side with him on something, he thought. Good. He would have to use it.
âOh, Rowenna, weâre so glad youâre home.â Eve was clasping Rowennaâs hands as she glanced over at Jeremy. There was a question in her eyes, even though she spoke casually. âAnd youâve come with a friend.â
âJeremy is a private investigator, and heâs here because heâs working for Brad Johnstone,â Joe said curtly.
âReally?â Adam looked at Jeremy with new interest. âTerrible thing. They were in our shop that day. They seemed to be a really sweet couple. I canât believe he would have hurt her.â Almost as if to emphasize his words, he cracked the gum he was chewing.
âI canât believe people are suggesting that he did.â Even as Jeremy heard himself say the words defensively, he knew they were stupid. It was easy to believe; it was even procedure. In cases like this, it was imperative to clear the spouse first.
Joe was looking at him with a hint of dry amusement, apparently glad that heâd so quickly betrayed a weakness.
âSo youâll be investigating her disappearance, too?â Adam asked.
Jeremy nodded.
âSo you havenât found anything, Joe?â Eve asked sadly.
âIâm glad Brad has a friend in his corner,â Adam said when Joe didnât answer, then looked over at the older man as if afraid he might have offended him.
Joe neatly eliminated that possibility. âIâm an old cop, so I donât mind any help I can get. If Mr. Flynn can find any information that will help solve this case, Iâll be more than grateful.â
Oddly enough, Jeremy thought that he meant it. He was finding it difficult to get a good reading on the man. He almost missed it when Joe added softly, almost to himself, âAnd Ro is home now.â
Jeremy glanced at his watch. It was close to time to meet with Brad. âYouâll have to excuse me, but I have an appointment over at the Hawthorne Hotel bar. Nice to meet you,â he told the Llewellyns. âIâll be seeing you, Iâm sure.â He started to reach into his pocket for his wallet.
âHey, put that away. I can afford to buy you a beer,â Joe said.
âWell, thanks, then. Thanks so much.â
âAnd Iâll be seeing you, â Joe assured him.
âIâm sure you will,â Jeremy said dryly. âRowennaâ¦â
âI have to get my things from your car,â she reminded him.
He shook his head. âIf itâs all right with you, Iâll come back and get you and drive you out to your place in an hour or so. Iâd like to see where you live and get a feel for the area from someone who knows it well.â
âI can take Rowenna home,â Joe said.
âIâm sure you can, but if Rowenna doesnât mindâ¦?â
She was studying him, he noted, with a slight frown. Had it just been a one-night stand? He didnât think so. Not with her. He was sure heâd read her right. No doubt sheâd dated, had known men over the years, but sheâd never let them in, never let them get close.
Rowenna flashed him a quick smile, then turned to Joe. âActually, it will be easiest if Jeremy gives me a ride. That way we wonât have to bother moving my luggage around.â
âWhere are you staying here in town?â Joe asked Jeremy bluntly.
âIâm renting an old house over on Essex,â he told Joe, reminding himself that the old guy had been through a lot, so no wonder he was protective of Rowenna. God knew, he didnât even want to imagine what it would be like to lose a son. Parents werenât supposed to outlive their children. Sons should bury their fathers, not the other way around.
âIâll come join you after we eat,â Rowenna said.
âIâll walk her over,â Joe promised.
âOkay, see you then.â
As Jeremy walked away, he was aware that