“I thought you and Crow had become friends,” Meg said. “In fact I thought maybe—”
“What?” Sara snapped.
“Maybe even more?” Meg said, lifting a brow.
“Puh-leeze,” Sara said, glad her voice stayed steady. “He didn’t fool me for a second. I knew he was up to something from the very beginning. I just didn’t know what.”
A look of disappointment flashed across Meg’s face. She squared her shoulders. “What now? Are you going to get rid of me, too?”
Impulsively Sara squatted down in front of Meg and took her hands. “You’re my manager and my friend. I realize that what you did, you did out of concern.”
“I was worried. I never wanted to lie—”
“Meg,” Sara interrupted, not interested in her manager’s excuses. “There’s just one thing.”
“What is that?”
“Don’t do it again.” Sara shot Meg a leveling gaze. “Don’t lie to me, either. Because even though I care about you, I won’t have people working for me that I can’t trust.”
Crow knew something was wrong the minute he walked through Sara’s front door. The replacement guard was nowhere to be found and the house, normally filled with activity, was strangely silent.
Trying to still his rising panic, Crow moved quickly through the house, searching each room. He found Sara in the den, sitting on the couch, staring into an unlit fireplace, her feet pulled up beneath her.
He released the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Have a seat.” Sara picked up the newspaper that had been lying open on her lap. “We need to talk.”
“We sure do.” He dropped into the chair opposite her. “What happened to Larry?”
“I let him go,” she said, her expression flat and unreadable.
An uneasy sensation of foreboding coursed through his veins.
“Was he sick?” Even if he was, that was no excuse for leaving Sara unattended. Larry had his cell number. He should have called. What if something had happened to Sara? His chest tightened at the thought. “Why did he leave you alone?”
“I fired him.” Sara’s gaze met his and her blue eyes were ice cold. “Now I’m firing you.”
“What are you talking about?” His brows drew together in a puzzled frown.
“You’re fired,” she said tersely. “Get your stuff and get out.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.” He leaned back and deliberately crossed his arms.
“Oh, you’ll be leaving all right. Even if I have to call one of your fellow officers down at the police department and have them escort you out.”
“You know,” he said. He wondered why he wasn’t more surprised. “How did you find out?”
Sara didn’t answer. She just stared at him.
“It doesn’t matter. Let me explain—”
“Explain what?” She jerked to her feet and crossed the room. “That you lied to me? That you took this job under false pretenses? That you pretended to care for me just to further your investigation?”
He’d come to know her so well that he could see the pain behind her words, and compassion filled him. This was not the way he’d wanted her to find out his true identity. He’d never wanted to hurt her. “Sara…”
“I don’t want your excuses.” She strode to the door. “I want you to leave.”
It didn’t surprise him that she was angry. He’d never liked being lied to, either. In fact, just this morning he’d been thinking of telling her who he really was and why Meg had hired him. Now someone had beat him to it.
“Tell me one thing.” He sat back in the chair, making no move to leave. “How did you find out?”
“I read it in the Post Dispatch,” she said sarcastically.
“C’mon, be serious,” he said, keeping his tone conversational despite Sara’s fierce glare. “How’d you find out?”
“What does it matter?” she said. “I know I want you to leave.”
“Sara, be reasonable,” he said. “You need protection. I’ve seen it before. Stalkers can and do kill.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to be careful, won’t I?” Sara’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“You’re a fool if you think you can do this alone.” Crow shook his head in disgust and rose from the chair. He crossed the room in long deliberate strides and stopped directly in front of her. “You need me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Sara stared at him unblinkingly. “I don’t need anyone. Least of all you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Regardless of what Sara believed, the woman needed help and Crow was going to be there for her. He was going to find the guy that was stalking her, whether she wanted him to or not. Whether she helped him or not.
Since he had so little to go on, he’d decided to start at the beginning of Sara’s career and see if he could find a clue there. He found a plethora of articles about the beautiful and talented Sara.
He’d only made it through two when the doorbell rang. Crow hesitated, debating whether or not to answer it.
“It’s me.” His sister’s voice traveled through the flimsy wood. “I saw your cycle out back so don’t even try to pretend you’re not home.”
Crow heaved a resigned sigh. He got up and unlocked the door. “Watch your step.”
Raven halted abruptly and glanced around the room. She’d never pulled any punches about her feelings regarding his studio apartment on Compton Street. Not only didn’t she like the area, she thought the place was way too small. Right now, seeing it through her eyes, he had to agree.
She wrinkled her nose. “When are you going to move out of this dump and get yourself a decent place? Mom was telling me about this cute house in Hazelwood that’s a real steal. I could get you details if you’re interested.”
“Don’t bother.” Her hopeful expression faded with his words. “This place is all I need. I’m gone all the time anyway.”
It was the same answer he’d been giving her and the rest of his family since he’d moved into this place south of downtown two years earlier. “In fact, my lease is up next month and I plan to sign on that dotted line as soon as I get the contract.”
“I’d think carefully before I’d do that.” Raven smiled. “It might be big enough for one, but it’s certainly not large enough for two.”
“Two?” Crow frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“No need to play the confirmed bachelor with me. It’s not a secret anymore, bro.” Raven’s eyes danced with amusement. “Mom called me this morning right after she’d read the article on her phone. She wanted the scoop. She’d have texted but said you wouldn’t tell her anything anyway.”
A cold knot formed in his stomach. “What are you talking about?”