“Thank you. I’ll let you know.” She turned to him. “Let’s go.”
“See you later.” He saluted Cheryl with a wave but the woman continued to ignore him.
He opened the door for Angie and she stopped at the threshold. “Cheryl, have there been any updates on Heidi?”
Cheryl pressed her lips. “She’s out of the hospital but she can’t be part of the bridal party. Doctor’s orders. It’s a disaster.”
Angie clucked her tongue. “Poor Heidi. She was so looking forward to it.”
“I couldn’t tell by the way she kept complaining about the work,” Cheryl said. “Robin will be maid of honor. Honestly, I don’t think she’s up for the job.”
“Fortunately, Robin and Brittany have you to help,” Angie said sincerely.
Cole saw the anger and irritation flash in Cheryl’s eyes. “It’s overwhelming but I want Brittany to have a perfect wedding.”
“Will Heidi be at the ceremony at least?” he asked. He muffled a grunt when Angie dug her elbow in his side.
“She doesn’t know yet.” Cheryl looked at him with open suspicion. “Why?”
“Just wondering,” Angie answered for him. She grabbed his hand and led him out the door.
“Well, that didn’t work at all,” Angie whispered the minute he closed the door behind them. She let go of his hand once they passed the window to Brittany’s office and walked ahead of him to the parking lot.
“It was a long shot. We’re working under the assumption that someone tried to hurt Heidi because of the past. As far as we know, the only people who knew her were Brittany, Robin and the sorority sisters who attended the party.
“But why wait and do it in such a public place? And why now?” Angie asked.
“I don’t know but I have to find out. This may have something to do with her past, but what if it’s about something that’s going on in her life now? What if she hasn’t changed and her family can’t accept that?”
“You’re putting too much responsibility on yourself,” Angie said. “There is only so much you can do.”
“If Heidi gets back together with her family only to get kicked out again, it’ll be devastating.” He knew what it was like to hope for a reconciliation only to have everything fall apart. To discover that your worst-case scenario was nothing compared to what actually happened. “I want to prevent it. I can if I have enough information.”
“You will,” Angie promised. “You found Heidi, you did the surveillance and now you’re looking into the accident when no one else is. If there is any kind of evidence, you will find it.”
“I wonder why Cheryl wouldn’t give us the list,” he said. “You think she’s hiding something?”
“No, that list represents Brittany’s business. She has to protect it. I think I would do the same. It took me years to build up my list of clients and I would want to maintain their privacy. Cheryl’s just doing her job.”
“I wish I had a Cheryl working for me,” Cole said. There were times when he could use any help he could get. But the only person he wanted in his corner was Angie. “Except I would want someone that didn’t give me the evil eye.”
“Ah, you noticed that, too? Maybe she doesn’t approve of strippers.” She paused as they stepped out onto the parking lot. There was a light drizzle of rain that they ignored as the drops danced on the cars and rippled puddles on the pavement. “I’m sorry I didn’t get that list. I should have come up with a better story.”
“Hey, it was a good one.” Cole wanted to comfort her. He gathered her in his arms and held her close. “We’ll come up with something else.”
Angie’s shoulders stiffened and she stepped out of his embrace. “Cole, you don’t have to act love-struck. No one is watching.”
“That’s—” He bit back the words as the hurt cut through him. She was right. He had stepped out of line and blurred pretend with reality. “Sorry, Angie. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
7
COLE LEANED BACK in his chair and stared at the computer screen. He had been trying to write his report on Heidi but he wasn’t getting far. All he could think about was Angie.
They were once a good team. It didn’t matter if they had been enjoying a night out or had suffered through the worst weekend getaway—they had faced each moment as partners. In the beginning it had made him uncomfortable. He did better alone.