Page 42 of Concrete Evidence
An hour and a half later, Avery walked back to the hotel. A miracle had met her inside the church doors. The message used the biblical accounting of David and Goliath to offer spiritual encouragement to those who battled their own giants. Her reliance on God had a long way to go, but she’d sensed His presence and that was exactly what she craved.
Still, the intersection where the cyclist had threatened her gave a moment of apprehension as though the blue motorcycle waited for her to cross the street.
A sandwich shop caught her attention, and she opened the door to walls of music memorabilia and sounds of the seventies. Only from all the times with Granddad did she recognize framed posters of theBeatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Bob Dylan. A giggle rose in her throat. Granddad and his eclectic taste in music. He wasn’t fond of her favorite group, One Direction, but he did enjoy Taylor Swift.
She ordered a veggie wrap, spicy Doritos, and a Coke. Sliding into an empty lime-green booth with a red-orange table, she imagined a much younger Granddad. She’d seen the photos. His raven-colored hair, piercing blue eyes, and dimpled smile had the girls in the palm of his hand. Not unlike how Marc must affect women.
Midway through lunch, her phone signaled a call from Marc. Had she willed it? Possibly...
“Hi, Avery. Is this an okay time to call?”
“Sure. Have you located Granddad?”
“Not yet. I’m at my sister’s and wanted to know if you’d have dinner with me tonight.”
“Why?”
“Personal reasons only.”
“You have a bad line, Agent Wilkins, and I recall you’ve used it before.”
“But it worked.”
“Let’s see. I think you’ve talked to a few more people and want to question me again.”
He groaned. “You’ve ripped my heart in two and stomped on it.”
“The truth has a way of doing that.”
“Dinner is more about me wanting to spend time with you than professional. Can I take you somewhere other than the hotel?”
“Oh, I hope no one is listening.”
“Let me rephrase my question. Can we have dinner at a restaurant other than the hotel?”
“I haven’t said yes.”
“But you’d like to. Please don’t tell me you have a boyfriend.”
“Only a horse named Zoom.”
“I saw him at the ranch, and he had my respect.”
She laughed. “All right. Someplace casual. No Asian or Indian food.”
“Tex-Mex? See you at seven?”
“I’ll meet you there, just text me the address. Bring your questions, and I’ll bring my answers. We’ll wrap them in a tortilla and dip them in hot sauce.”
He chuckled. “So when I ask you something you refuse to answer, you’ll point to the hot sauce?”
“Count on it.” Despite the circumstances, Avery looked forward to having dinner with him.
She’d not deny her attraction to him, but inching forward with thoughts of a future seemed pointless. Logic continued to tell her Marc’s interest was rooted in finding Granddad. Nothing else. And if FBI responsibilities motivated his dinner plans, she’d deal with it and be a wiser woman.
26
“A GIRLFRIEND?”Tessa set two cans of Coke on the kitchen table for Marc and her. “You told me you didn’t have one. But I leave you for five minutes, and you slip in a call?”
