a white sedan driving slowly toward him, and he scrunched down in the seat, obscuring him from immediate view. There was no disguising that white car as anything but a cop car, even in this backwater burb. They continued on past, and he waited, knowing if he got up too soon and blew it, he’d end up back in Huntsville, this time in solitary.
Once he had the money, he’d leave. He had it all plotted out. There was a lovely seaside bungalow in Rio calling to him. With Beth’s share of the bond, he could live comfortably for many years, without encumbrances like a wife and a child. He felt a twinge of guilt thinking about Jamie. It was a shame she’d be dragged into this because her mother betrayed him.
The white sedan pulled into the drive of Beth’s cottage, and a tall man in a tan shirt and dark pants stepped out, walking slowly around the side of the house, disappearing from view. Definitely a cop, from the way he walked and the way he carried himself. A thief wouldn’t have pulled right up into the drive and gotten out; he’d learned that much while incarcerated. Keeping his head low, he watched and waited. Long minutes passed before the cop came around the other side of the house, his long strides now purposeful as he walked to his car, climbed in and pulled away.
Shifting to sit upright behind the wheel, he took another bite of his now cold burger, before wrapping it up and tossing it into the trash bag. He took a long drink of the milkshake he’d gotten to go with the burger and added it to the trash.
Movement from the side caught his attention, and he watched an older woman carrying a black trash bag out of her house and head toward one of the bins standing at attention like soldiers at the side of her drive. Taking a quick glance in the mirror again, he made an attempt to smooth his hair, and scrubbed a hand across his scruff, and opened the car door.
“Excuse me, ma’am. I’m hoping you can help me.”
“Of course. What can I do for you?” She hesitated, watching him closely as he moved a few steps into her driveway.
“I’m looking for a friend who recently moved into this area. I know she’s renting a place on this street, but I can’t for the life of me find the paper I wrote her address down on. Maybe you know her? Beth Stewart?”
The woman’s face lit with a smile. “Oh, of course. Such a lovely lady, and sweet little girl, too. She hasn’t been here long, but she lives right over there.” She pointed to the cottage Evan had been staking out. “Although I heard there was a spot of trouble, and she’s been staying with the Boudreaus.”
“Boudreaus?”
“They own the big ranch outside town. Biggest one around for miles. Just follow Main Street through town, and keep heading north. You can’t miss it.”
Evan seethed, gritting his teeth in a semblance of a smile. Looked like his wife had gotten further ensnared by the Boudreaus, the same way Tessa got pulled in. Good thing he planned on putting a stop to that, once and for all.
“Thank you, ma’am. Appreciate your help. I’ll try and catch up with her later.”
Giving the woman a final wave, Evan marched back to his stolen car and climbed behind the wheel. It wouldn’t be long before he had everything he wanted, and having a chance to get even with the Boudreaus was the cherry on top.
With a wicked grin, he started the ignition and drove off, heading for Main Street.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Beth knew everyone wanted her to stay inside the house, but she was getting cabin fever, going stir-crazy, being cooped up inside. She hadn’t heard from Brody, and she missed him. Missed the cheeky half-grin he had, the right side of his lips curving slightly higher than the left. Missed feeling his arms wrapped around her. And she secretly missed his need to protect her. Not that she was a shrinking violet or anything, but his overprotectiveness made her feel cherished. Special. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Jamie was upstairs taking a nap—finally. She’d been running around the ranch since she’d woken up. Beth had given in and let her have waffles for breakfast, and then they’d headed out to the barn to visit the kittens. Afterward, Jamie had insisted Beth meet Otto, the donkey. Her brave