“I’m going to try to catch the other guy. If I can catch him, that will only help your case.”

Elliott jogged back to his truck and pulled out his phone as he swung up into the cab. Tank’s voice mail picked up after four rings.

“Hey, it’s Eli. I need you to run some names for me. Tanya Cook and Elise Able. Jeremy King claims he was paid to send letters to them, too. I want to find out everything about these girls. Where they live, what they do for a living, what they do for fun. If we can find a connection, maybe we can figure out why this guy focused on the three of them.”

He hung up and put the truck in gear. Just before he pulled out, there was a flash of movement from his left side. A man, medium height and build, stood watching him from across the street. His oversized hooded jacket obscured his face completely. While he watched, the guy turned and started walking.

His head was down and he walked at a normal pace, but there was something about him that set Eli’s instincts ringing. So he glanced in his rearview mirror and then pulled out, prepared to follow the guy. When he got a hunch, he always went with it. It had saved him more than once.

However, when he pulled out into the street, the guy was gone. He sped up and looked down the next street to see if he’d turned the corner.

Nothing.

If he told the story to anyone else, they’d likely think he was overreacting. A shadowy figure watching him. One that disappeared before he could get close. It sounded like a thriller novel. But Eli just knew. He’d started something by coming here. What, he didn’t know. But whatever it was, he had to be ready.

He shook his head and then pulled off, driving a little faster than he would have normally. He suddenly needed to be near Kay, hear her voice and see her smile. He hadn’t come here expecting to believe Jeremy King, but now that he did, it was more obvious than ever that whatever was going on was bigger than he’d imagined.

A FEW HOURS later, Kay examined her outfit in the mirror one last time. The flowing peasant top she’d settled on was feminine without showing too much cleavage. Something she always had to think about since her “girls” tended to struggle out of most tops. She sighed and tugged at the neckline again. Maybe she should have stuck with the black sweater she’d originally chosen.

She turned from the mirror, disgusted with her own indecision. It wasn’t that she was nervous. Well, not that much. Ridley, Raina, and Mara would all be there. How bad could it be? It would be a low-key, no-pressure kind of date. Just dinner with a bunch of mutual friends was no big deal.

Although Kay had a feeling Eli wouldn’t see it that way.

That afternoon, Tank had come to stay with her while Eli took care of something. Whatever he’d been doing must have really thrown him for a loop because he’d been distracted and distant ever since. She’d told him they were having a girl’s night out and he hadn’t questioned it, but she knew his distraction was only a temporary thing. Once he got past whatever he was brooding about, he’d start asking his usual questions.

Kay couldn’t even begin to guess what he’d do when he realized their girl’s night out was really just an excuse for the girls to fix her up.

Eli appeared in the doorway. “Are you ready to go yet?” He’d been waiting for her to finish dressing for the past half hour, but he seemed to have run out of patience.

“Almost. I just need to fix my hair.” Kay avoided his eyes as she rushed into the bathroom. Curly black ringlets stuck out in every direction, so she pulled them into a high ponytail and fastened down any strays with pins. That would have to do.

“You look really nice,” Eli commented when she rushed past him again. “Aren’t we just hanging out with Ridley?”

Kay busied herself filling up Hope’s diaper bag with the essentials. “Yeah, but it’s been a while since I’ve gone out. Nick’s got a new project, so we’ve been really busy working on that, plus I’ve been recording late with Jackson.” Guilt kept her from looking him in the eye. “Your brothers have been keeping me busy!”

Eli chuckled. “You want me to beat them up for you?”

She tried not to stare, but it was hard not to be entranced by the rare appearance of his smile. It was still a novelty to see this side of Eli. He didn’t joke around that often, so it was always a pleasant surprise when she could coax a laugh out of him.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m kind of attached to them by now.”

She grabbed the last of what she needed, then allowed Eli to take the bag from her so she could pick up Hope from her crib. A few minutes later, they were on their way.

Kay glanced over at Eli several times during the drive. He was in a strange mood, and she debated whether she should tell him to turn the car around and go home. But before she could make up her mind, they were pulling into the long drive of the Alexander farm. Just as she opened her door to step out of the truck, the front door opened and Julia Alexander came down the steps.

“There you are,” Julia exclaimed. She held out wide-open arms for Kay. The red-and-white checked apron she wore was dotted with flour, and she carried the scent of warmth and sugar. After a round of hugs, Julia took the car seat from Eli and started back toward the house.

“I’m so happy to hear the girls found a nice young man to set you up with. And you look so nice, honey. I’m sure you’ll knock him off his feet.” Julia winked at them before starting up the steps.

“What is she talking about?” Eli narrowed his eyes as he looked at her outfit again, clearly seeing the clothes she’d agonized over and the makeup she’d worn in a new light.