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One breath at a time, she cleared her mind. It was difficult considering the amount of people surrounding her. The mall was packed for the holiday season, and they were smack dab in the middle of the cafeteria. Hundreds of people passed through every hour. But it was the easiest way to keep Cassie safe. Too many witnesses for anything big to go down.
Harris refocused, going over the plan in her mind again. The best way to make Cassie look pregnant was to strap a hotel pillow to her stomach. Not exactly high-tech, but after securing it in place and putting on a large sweater, the effect looked real. She’d told Cassie to keep placing her hands on her stomach, and even wincing in discomfort every once in a while. It was a worthy performance. They’d even had a few women come up to her and ask if she needed anything.
One lady had reached out a hand to touch Cassie’s stomach, but Cassie swatted it away. Harris had to bury her face in her arm to keep from laughing too loudly.
But seriously. The gall of some people.
While Cassie had gotten dressed, Harris had run out to the store. She picked up a GPS tracking device, and they’d stuffed it into the center of the pillow. She’d also bought a set of comms, so they’d never be out of communication. Technology was truly amazing. The earbuds were beige in color and tiny, meaning they could both hide them with their hair. Even if the comms were discovered, they had the GPS as a backup.
Not that any of this made Harris feel better.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Harris muttered.
There was a crackle of static, and Cassie’s quiet voice came through loud and clear. “Well, I don’t. It’s going to work.”
Harris appreciated Cassie’s confidence, even if she didn’t share it. There was something about the way Cassie had said she had a special feeling that didn’t sit right with Harris. Harris trusted Cassie, but that didn’t mean Cassie wouldn’t lie to get to the bottom of this.
To learn what happened to David.
Harris shook the thought from her head. She had to stay focused on Cassie. Once they got Bob back and figured out who was after Rose, then she could think about David. Solve his murder. Drink herself into oblivion for causing it.
The detective scanned the crowd, using the distraction to push David out of her mind—for now. There were all sorts of people here today. Young and old, single and in pairs. Large families with screaming children and grumpy teenagers.
Cassie had sat herself at a table right in the middle of all the chaos. Harris had kept to the outskirts of the cafeteria with a direct line of sight on the other woman. Despite sitting at a table meant for four, no one bothered Cassie. One of the perks of looking pregnant, at least.
But people kept shooting Harris dirty looks for sitting at her table for two without any food in front of her. Real estate in the cafeteria was sparse, and it was everyone for themselves. She wasn’t going to give up her spot so easily. She’d happily fight anyone here.
Harris scanned the crowd again, looking for any familiar faces. Someone she’d seen circling the court a few times already. Her gaze landed on a tall, lean man with brown hair. He was conventionally attractive, if not a little average. Plain. He shouldn’t have stuck out in the crowd. But it was the third time she’d noticed him traversing the room, as though looking for someone. Only he didn’t look like a person searching for a friend or a loved one.
The way his gaze landed on every single face—assessing them, cataloging them—he looked like a predator on the hunt.
Harris kept the movement of her lips to a minimum. “Text him.”
Cassie didn’t answer, but Harris saw her look down at her phone and type out a message. Harris’s eyes snapped back to the man in the crowd. A few seconds later, he pulled out his phone and stared down at it. A smile crept over his face. His shoulders relaxed. He stood up a little taller.
The predator had found its prey.
“I’ve got eyes,” Harris mumbled. She saw Cassie squirm in her seat in response. “Easy. Breathe. Remember the plan. I’m right here. Keep it cool. No matter what happens, I’m coming for you. Got it?”
Cassie’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but it came through loud and clear for Harris. “Got it.”
Harris peeled her gaze from Cassie and searched the crowd for their man. But he was no longer standing in the same spot. Her heart rate spiked, afraid she’d lost him, and she had to remind herself to stay calm. She knew where Cassie was, and that was the most important part. He’d come to them.
Harris twisted in her seat, as though nonchalantly searching for a friend. She was really checking behind her, making sure their guy hadn’t spotted her and changed tactics. Although, he’d have even less luck with her. She might be on the periphery of the cafeteria, but she wouldn’t go quietly.
Harris couldn’t spot him anywhere. Her heart rate spiked again, especially when she felt a presence at her back. Goosebumps erupted along her arms underneath the sleeves of her jacket, telling her someone was standing next to her. Too close.
When she turned, the first thing she spotted was a forearm rippling with muscle. And a mermaid tattoo with what looked like dried blood splattered across her face.
The second thing she saw was a fist careening toward her.
But Harris had been on edge since they stepped foot into the mall, and she was ready for anything. When the janitor’s fist neared her eye, she threw up an arm to block it. It glanced off and clipped the top of her head, but at least she’d saved her orbital bone from shattering.
It had unbalanced the man enough for her to slip from the chair and land a blow to the side of his kneecap.
Screams erupted around her. After all, it wasn’t every day that a tattooed, greasy-haired tank of a man—who already had a broken nose—attacked a young woman in broad daylight. Amidst the chaos, Harris couldn’t help wondering what the play was. There was no way this guy was gonna get away with throwing punches. Someone was likely to jump in and help her.
Right?
