Free A Love for Safekeeping by Gail Gaymer Martin

to tell you at lunch.”
    “Great. One of these days I’ll have to meet him.”
    “I’m sure you will. When I’m more comfortable with him, maybe we can plan a double date or something.”
    “Sounds good.” Jane pulled her handbag from the closet and carried it back to her desk.
    Celia followed her. “I take it you survived your conference with Skylar.”
    “Barely.”
    “That bad.”
    As she relayed the details of her meeting, Jane searched inside her handbag for her car keys. They weren’t there. Concerned, she felt in her pockets.
    “Lose something?”
    “My keys. I always keep them in my purse.”
    She emptied the contents on her desk and rifled through them. “They aren’t here.” Anxiety rattled her as she ran her hands over her clothing again. “Not in my pockets, either.”
    Celia’s brow arched. “Did you leave your purse sitting out?”
    “No. It’s been locked in my closet all day.” She panicked, thinking someone might have her house and car keys. “I hate to ask, Celia, but could you give me a lift home and back? I have a set there. If—”
    “Sure. No problem.” She rested her hand on Jane’s shoulder. “I know how bad you must feel. I hate losing things.”
    “I’ve never done this before,” Jane said, gathering her books. “I feel like I’m losing more than my keys.” She pointed to her head.
    Celia grinned. “I lost my keys once in the lot of a strip mall. What a mess.”
    Celia relayed the story as they headed toward the exit. Passing the office, Mary called out and Jane waved goodbye, but before she got outside, Mary called her again.
    “I have your car keys,” Mary said, flagging her back to the office.
    Puzzled, Jane faltered.
    “Go ahead,” Celia said. “I’ll wait.”
    Jane hurried into the office and Mary pulled the keys out of her desk.
    “They were outside most of the day,” Mary said.
    “Outside? You’re kidding.”
    “Nope. Charlie just brought them in an hour or so ago. You left them in the ignition with the door unlocked. You’re lucky someone didn’t steal your car.”
    Lucky? Jane knew better. “Blessed,” she said, then realized she hadn’t given credit to God in a long time.

Chapter Six
    K yle was naturally suspicious. When Jane told him about the parent who gave her a rough time, he wondered if there might be some connection between Jane’s troubles and the man.
    When he checked Sam Malik in the police records, he found nothing except a few complaints he lodged against his neighbors. Apparently teachers and neighbors were both on Malik’s list.
    He’d been anxious to tell Jane what he’d done, and as they sat together in her living room on Thursday evening, he remembered to give her the details.
    “Maybe he’s tired of complaining and decided to try some action…with me,” Jane said, her face strained with tension.
    “Could be, but the police need more than speculation.”
    She crumbled against the sofa. “That’s what I can’t stand. Nothing can be done until someone threatens me. Or worse.” She pulled her back away from the cushion and narrowed her eyes. “When they find mydead body somewhere, then they’ll do something.” Her disheartened sigh filled the air.
    He looked at her with his own frustration. “No one’s going to hurt you, Jane. I know you’re frustrated, but that’s the way the law works. The police need hard evidence. At least a suspect.”
    If he didn’t hurt for her—fear for her—his matter-of-fact answer would be exactly that, a fact. But he did care, and he had very little solace to offer her.
    As if she’d thought of a new idea, Jane’s voice buoyed. “What about the Dick and Jane primer?”
    Her persistence edged on his own jagged nerves. “I showed you what I found that day at the school when I returned the book. Remember?”
    “I guess.” She stared down at the floor.
    Her downhearted expression tugged at his guilt for being impatient. “All we found was the stamp from the Redmond School