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Seconds later, Cole settled behind the wheel and James into the passenger seat.
“How much did you hear?” James asked, buckling his seat belt.
“Pretty much all of it, I think.”
“What happened to your promise to stay in the car?”
“I didn’t exactly promise.” He sighed and Lainie bit her lip on a surge of guilt. “Sorry, I was worried about you. My imagination went wild, and if you needed help, I was going to call for backup.”
Cole pulled away from the home, and Lainie shifted into a sitting position. She snapped the seat belt into place and met James’ eyes.
He raised a brow. “I guess you heard them say why they believe Adam is still alive.”
“I did.” Anxiety clawed at her throat and she drew in a steadying breath. “For the record, I don’t believe a word of it.”
“I’m not sure I do either,” Cole said, “but I’m not sure they were lying.”
“What?” Lainie shot the back of his head a scowl.
“I thinktheybelieve it.”
Lainie shook her head. “I don’t care what they believe. Adam’sdead. He has to be. Because if he’s not, then I’m not sure I’m in touch with reality and that’s extremely scary for me.”
James frowned but shot her a quick look, and the compassion in his gaze nearly melted all her fears away. Almost. “You’re in touch with reality,” he said. “There’s an explanation for all of this, we just don’t have all the pieces to the puzzle. Once we get those, things will make sense.”
She could only pray he was right. “How do you plan to get all the pieces to the puzzle?”
“Just like we would if someone was alive. First order of business is, I’m going to call my marshal buddy and see if he can get me some information. At least confirm or deny what Adam’s family believes. Then we’ll look into Adam’s bank statements,” James said, “cell phone records, his family’s phone records, credit cards, and everything under this new name. We’ll look for anything that will lead us to where this guy’s staying.”
“Well, Adam’s notstayinganywhere except six feet under! He’s dead!” The words came out sharper than she intended, so she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth. “I’m sorry, but you’re chasing a dead man,” she finally said in a softer tone.
“Well, someone may have assumed—stolen—his identity then,” Cole said. “And since that’s a crime, we can pursue it.” He glanced at Lainie. “Did you hear his voice on the phone call?”
“Yes. I didn’t recognize it.”
“Right.” Cole’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror once more, but he wasn’t looking at Lainie.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I see it too,” James said. “The truck two cars back. He’s been on our tail since we left the neighborhood.”
Lainie’s fingers curled into fists next to her thighs. “We’re being followed.”
“We are.” The words had just left James’ lips when the truck floored it around the two cars and pulled up beside them, in the other lane on the two-way street.
“Lainie, get down!”
James’ shout sent her diving onto the empty seat beside her.
But not before she caught a glimpse of the driver.
Adam.
But not Adam.
She jerked back up to get a better look and time slowed. Her eyes met his. He wore a ball cap with a Panther football team logo. His face was in the shadows, but his eyes were Adam’s.
Not possible!
