy and safe. No matter what you think of me, that has never changed. I’ve always wanted what was best for you. That was the driving concern in every decision that I made.”

He frowned at her words. “Bex, what are you—”

She shook her head, realizing she’d said too much. She stepped into the opening to get in the car. A loud boom sounded and the windshield exploded.

Max grabbed her and shoved her to the ground.