Mason reached for her hand. “Laurel, the man we spoke to believes that Stephanie wants to finish what she started at the ranch or before.”
Laurel’s chin rose. “She wants me dead.”
Lorna
I watched from within as the SUV drove through a neighborhood outside of Chicago. The houses weren’t new, but they were well maintained. The green lawns of summer were replaced with the drier autumn version. Trees that could canopy the streets with their foliage were mostly bare, leaving a few brown leaves holding on through the Chicago wind.
With my hand in Reid’s, I turned his way. “It feels so strange to be out of the tower like this.”
Reid lifted his chin to the front seat. We had Romero and Christian in the SUV with us and Mason and other Sparrows were in another car, following close behind. “You’re safe, sweetheart. I wouldn’t risk it if you weren’t.” He squeezed my hand. “You were the one who said you wanted to do this.”
I nodded as I swallowed. “From what you and Mace said about Maples’s house, Anna seems to be doing better if this is where she lives.”
“She no longer manages the motel where you two worked.”
“She doesn’t?”
He grinned. “She started a public relations company, working from home. It’s one of those ones where you pay to improve your online persona. If you have bad reviews, she will flood you with good ones. It sounds a little shady to me, but I guess...” He grinned. “...glass houses and all.”
I smirked. “I’m actually nervous to talk to her.”
“It’s not going to be a surprise. She knows we’re coming.”
My eyes widened. “Isn’t that dangerous? What if she has the police there to arrest you?”
“We’ve had her on full surveillance since she was contacted. She hasn’t made any attempt to do that.”
“Can you be sure?”
Tugging me closer, Reid kissed my forehead. “When it comes to you, I wouldn’t take a chance if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure.” He reached for a lock of my hair and running it through his fingers, smiled. His voice lowered to a whisper. “I guess my days of fucking a brunette are over?”
Warmth filled my cheeks knowing that one or both of the men in the front may hear him. “Shh.”
“Now, Mrs. Murray, that isn’t an answer.”
He was right. I couldn’t add the length back to my hair, but I could find the right dye to return it to very close to its natural shade of red. “You, sir, are stuck with a redhead from now until forever. Besides, I thought Anna would recognize me better with red hair.”
His thumb and finger captured my chin. “You could be bald and it would be your stunning eyes and gorgeous smile that will forever remain in anyone’s memory.”
I fluffed the side of my still-short hair. “So you’re recommending a clean shave.” I grinned. “Maintenance would be easier.” I grinned. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll go bald but only if you do, too.”
“I want you to do whatever you want with your hair. However, if I get a say, I fell madly in love with a redhead and I like seeing her again.”
As the SUV pulled into a parking space on the side of the road, I looked around at the homes and lawns. Compared to our castle in the sky, they would pale, but I wasn’t seeing them through that perspective. My mind went back to Gordon Maples’s house.
“I think she made it.”
“Made it?” Reid asked.
“I guess we’ll see.”
My stomach twisted as Romero opened Reid’s door and we both scooted from the back seat. The slacks and sweater I wore beneath my overcoat were nicer than my normal around-the-tower attire, but in no way ostentatious. I smiled up at my husband. He too was dressed for this occasion. His pants were tan and instead of a casual shirt or shirt and tie, he also wore a sweater. I liked the way the maroon wool pulled across his wide chest.
Lifting my hand, I cupped his cheek. “I love you. Thank you for supporting me with this.”
“I don’t know if it will help us find Missy,” he said. “Hopefully, it will answer some questions about your mother.”
I nodded.
Reid’s large hand went to the small of my back as we walked across the street. My heeled boots clipped the cement as we grew closer to the yellow house with white trim and a white door. The lawn was free of leaves and the flower beds were cleared. There was a