Free Settling Scores (Piper Anderson Series) by Danielle Stewart Page B

words a sign of agreement? Bobby, whose body language was screaming impatience, was the first to break the quiet.
    “Did they not let you in the apartment? I can go talk to the guy you were just with, is he the super of the building? I can always flash my badge.”
    “Were you guys standing here the whole time?” Willow grunted, feeling like she was an animal at the zoo being watched for fun.
    “We just pulled up a minute ago and saw you talking to him. We didn’t know you were going to be here. Our plan was to just come check it out before we found you,” Piper explained, though it did little to ease Willow’s jumping nerves.
    “So am I going to talk to that guy or what?” Bobby asked, taking the badge that hung on a chain around his neck out from under his T-shirt.
    “No, he’s nice,” Willow said, averting her eyes. “He’ll let us in. I’m just not going in today.”
    “Why?” Bobby cut back, and Willow saw the look Piper shot to quiet him. A powerful one, reserved only for women who knew a man well.
    “What?” Bobby asked in response to the dirty look. “I’m just asking. You’re here saying you’re on this mission. Well, let’s get on with it then.”
    “It doesn’t work like that Bobby,” Josh said with a steady seriousness that made her grateful he was in her corner. “She’ll do it when she’s ready. Today isn’t the day. There are other things we can do first. We have other leads.”
    “Leads?” Bobby asked with an air of annoyance in his voice. “You sound like you’re the one simplifying things. You might not like what I have to say while I’m here but I’m the only one who’s going to be able to open some doors for you with these leads. I’m here to help, but I don’t have that much time to do this so if we’re not going in that apartment like you planned then what are we doing?”
    Piper rounded on Bobby and planted her hands on his chest, backing him up four or five large steps before whispering something to him. He didn’t respond, just nodded his head as they stepped back toward Josh and Willow.
    Bobby didn’t speak when he rejoined them but the way he was forcefully biting his lip spoke volumes.
    “Willow has one girl she remembers the most. I think it could be enough to get a name if we know where to look. Like a missing persons website or something?” Josh offered, settling his voice from combative to neutral.
    “Let’s go get something to eat,” Piper suggested hopefully. “You can tell Bobby and he can maybe help you find out more about her.” Without a word, as though saying yes was too committal, Willow shook her head in agreement as Josh pulled open her car door.
    “Bobby you grew up close to here, I’m sure you can find a place to eat,” Piper said with a smile that didn’t match the atmosphere of the group, but it was clear she didn’t care. They’d all have their role in this and Piper would be the peacemaker. It was like she was a translator, responsible for standing between Bobby and Willow in order to interpret the conversation for each of them. Her job would be to strip out the tone and the bite of the words and remind each of them the well-meaning and justified intentions of the other. Willow certainly didn’t envy that task, but she was glad someone filled the position.

Chapter Eight
     
    To describe the meal they shared as awkward would be an understatement. No matter how much Josh and Piper tried to make it marginally more comfortable, Willow and Bobby kept taking potshots at each other.
    So it came as a surprise when they stepped outside the old Italian restaurant and Bobby touched Willow’s shoulder lightly. “Walk with me?” he asked her as he gestured down the street. Josh and Piper immediately and with little attempt to make it look natural, turned their backs and began chatting about the weather.
    “Sure,” Willow shrugged not even pretending to look like she wanted to go.
    “I’m sorry you think I’m being an ass,”