In the Worst Way (Mercy Watts Mysteries Book 5) (60 page)

“That they caused,” I spat out.
 

“I believe so, but we’ll never prove it.” He sighed and said hesitantly, “Do you want me to stop the research, Mercy. I know it’s been a financial burden and now there’s no point.”
 

Chuck sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulders.
 

“There’s still a point. They killed Lester and we don’t know why,” I said.
 

“Do we need to know?” asked Spidermonkey.
 

“I do.”
 

He laughed heartily and with considerable relief. “I was hoping you’d say that. Because I can’t stop until I figure this out. I can’t live with the mystery.”
 

“Me, either.”
 

I hung up and told Chuck. He put his elbows on his knees and steepled his fingers. “You know what this means, right?”
 

I gulped half my margarita and felt the icy lump go down into my chest. “Either they found what they were looking for or they know we don’t have it.”
 

“Exactly.” He took my glass and finished the margarita.
 

I leaned on him and was careful not to meet his eyes, afraid of what I might see. “You once said you were right behind me.”
 

“It’s my favorite view.”
 

We laughed and I knocked into him, nearly dislodging him from the lounge. “But seriously.”
 

“I did say that and I meant it.”
 

“I don’t know where this is going to take me,” I said.
 

He cupped my cheek and raised my lips to his. I kissed him softly, tasting the sweetness of the margarita and the salty sweat from his upper lip. He pulled back. “I don’t care where you go as long as you let me follow.”
 

“I love you,” I said.
 

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

I wrinkled my nose. “You are one smug bastard.”
 

“But I’m your smug bastard.”
 

For better or worse.

The End

A.W. Hartoin is hard at work on Mercy Watts Mysteries Book 6, The Wife of Riley.
 

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