Escorted By The Ranger

“I’m glad I could be here for you,” Jack said.

She was especially glad a few minutes later when her most recent ex, Rob, approached. The man who might have been responsible for Avery’s death and partially responsible for their fallout. His suit was impeccable and his brown hair slicked back. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. He was clean-shaven and had a strong jawline and aristocratic nose. In his younger years, he had modeled for clothing catalogs, but now he worked for his father’s real estate company. Confident to the point of arrogant, Rob was sweet when he wanted to be and viperous when he didn’t get his way.

“Can we talk?” he asked, hands shoved in the pockets of his pants. His stance was casual, but Marissa read the intensity in his eyes.

She had zero interest in talking to him. He had pointed the police in her direction, as if she could have killed Avery. Having a brawl now, in this space, was in poor taste. “This isn’t a good time. I just want to say goodbye to my friend,” Marissa said. Blowing him off was the high road. Tearing into him, the low one.

“Will there be another time?” Rob asked.

“I’m not sure what we have to say to each other. You told the police that I could be involved.”

Rob appeared flummoxed. “I was out of my mind with grief. I said a lot of stuff I shouldn’t have. I knew you were pissed at her and I was listing people who held a grudge against Avery. When my lawyer arrived, he shut me up.”

Marissa considered walking away, but she was curious what Rob had to say.

Rob rocked back on his heels. “I’ve been thinking about what could have happened and who could have done this. Avery was secretive. She was hiding something.”

Marissa hadn’t known Avery to hold back. Bluntness and honesty were two of the traits she had liked most about her friend. It was why it had been so hard when Avery had lied to her about Rob and hidden their relationship. “What do you think she was hiding?”

“I don’t know. Avery didn’t answer her phone. She didn’t return messages. When I asked what was bothering her, she was evasive.”

Had Avery been dating someone else? “Which makes you believe what about Avery?” Marissa asked. If he had a suspicion, he needed to be direct. Avery was busy and in demand. None of his observations sounded strange.

“I don’t know exactly. But it’s a sense I had,” Rob said.

“Did you mention this to the police?” Jack asked.

Rob shook his head. “I didn’t have anything concrete to tell them. I didn’t know what she could be hiding. But you knew her. Did you get the sense she was lying to you, at least, lying by omission?”

“You mean, when she was sleeping with you?” Why dance around the truth? Avery hadn’t acted any differently around Rob or Marissa. The affair had been well hidden.

“That wasn’t going on for that long. It was a slow build. When we started, it just happened. You were in Barcelona—”

Marissa held up her hand. “I don’t need the details. Just think before you talk, Rob.”

“I’m doing my best. I’m barely holding it together,” Rob said.

If he wanted sympathy, he was barking up the wrong tree.

“I want to know what happened to Avery, too. She was my friend,” Marissa said. A simplification, but she cared deeply. “This is not the time or place to discuss this.”

Rob looked around her. “Another time, then.” Without waiting for her answer, he walked away.

“You handled that well,” Jack said. “And he backed down faster than I would have expected.”

“Rob wouldn’t hurt me,” Marissa said.

“I wasn’t concerned about Rob hurting you. I was worried about him. You don’t carry much bulk, but you’ve got an iron core,” Jack said. “I expected more drama. Screaming. A slap across the face at least.”

“Not at Avery’s memorial service,” Marissa said. In the context of Avery’s service, her anger at Rob was small and unimportant.

Marissa questioned her relationships in a larger sense. She’d let Rob go easily enough. Her marriages were part of the past. Losing touch with Father Franklin was another aspect of her life she regretted. She rarely spoke with her family and while traveling she missed birthdays and holidays. Those hadn’t bothered her.

Until now. Now, she felt like she had given up too many personal aspects of her life for success in her career. Starting with her retirement, she could make changes. “It’s never too late to start over.”

“Excuse me?” Jack said.

She hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud. “I was thinking about Avery. And wasting time. I want more in my life than work.”

“I understand that sentiment.”

Marissa heard something in his tone and for the first time since meeting him, she wondered if they were on the same path.

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