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“And Stephanie also looks like all the rest of them,” Connelly said.
Like Veronica.
Jesus.
He knew she was safe. How could she not be while surrounded by six ex-military badasses? Still, he itched to get home to her and scooted out of the booth. “I need to get back.”
“Okay,” Alexis said and looked up from reading the article about Stephanie Walsh. “If you think of anything else related to the Shadow Stalker, let me know.”
“Will do. Keep me updated?”
“Yeah, like it or not, you’re in this now,” Cal said.
“I’ll walk out with you.” Alexis gathered her bag and also slid from the booth. “Cal, can you keep looking for more cases like these two? I think we’re on to something.”
“Already on it,” Cal said and pulled the laptop back in front of him.
“I’ll ask Ellie to look, too.”
Cal gazed up with hope in his eyes. “We could work together...”
“You know she won’t go for that.” Alexis patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Sorry, buddy.”
“Still worth a shot,” he muttered.
“So your sister and Cal have a history?” Connelly asked as he and Alexis made their way toward the exit.
She sighed. “Yes, but I have no idea what it is. All I know is Ellie went from infatuation to hating his guts. Neither will talk about it.” In the parking lot, she stopped beside a silver Chevy Impala and used her key fob to unlock it. She dropped her bag in the passenger seat, then dug a business card out of the side pocket.
She turned back to him and offered the card. “I meant what I said about the podcast. If you’re interested.”
He was. Maybe. “I’ll think about it.” He accepted the card and slid it into his pocket. “I also have a proposition for you.”
Alexis shut the car door and leaned against it, eyebrows raised. “Oh?”
“Veronica needs female friends, and you have a lot in common—I mean, beyond what you both went through.”
Her expression clouded. “Ah.” She tried for a smile, but it just looked sad. “It’s, unfortunately, a very non-exclusive club that no woman ever wants to become a part of, but far too many do. I’m happy to talk to her if she wants.”
“If I made an excuse to leave for an evening... maybe to help Cal with his research... do you think you could swing by?”
“I’ve actually been meaning to do that for months.” She nodded. “You know what, yeah. How about Friday? I’ll bring Ellie. Make it a girl’s night in.”
Yes, he liked Alexis. She was smart, friendly, outgoing, and seemed to have a level head on her shoulders. Exactly what Veronica needed in a girlfriend. “I don’t know that she’s ever had a girls’ night. She’s always had guy friends.”
“Well, then, she’s about to discover what she’s been missing.”
Relief washed through him. The thought of Veronica getting some sort of support from someone other than him, someone who understood and could relate, was comforting in a way he hadn’t expected. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “Thank you.”
Alexis squeezed his arm. “You’re a good friend, Connelly. Veronica is very lucky to have you.”
chapter twenty-five
The last thing Connelly expected to find when he pulled up to Veronica’s house was her sitting out on the front porch in the fading evening light, her hair down around her shoulders and wet from a recent shower. Rebel lay at her feet, asleep with her head pillowed on a Frisbee, and Alfie was curled by her side, his tiny paws twitching in dream-filled slumber.
Connelly stayed in the car for a moment, just watching. He couldn’t remember the last time she looked so... peaceful.
Zak had been right. She’d needed today.
