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“Good God, I look like hell,” Josie mumbled at her reflection the next morning in the bathroom mirror. The bruises from the beating in St. Augustine had mostly faded but the events of last night had set her back a couple of days. She looked pale, unless you counted the dark circles under her eyes. Her weight loss was underscored by her pronounced cheekbones—but not in a sexy way. Yep, she looked like shit.
“You look beautiful.” Steve said, surprising her and, apparently, reading her mind. He was leaning against the doorjamb. She scowled at his reflection. Turning to face him would require too much effort.
“Okay, so you’re not at your best,” Steve agreed with her silent reprimand. “Give yourself a break. You haven’t had an easy time of it these last few days.” He turned on the tap in the bathtub. “No shower for you today. Don’t want to get that back wet. But a hot bath may help you feel better.”
Steve prepared the bath while Josie watched in bewildered silence. Had that tenderness been there all along? Had the combination of his digital camouflage and the heat that flowed between them blinded her to this side of him?
“If you have any problems with your back, let Kevin know,” Steve said, bringing her back to the here and now. “Do you need any help before I leave?”
“No. I can manage. Where are you going?” Josie asked.
“Jacksonville. I have an appointment with Deets this morning. Remember?” He’d told her about the trip to see the State Attorney and McClaren’s offer of his plane but after last night, he wasn’t surprised she’d forgotten it. “We need to talk to everyone on that list. He’s the last one alive that we haven’t reached and his name keeps floating to the surface.”
“Be careful. One of us being injured is enough.”
“One of us injured is one too many. Get some rest today.”
“I plan to work today, Steve. I assume the restrictions on who I can talk to have been lifted?” she asked.
“It looks like your whereabouts are known. Just don’t advertise them and promise me you’ll stay inside and away from windows.”
“Scout’s honor.” It would be a long time before she nonchalantly walked by an open window.
***
Troy and Gib were in the living room when Steve returned. He wasn’t surprised to see Gib as he’d volunteered to run Steve to the airport. But Don had been hunched over the computer when Steve left to check on Josie.
“What happened to Don?” Steve asked.
“He left to catch twenty,” Troy said. “He has a program running he said would take a while. I’m keeping Josie company until he comes back.”
Steve hesitated briefly. Troy had softened a bit toward Josie but there was still some underlying animosity.
“I’ll make sure she stays safe, Steve,” Troy promised. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“If anything happens at all, call me,” he said as he followed Gib out the door.
Half an hour later they pulled into Private Sky Aviation. No check in. No security. No plane changes. Thank God.
“Thanks, man. I owe you and McClaren.” Steve said, getting out of Gib’s truck.
“About that?” Gib said before Steve could shut the door. “I wouldn’t mention the plane to McClaren. He kinda doesn’t know about this.”
“What are you saying?” Steve asked, his eyes narrowing. He looked at the sleek jet waiting for him then glanced at Gib again.
“Don’t worry,” Gib assured him, “you’re not stealing a plane. Just go get your answers.”