False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [16]
“Too bad I’ve already eaten,” Angus said. “I need to drive over here again and try your place.”
Zoe took a coupon out of her purse and handed it to him. “We’re offering two-for-one on any of our dinner entrees until the end of the month.”
“It says here you’re on rue Madeline.” Angus’s Texas twang gave the street name a whole new sound. “Isn’t that where I am?”
“Yes, Zoe B’s is that dark gold building over there.” Zoe motioned with her hand. “Phone number’s on the coupon if you want to call ahead and make a reservation. It’s a good idea after five.”
“Thanks. I guess it’s good that I bumped into you—so to speak.” A smile appeared under his mustache. “I’ll make it a point to come back sometime this week. You folks have a nice evening.”
“Yeah, you, too.” Pierce stood silent and watched Angus’s tall, lanky frame blend into the crowd.
“He seemed nice,” Zoe said.
“A little old to have hair down to his collar. And did you notice he didn’t look you directly in the eye?”
“What I noticed was a nice guy who was a little embarrassed and who was also a potential customer.” Zoe pushed her shoulder against his. “Why do you always assume people can’t be trusted?”
“Because most of them can’t. I trust my family. And Dempsey and Savannah.” He pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. “And I trust you with my life. I don’t need to trust anyone else.”
Zoe’s guilt taunted her. She had worked hard to earn Pierce’s trust. It wasn’t as though she had deceived him about her love for him or anything regarding their relationship. What transpired before they met didn’t concern him—as long as he had no knowledge of it. But if someone else did and intended to make sure Pierce found out, she could lose everything she had worked ten years to build. Then again, maybe the anonymous note wasn’t referring to the past. For now she just needed to stay calm and keep a clear head. If someone intended to blackmail her, she hadn’t heard the end of it.
“You look pale, babe,” Pierce said.
“I think the humidity’s getting to me.” She put the back of her hand on her forehead. “I’ll feel better once we get back in the air-conditioning.”
CHAPTER 5
Zoe locked the door to the apartment and went down the stairs. She passed the office and the customer restrooms in the alcove and walked out into the dining room at Zoe B’s. The hot pink sky was visible through the blinds where Father Sam, Tex, and Hebert sat at the table by the window.
Zoe picked up Tuesday’s edition of the Les Barbes Ledger from one of the empty tables and handed it to Hebert. “Have you seen this yet? Pierce said the news is mostly good.”
Hebert tore off a piece of beignet and popped it into his mouth. “Dats why I live here and not in New Awlins.” He opened the newspaper, and an envelope fell out on the table. “Oops. Dis is yours.”
Zoe’s heart sank. She saw her name typed on the front of the envelope. Was this another anonymous note? She pasted on a smile and snatched it from Hebert. “Thanks. Is everybody’s breakfast okay?”
The three men nodded in unison.
“That’s what I like to hear. I’ll tell Savannah you need more coffee.”
She walked into the kitchen and stood off to the side by the freezer. She tore open the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper with the same five words cut from a magazine and pasted on: I know what you did.
She stared at the words, her mind racing in reverse. Was that possible? Certainly no one could prove it. Or could they? Why else would they go to all this trouble to make her squirm?
She heard Pierce talking to the kitchen staff and stuffed the note back in the envelope, then pushed open the swinging doors and nearly ran headlong into Savannah.
“There you are! The guys need coffee!”
Savannah’s nose twitched the way it did when she was annoyed. “I was just coming to get a fresh pot.”
I can’t believe I snapped at her. Zoe sidestepped around Savannah and left the dining room. She ran upstairs and into the apartment, putting her back against the door. Her hand was shaking. What if she was wrong about the statute of limitations?