Page 17 of Backtrack

“But you did,” he said. “I need to know if you’re alright.”

“I’m peachy. You know me. I was just being paranoid, that’s all. Which, when I think about it, isyourfault.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “Don’t walk on my gun side, let me sit with my back to the wall, watch your backtrail …Any of that sound familiar? Truth be told, I learned all I know about sleeping with my eyes open from being married to you.”

“Then you also learned to pay attention to your gut,” he said. “Which is good. Something must have made you call. We haven’t spoken in …”

“Seven years, eight months, two weeks, and three days.”

“Seriously?” Cutter said.

“It has been seven years,” she said. “I’m joking about that last part.”

“Come on, Jo,” he said. “Be serious for a minute. You obviously felt the need to contact me. What’s the matter?”

“I told you,” she said. “Good Lord, Arliss, this is why we got divorced. Nothing’s the matter.”

“Well,” he said. “Okay, then—” He paused, like he was going toend the call. They were married long enough he knew she wouldn’t let that happen.

“I thought someone was following me,” she blurted out. “But I overreacted. I’d heard that you’d moved to Alaska. This cruise ship happens to be heading for Alaska. I got scared. I called you. That’s it. It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud.”

“You’re on the ship now?”

“Right, but—”

“What’s the first port of call?” he asked. “Ketchikan?”

“That’s right,” she said. “How did you—”

“A lot of cruise ships stop in Ketchikan first,” he said. “What made you think you’re being followed in the first place? Be specific. Are you in some kind of trouble? I assume you’re still with the Clerk’s office. Any big federal cases put you in the crosshairs?”

“I seriously doubt anyone notices me in the courtroom unless I’m swearing in a witness.”

“Any new enemies?”

“I don’t even think I have any old enemies.”

“Pissed anyone off lately?”

“Besides you, for calling out of the blue like this? None come to mind. Listen, Arliss, I hope I didn’t upset Mim.”

“She’s fine,” Cutter said. “Concentrate, Jo. Who would want to follow you?”

“I don’t owe money to the mob or anything,” she said. “If that’s what you mean.”

“Who do you owe money to?”

“Nobody!” she said. “Geez Louise, Arliss. I told you, I’m fine.”

“When did you first have this feeling?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess when I was still in Miami. That said, I haven’t traveled in a while. I’m sure it’s just jitters.”

“You called me from Seattle,” he said. “You must have seen or felt something there, too.”

“I guess so,” she said. “Shit, you make things difficult, don’t you … Look, I’m safe on the ship now. I met a cool guy in the boarding line. We chatted for a bit while we were waiting for our cabins to be made up. He’s some kind of state investigator from Minnesota. We’re having dinner together later tonight. You know, see how it goes.”

Cutter started to ask if she’d checked this guy’s credentials but decided it was none of his business.

“Shut up!” she said, breaking the silence. “You were going to make fun of me because I’m having dinner with a cop.”