Page 52 of Shadow

Silence.

Daphne glanced over. Asher stared out the window, profile sharp against gray sky.

“Eventually,” she said finally. “Not yet. Careers are busy.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Especially you, with your tourist agency business. Lots of travel.”

She smiled. “Funny. I actually wanted to do that as a child.” Oops. Wait—“I didn’t mean⁠—”

“That’s okay. I wanted to be an astronaut. So, we both wanted to travel.”

Okay, that was sweet.

“Buttercup.”

“I’m not kidding, Asher⁠—”

He held up a hand. “I’ll have to land something to make it real.”

Her mouth tightened.

“Listen. I can play your husband. Question is whether you can play my wife without looking like you want to arrest me the whole time.”

Fair. “I’ll work on my expression.”

“Just land a smile and we’ll be good.”

She tried a smile.

“Oh, we’re in so much trouble.”

“What? I can smile.”

“You look like you’re in pain.”

Maybe she was. They drove past Greeley city limits into a more rural area. Fields on either side. A few houses scattered.

“Turn left ahead,” Asher said. “Patterson sent the go code.”

Daphne turned. Gravel road. Trees lining both sides. A house appeared around the bend. Small. Isolated. Two cars in the driveway.

She parked and turned off the engine.

Asher got out. “Come on, wife. Time to collect family.”

She’d created a monster.

Daphne followed him toward the house. Ignored the way her stupid heart rate picked up when he called her “wife.”

The door opened before they reached it.

Destiny Rousseau stood there. Early seventies. Elegant even in jeans and a sweater. Blonde hair pulled back.

Behind her, a US marshal Daphne didn’t recognize.

“Mrs. Rousseau,” Daphne said. “I’m Daphne Cross. We spoke on the phone. This is Agent Morrison. We’re here to take you to your son.”

Destiny’s eyes filled. “Is Roger safe?”