Kline gripped the wheel a little harder. Was she suspicious? Had someone been talking to her?

He’d been telling JD that the man needed to take a break, needed to ease up on the dalliances. And for a while, JD had. Kline had told him they didn’t need any more attention, even though things were going quite well. Better to lie low, to not risk any screw-ups. Then JD had texted him and said he needed a break. That was the euphemism to get things in motion, to have a secret place ready. Kline tried one text, warning JD not to do anything—not with everything going on the last couple of days—but JD just responded that he’d already set things up with the woman, and he’d made his excuses to his wife. Kline knew further arguing would be futile.

He didn’t know why the liaison bothered him so much tonight; maybe it was that he had to drive Lydia home. That task normally went to someone else, but Lydia had let the previous driver go after only a few months. That woman had seemed nice, and competent, but Lydia hadn’t liked her—and that was all that mattered.

Kline checked his surroundings for suspicious vehicles, but nothing caught his eye. His glance fell to Lydia.

For as long as he’d known her, she had always wanted a female driver, a person who also served as a bodyguard. She didn’t like men around, didn’t fully trust them. Kline often wondered if it was because, even at a subconscious level, she knew something about her husband, knew on some level that all men just couldn’t be trusted. Regardless, she hadn’t had a male driver in years. Since the last woman left, they’d been searching for someone else, but it wasn’t an easy task. Kline needed somebody who had skills, someone who could protect Lydia as well as chauffeur her around. Whoever it was, they had to keep Lydia safe, no matter the situation.

Someone that skilled wasn’t easy to find. Kline had a list of possible hires, procured from a variety of places: his law enforcement contacts, other security services, even other bodyguards. Some of the women he contacted weren’t available, and some weren’t interested. Some he didn’t like, didn’t think they could fulfill the responsibilities. He was beginning to worry that he’d never find a suitable candidate. And he was having to drive Lydia around more than he should have, more than JD wanted him to. Kline was needed elsewhere.

JD had been working on Lydia, trying to get her to ease up her standards, whatever those were. She wouldn’t say what made her like a particular driver, or what made her dismiss one, just that it was a feeling she’d get. JD tried to tell her that was nonsense, but that hadn’t worked.

Kline grimaced. They’d find someone, he knew, but at what expense? How long could he afford to be distracted by this hiring process? They might have to settle for the best man available, for the time being. That might not be a bad thing, as long as they knew they could keep her safe.

Lydia yawned. “Oh, I am tired tonight. I don’t know how JD manages on such little sleep.”

Kline studied her. If she knew anything about what her husband was doing, she didn’t show it. He thought, not for the first time, that she’d make a great poker player. She never had a tell. Then he laughed to himself. Lydia would never gamble. She was too refined for that.

He took another quick glance. Not only was she a beautiful woman, she was nice. Kind in ways that few were. She didn’t deserve what JD was doing to her. What would she do if she ever found out? Some people liked the money, the fame, and they stayed in situations despite being aware, long after they should have. Somehow, he didn’t think that would be Lydia. If she ever discovered the real JD, what he was really capable of, she would be gone in a second—and JD would be crushed.

Kline couldn’t have that. He loved the money, the position he was in, the power he had. There was no way he’d let anybody take that away from him. Even Lydia. Which was why he was growing more irritated thinking about JD now. That man might jeopardize everything.

Kline was still thinking about his boss when they drove into the Highland Park neighborhood, soon turning down the long front drive of a palatial residence on two acres that JD and Lydia had built many years ago. He parked in front, hopped out, and opened the back door. Lydia got out as well and smiled.

“Thank you, Kline,” she said. “I’m sorry you had to drive me home only to go right back to get my husband.”

“It’s no problem,” he said.

He walked her into the house, then got back in the Cadillac and left. Only he wasn’t going back to the governor’s place. Kline would be waiting where JD was, ready to whisk his boss home when he was finished for the evening.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Lydia waited until Kline had let himself out. Then she set the alarm and went upstairs to the main bedroom suite. She kicked off her heels and let out a sigh of relief. After a long stretch, she unzipped her dress as she headed to her closet. She slipped out of the dress and left it and her shoes on the floor, then went with only bra and underwear on to a dressing table in the bathroom. As she scrubbed herself and began to take off her makeup, her mind went to her husband.

