In the truck, on the way home, she was silent a long time.

"Are you sure you liked it?" he asked. "You're so quiet. It's not too late to change your mind."

She took a deep breath. "I like the car." She paused a moment. "But I don't like the way I've been treating you. I want to pay you for your time. I don't know what I was thinking of, taking advantage of you that way."

He shrugged. "I do."

She studied him. "What?"

"Your family. You were distraught. I offered to help and you accepted my offer. It's as simple as that. I'm glad you did."

"You don't think I betrayed your trust?"

He smiled in a forlorn way. "You didn't betray my trust. I was just thinking I might have betrayed yours."

"Well, maybe we both did a little. But at least you had my best interest in mind." She made a face. "So did I."

He chuckled. "I suppose that's only natural. You've been through a lot."

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"I'm just beginning to see what I've been missing."

The truck swung into the Giddon drive. "You be careful," he said in a quiet voice. "Howard couldn't find anything on this guy. The more questions he asks, the tighter their lips. I asked a few questions and was quickly told to mind my own business."

She caught her breath. "Do you think he's involved in something bad?"

He shook his head. "If I did, I wouldn't be bringing you back here. Maybe he's in some witness protection program."

That didn't explain what she had seen at the building. She hesitated a moment, wanting to tell him, but thinking she would be betraying Yancey if she did so. She was forming a habit of using people who expressed interest in her - Connie, Howard, Len and now Yancey. It was time to stand on her own two feet. If Howard had not been able to find anything on Yancey, it was probably because there was nothing to tell. Witness protection? It was a thought, especially considering his reclusive behavior. Connie would have told Len about the fact that Yancey didn't want to give her his phone number. But Len didn't know all the facts, and that wasn't fair. On the other hand, she hadn't asked Len to look into Yancey's past. Anything else she divulged should go to Howard, not Connie. Since she had given no information to Howard, Connie had to be the one who was talking. Of course, Howard had talked to Len - even given him instructions to the Giddon house. Who else had he told?




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