Page 73 of Ultimate Justice

He parked in the garage and shut off the engine. Marlie got out, then grabbed the satchel Tori had given her and draped the garment bag containing her dress over her arm.

As Evan opened the rear door, headlights lit up the garage. Blue leaped out and raced into the driveway, barking and growling.

“Move!” Evan ushered her and Noah to the hood of the SUV. “Get down, and stay down!” He pushed back his jacket and pulled out his gun.

Alarm bells rang in her head louder than a playground full of five-year-olds. She dropped the satchel and garment bag on the floor and grabbed Noah’s arm, pulling him down next to her.

“Why did Evan take out his gun?” Noah whispered.

“I don’t know.” She tightened her grip on his arm. Had Frank Manello or those people from the camp figured out Noah was here?

Blue had stopped barking. Voices drifted into the garage. Calm voices. Familiar voices. Hesitantly, she poked her head around the bumper and looked into the driveway. Headlights blinded her, and she couldn’t see a thing.

“Marlie, is that you?”

Elsa Wilson?

“It’s okay,” Evan called out. The barest hint of annoyance laced his tone.

Marlie breathed a sigh of relief. She thought she’d recognized the Wilsons’ voices. “C’mon.” She tugged Noah to his feet, shielding her eyes as they went into the driveway.

Evan had holstered his gun, but the irritation in his voice might as well have been written on his forehead. Clearly, he wasn’t thrilled at the Wilsons being there. Blue now sat calmly at his side.

“Hello, Elsa. Neil,” Marlie said, barely catching the warning look Evan slanted her in the darkness. The fact she and Noah were with him this late implied a certain something he probably didn’t want his parents’ friends to know about.

“I thought that was you,” Elsa said. Beside her, Neil held a box. “We were in the neighborhood, and we know how busy you both must be, so we thought we’d drop off the Foundation papers for you to look at.”

“Thank you,” Marlie said. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

“And if you and Evan would like a little alone-time tonight,” Elsa added, grinning, “we’d be happy to take Noah out for chocolate cake at that cute little café in town. Would you like that, Noah?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Noah nodded enthusiastically. Chocolate, baseball, and computers were the way to his heart.

“Not tonight,” Evan said.

“It’s a little late,” Marlie said. They’d both spoken at the same time. “Noah has school tomorrow, but thank you for the offer.”

“Oh, c’mon, Marlie,” Noah whined.

Evan shook his head. “No, she’s right. It’s a school night, and it’s way too late. Another time, though.”

“Don’t worry.” Elsa smiled as she squeezed Noah’s shoulder. “We’ll call later in the week for a chocolate cake raincheck.”

“Okay.” Noah’s lips twisted into a disappointed frown.

“Well, at least take this.” Neil handed Evan the box, turning back to Marlie. “We’d be honored if you joined us at the Foundation. With your background, you could really do some good there with the kids.”

“I look forward to speaking with you about that.” Not that she was ready to go back to work as a psychologist full-time. Volunteering for a few hours a week was the safest way to see if she could handle it again.

“Wonderful, dear.” Elsa clapped her hands together.

“We should be getting inside.” Evan gave Marlie a meaningful look. “Thanks for bringing this over.”

After they’d said their goodbyes and the Wilsons had driven off, Evan hefted the box on his shoulder and ushered them into the garage. Marlie bent to collect the bags she’d dropped, hoping the dress hadn’t gotten wrinkled.

Evan entered the security code on the keypad and pushed open the door. Blue bounded in first, trotting into the kitchen to lap water. Evan flipped on the lights, locking the door behind them. The gentle hum from the garage door closing filtered into the living room.

“Noah, you should get ready for bed.” Marlie set the satchel and garment bag on a chair. “We need to get you to school by eight.”