“I struggled,” I admitted. I didn’t think anyone could go through a hostage situation less than six months after having been hunted down by a killer and declare themselves to be just fine. “But I’m mostly good now.” I gave him a smile. “Marco’s helped me through it.”

“He’s a good deputy and an even better man,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him on the force.”

I smiled again but didn’t say anything. I didn’t know if Marco considered Deputy Taggert a friend or foe, and if he was in the latter group, I didn’t want to give him anything to use against Marco.

“Who’s your friend visiting?” he said as we continued walking.

I hesitated, but there was no getting past this. “Pam Crimshaw.”

Deputy Taggert stumbled to a stop and turned to me. “Say what?” His eyes narrowed. “How’d you get mixed up in the Pam Crimshaw mess?”

“I’m not,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing. “I know Pam from the tavern where I work. Her friends set up a dinner schedule for her family and today was my day. When I dropped off my casserole, her daughter, Ashlynn, told me that her mother usually took her to work here in Ewing. I volunteered to bring her since I was coming to town anyway.”

“You just dropped her off?”

“That’s right, about an hour ago. She told me to be back in forty-five minutes. I visited a friend at the nursing home and cut my visit short to be back in time, but Ashlynn wasn’t outside when I got here.”

He gave me a long stare. “Did you know her daughter before this?”’

“No.” I gave him a wary look. “But she was trying to figure out a way to get to Ewing, and since I was headed here anyway…”

“You were just being neighborly,” he said with a smile, but it looked stiff.

I shrugged, really wishing I’d just stayed in the car. “Yeah. Exactly.”

“Just like you were bein’ neighborly when you were tryin’ to find out who killed Heather Stone?”

“That was different,” I admitted. “I was helping a friend, and I freely admit that I was looking into who did it. Today I’m simply a chauffeur.”

“And the friend you were helping was Wyatt Drummond.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yeah.”

The look in his eyes suggested he didn’t like my answer, but he didn’t press the matter.

So much for staying under the radar. Dammit.

He continued the short distance to the plexiglass window and leaned his forearm on the counter. “Steve,” he said to the man behind the desk, “can you look at the log and tell me if—” He turned to me with raised brows. “What’s her name?”

“Ashlynn Crimshaw.”

He turned back to the window. “If Ashlynn Crimshaw has already signed out after seeing her mother?”

The deputy looked surprised, but he glanced down at his sheet before looking back up at Deputy Taggert. “For Pam Crimshaw?”

“That’s right,” Deputy Taggert said.

“She ain’t had no visitors today,” the deputy said. “No one’s been to see her other than her lawyer last night.”

“Are you sure?” I asked in disbelief. “I dropped Ashlynn off about an hour ago.”

“Positive,” the deputy behind the glass said. “I ain’t had no women visitors at all today.”

I turned slightly, shocked at the realization that Ashlynn hadn’t come in to see her mother. Why had she made such a show of coming? Why waste both of our time?

“Thank you for your help, Deputy Taggert,” I said, glancing up at the man next to me. “Who knows how long I would have been waiting for her if you hadn’t helped.”

“I’m sure Marco could have found out for you. Have you told him you’re here?”

“No,” I said. “But then I didn’t know he was here until you told me. I’m supposed to meet him for lunch later.” I gave him a friendly smile. “Thanks again for your help.”

“Don’t think anything of it.” He leaned over so our faces were even, his about a foot from mine. Lowering his voice, he said, “But a word of advice: You might be more careful with the company you keep.”

A chill swept over my body. I hesitated, unsure how to handle this—was he speaking about Marco? Ashlynn?—but then the door at the end of the hall opened and Marco emerged.

His gaze swept over me, but it took a second for his brain to put things together. Worry washed over his face. “Carly?”

Deputy Taggert straightened and turned to face him. “There you are, Marco.”

Confusion replaced Marco’s worry. “You were lookin’ for me?”

“She was lookin’ for Pam Crimshaw’s daughter,” Deputy Taggert said in an even tone.

“When I dropped off her casserole, she mentioned she wanted to see her mother before she went to work, only she couldn’t get a ride to Ewing for either purpose,” I said, offering him a weak smile. “You know me. I’m always volunteering to help people.”

Marco closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. “I know. Your generous heart is one of the things I love most about you.” He dropped one arm and turned to the side to face the deputy, but he kept the other around my back, his hand cupping my upper arm. His touch, so casual yet so familiar, unleashed something within me. He was doing this for show, because he wanted the other deputies to think we were involved, but I liked it. “Thanks for taking care of her, Tag. Sure do appreciate it.”

“Anything I can do to be neighborly,” Taggert said, his word choice intentional. “I’ll let you two get to your lunch date.” Then he headed down the hall toward the exit.

Marco watched him for a few seconds before turning his attention to me. “You okay?” he asked in a whisper.

I nodded. “You still have that meeting you need to attend?”

He tilted his head toward the door. “That was my appointment.”

My eyes widened. “Your appointment was to arrest somebody?”

“Something like that. You want to head to lunch? There’s a café you haven’t tried yet. They have great fried pickles.”

I cast a glance at the counter, where the deputy was watching us like we were his afternoon entertainment. “Yeah. I thought I needed to give someone a ride, but I guess not.” I smiled up at Marco. “Let’s get you your fried pickles.”

“How about we get them to go?” he asked, sounding breezy, but I could feel the tension thrumming through his body. “We could have a picnic at Louis Park.”

Which meant he wanted to talk about something he didn’t want anyone else to overhear. Was it about why I was here, or something else? “I like that idea. It’s a beautiful day.”

“It is now that you’re here.” He placed a soft kiss on my cheek, then straightened. “I’m starving. Let’s go.”

I stared at him for a moment. Show or not, I couldn’t ignore the butterflies in my stomach…or the urge to lift onto my toes and kiss him for real.

He dropped his arm and snagged my hand, lacing our fingers together as we headed out to the parking lot. His eagle gaze quickly zeroed in on my car. “I’d suggest we ride together, but I’m on duty and I don’t want you to leave your car here. Follow me.”