He wouldn’t be home until late. Again. What was that about?

JD had gone through a period where he’d been home a lot, and then the late-night meetings had started up again. There was always a reason, and the explanations made sense. But still, why have so many meetings at night?

She finished with her face, then took off her earrings and set them down on the countertop. Staring at the mirror, she now found herself thinking about Kline.

She’d questioned him in the car, trying to act casual, but she wasn’t sure about his replies. Lydia laughed to herself. They’d been sparring with each other, each not sure of the other’s answers, neither saying what they really thought. She knew Kline covered for JD, but the question was, covered what?

She continued to stare at her reflection, seeing the unhappiness on her face. What was really going on with her husband? He wasn’t himself lately. Something was definitely not right. She exhaled loudly. She’d been putting on a front, trying to deny what she suspected. It was like that time . . . how many years ago? Things had been said then, and they were being said now. She’d chosen not to address them, to take the high road. It was getting to the point, though, where she would have to figure out exactly what was going on.

As she took off her bra and donned a nightgown, she continued to mull things over. She frowned as she walked into the bedroom, not liking what was going through her head, what she saw coming. It all left her in a foul mood.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Something stirred Jo, and she was suddenly wide awake, staring into the dark room. Then she heard a noise. It took her a second to orient herself. It was still dark, with no light coming from the living room window. Jo strained her ears, then realized what she’d heard.

Sabrina was moving in her bedroom.

Jo glanced out the living room window. All quiet. She hurried to Sabrina’s door and tapped lightly.

“Everything okay?”

The door opened seconds later. Sabrina still wore her clothes from the previous evening, her feet bare, and her hair was disheveled. Dark circles ringed her eyes. She yawned and held up her phone.

“I just heard from Detective Holton. He said he’d meet me at the station in an hour.”

She looked sad and scared. Jo reached out and lightly touched her arm.

“It may not seem like it, but you’re doing the right thing,” she said.

“I want to get this over with, but I’m scared.”

“I know.”

Sabrina glanced around. “Everything was okay last night?”

Jo nodded. “Yes.”

“What if that man is around?”

“I’ll make sure you get to the station without any problems.”

Sabrina breathed a sigh of relief, though a look of disbelief remained on her face. “I can’t believe you’re doing this, but thanks.”

“Let me check your room,” Jo said. “Stay in the hall.”

Sabrina stepped past her, leaned against the wall, and ran her hands through her hair. Jo moved into the bedroom and looked around, then peeked out the windows. Faint light was burgeoning outside, and she studied the deep shadows that it cast. The neighborhood was still. She moved to the other bedroom, then checked again in the living room and kitchen. One car drove by, stopping at the corner before it turned. Everything seemed okay, but Jo wasn’t taking any chances. She glanced down the hall.

“I’m going outside. If you hear anyone other than me, call the police.”

Sabrina nodded. Jo slipped through the kitchen and out the back door. She stayed low and scanned the yard, then trotted to the alley for a look before circling to the front of the house. A few lights were on in other houses, and two more cars drove down the street. The neighborhood was waking up. Jo watched her car for a minute but saw no one nearby, so she ran back to Sabrina’s house and let herself in the back the door, locking it behind her. Sabrina was still in the hall, her phone at the ready.

“Everything’s okay,” Jo pronounced.

“I’ll take a quick shower,” Sabrina said.

She kept the bedroom door cracked open, and Jo waited in the hall until she’d finished washing off and had gotten dressed. They went into the kitchen, where Sabrina grabbed a Diet Coke.

“I need the caffeine,” she said.

Jo nodded and explained what they would do. “You drive me to my car, and I’ll follow you to the station. You’ll go inside, but I’ll be watching.”

“You won’t come with me?”