You dont have to do this, Lenora said, her voice like a plea. Just go home and heal. I dont want you to get hurt again.
Well, the woman knew how to keep him on his toes. He really wanted to know what she meant by that last remark, but first things first.
Is that my baby? he demanded.
Her mouth tightened. We had a one-night stand after Jill was murdered.
The emotions whipped harder through him. Ill take that as a yes. He cursed, and it was more than several moments before he could regain enough control to speak.
You should have told meagain, he added. After I came out of surgery.
You had enough to deal with.
That answer didnt help. What were you going to do? Have the baby and not let me know?
I would have told you eventually. When you were better.
He leaned in and yanked off his glasses so he could meet her eye to eye. Im better, and Ive been better for a while now.
She nodded, but there was no agreement in any part of her body language. Knowing the truth doesnt make this situation better or easier. But it does make it more dangerous.
Clayton made a circling motion with his fingers for her to continue.
She did, eventually. I cant prove it, but Riggs might have hired the shooter to kill me, and he might have shot you by mistake. And if thats true, then its not safe for you to be around me.
Thats a big maybe. Riggs has just as much reason to want me dead as he does you. After all, we both saw him gun down Jill. Well both testify against him.
You remember the shooting? she asked.
Unfortunately. Yes. However, there were gaps both before and after the murder. Big gaps that Riggs probably didnt know he had. Hopefully, his lawyers wouldnt, either, because Clayton didnt want his testimony called into question.
She groaned softly. But why didnt Riggs come after you before that day at the diner? Why did he wait until we were together?
I dont know. But thats something we could have worked out if youd stayed
No, its not, Lenora interrupted. She waited until his gaze came back to hers. Riggs was right. I do have secrets. Im not who you think I am.
Oh, man. He didnt like that tone or the look in her eyes. What do you mean?
Its all lies. Not the baby. Thats the only truth in all of this. She tipped her head to his phone, where the video of her returning fire was frozen on the screen. You said only a criminal or someone in law enforcement would have reacted that way.
Clayton nodded. Waited. And which one are you?
Lenoras bottom lip trembled. Both.
Chapter Four
Both? Clayton repeated.
Lenora saw the instant concern in his eyes. Not ordinary concern, either. The kind of concern a marshal would have when facing down someone on the other side of the law.
Explain that, he demanded. His gaze dropped to her stomach. And then well discuss the baby.
Lenora didnt know which part of the intended discussion she dreaded most, but her dread was a drop in the bucket compared to her fear
that Claytons mere presence here could get him killed.
Are you sure no one followed you? Lenora didnt wait for his answer. She went to the sliver of a side window by the front door and peered out. The beveled glass distorted the view, but she saw her own car. No one elses, and definitely no sign of a gunman. But that didnt mean there wasnt one.
I parked on the other side of the cemetery, Clayton explained. I didnt see anyone following me, and I was careful. He paused. But theres always the possibility that someone used the same steps I did to find you.
True. That didnt do much to steady her already racing heart and frazzled nerves. Lenora made a mental note to call the minister, Reverend Donaldson, to say she couldnt finish the job. Then she could leave town and make sure Clayton didnt find her again. However, that leaving part wasnt going to happen unless she gave him the answers he was demanding, because there was no way hed just let her walk out.
But where to start?
It was a tangled mess. One that Clayton definitely wasnt going to like.
She took a deep breath, walked back toward him and sank down into a pew. Jill and I both worked for the justice department. There. Plain and simple. She gave him a moment to let that sink in.
It obviously didnt sink in well. Claytons eyes narrowed. Its the first Im hearing of this, and thats funny since I work for the justice department, too, and I was assigned to protect you two.
Yes, she was painfully aware of that. You werent told the whole truth, and I was sworn to secrecy. Jill and I were agents on a special task force put together to bring down Adam Riggs and his cronies
Any reason I wasnt let in on this?
A good one. Well, it was good in some peoples minds. Itd never felt right to her. There were other agents planted in companies that Riggs was doing business with. The task-force supervisor didnt want anyone knowing that Jill and I were deep cover, because it might have leaked
I wouldnt have leaked it, he snapped, interrupting her again. He slipped his sunglasses back on and went to the front windows to look out.
The sunglasses were an odd mix with the rest of his clothes: the jeans, boots and silver rodeo belt. He used the brim of his black Stetson to help shield his eyes. It made her wonder just how bad his headaches actually were and if he was duty ready. Apparently hed been ready enough to find her, and shed thought she had covered her tracks well with the assumed name and the cash-only lifestyle.