Tela, Jessica’s Catahoula Leopard Dog, growled low in her throat as Jessica pulled into the parking lot. Two men Jessica didn’t trust stood near the building entrance. Dick Saunders, the ex-mayor of El Paso, clasped the shoulder of a tall blond-going-gray man in a sheriff’s deputy uniform. Dick’s eyes moved to Jessica as she turned into a parking space. He frowned and quickly stepped back from the other man.

The man with his back to Jessica could only be Deputy Mayfield, whom she hadn’t seen since he interrogated her several months earlier. Half-crazed with hunger and fear after she’d crossed the Rio Grande and trekked through the desert to escape her kidnappers, she’d landed in the sheriff’s department. It should have meant safety. Instead, Mayfield had treated her like a criminal.

Jessica already suspected corruption among some of the deputies. Seeing these two together set her instincts on fire.

With that fire came a new confidence. She’d trained for this, honing her body and learning new skills that would allow her to defend and attack. No one would take her hostage again.

Dick said something to Mayfield, and he turned toward her as well. Then, Mayfield trotted down the stairs to the parking lot. For a moment, Jessica feared he’d approach, but he climbed into a black-and-white SUV with the sheriff’s logo. Dick spun toward the door of the building that housed not only his wife’s gallery but the insurance company he’d run since marrying into the family. Jessica waited until Mayfield drove away to leave her truck.

Tela bounced and pulled at her leash when Jessica opened the gallery door and the dog spotted Clarice, Jessica’s mom. With her stood Robin, the gallery owner and wife of Dick Saunders.

“It’s great to see you,” Jessica said, stretching her hand to Robin, a woman with a sharp blond bob, perfectly tailored suits, and a passion for art, family, and friendship that Jessica had come to admire. Robin had discovered her mother, sold Clarice’s paintings, and leased her a studio/cottage.

“Jessica.” A young woman with long dark hair hustled in from the office hallway. “I’m so glad you’re here. Robin just gave me a promotion. I’m going to manage the gallery!”

“That’s fantastic,” Jessica said as Araceli approached. Jessica marveled at how much Araceli had changed since she’d met her on a hidden ranch in Mexico while trying to uncover the cold-case disappearance of Robin’s father.

Since then, Araceli had enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso, moved into a small house near the university with several friends, and begun working in the gallery. She’d even told Jessica about a boyfriend the last time they’d had lunch together.

“Yes, about that,” Clarice said, “Robin just told us she’s moving to La Jolla.”

“California?” Jessica asked. “You’re leaving El Paso?”

If El Paso had a power couple, Robin and Dick Saunders held the title. They ran in the upper echelons of El Paso society: country club members, symphony and orchestra patrons. Together, they’d held every top political and social position.

“Our son has already moved out there with his girlfriend.” Robin’s cheeks reddened as she spoke. “He’s hinted that he’s going to ask her to marry him—and you know how important family is to me.”

“What about your mom?” Jessica had met the cranky old lady on several occasions. Robin seemed devoted to her.

A wave of sadness crossed Robin’s features. For a moment, Jessica thought she might break down. But then she straightened and set her lips in a firm line.

“I’m trying to convince her to come with us. Until then, I’ll visit as often as I can.” Robin glanced at her watch. “Speaking of moving, I’ve got to finalize some details with Dick upstairs. It’s been nice seeing you ladies.”

She disappeared before Jessica could ask another question. Jessica glanced at her mom, who shrugged.

“I just heard about the move myself,” Clarice said.

“Me too. I can’t believe it.” Araceli practically vibrated with excitement. “I will work very hard to make sure the gallery does well.”

Suddenly, Jessica found herself enmeshed in her mother’s hug. Tela wrapped her leash around them both, pulling her into her mom and furthering her discomfort. She’d never been much of a hugger.

“Enough about us,” Clarice said. “How are you doing? Are you surviving all right without Angus?”

Everything in Jessica’s world stopped as her mom hit her with the one terrible thing she couldn’t overcome. She steeled herself against the loss. Told herself it had only been a few months and she’d find a way to get him back. In fact, she’d put a plan in place soon after he left.

“So far, so good.” Jessica managed to push out the lie. “I’ve been training with Sal every weekend. Hopefully, my new skills will convince Angus I’m serious about protecting myself.”

“Oh, Honey,” Clarice pulled back from Jessica and stared into her face. “Angus isn’t interested in your skills. He just wants you to care about yourself as much as the rest of us do.”

Jessica stared back at her mom, utterly confused. She’d busted her butt every weekend learning self-defense maneuvers. Soon she’d move on to tactical weapons. A whole new world had opened to her. Angus worried about her safety, and this had to be the key to getting him back. “I don’t even understand what you’re saying.”