Chapter 301

RYAN GLANCED UP AND down the street at the corner coffee stand. The meeting spot was too open for his tastes. Anyone driving on the road could see them sitting here plain as day. They hadn't gotten to pick how and where she was taken into custody. If he had to bet, there were a few plain-clothes police spotters watching them now. That didn't make him less nervous, knowing the guys were also out there did.

He pushed the cup of coffee toward Carson. She'd barely eaten her breakfast or touched her cup. Ever since she'd gotten off the phone with her parents she'd been in a sort of daze, staring off into nothing.

Stress did odd things to people. Not everyone responded the same. He was used to women crying and men going straight to angry when their lives were threatened. The silence was the worst. He couldn't let her shut down on him. They were going to get through this.

"Talk to me," he said.

"About?"