Blind Date Turned Proposal

By this point, Josie had come to her wit’s end, and her voice turned hoarse with her frustration tipped over. “But he’s not the only criminal on the run in the entire Wavery!”

Arnold paused in his attempt to dab her tears away, taken aback by her sudden outburst, “Wow. Easy now. You sound pretty worked up.”

As Pop’s disappearance neared twenty-four hours, Josie was on edge, visibly worn out.

Arnold playfully pinched her cheek, “When was your last shut-eye?”

“Why do you care? I’m done here.”

Josie shoved him aside and unsteadily got to her feet, ready to leave.

Arnold’s grip gently pulled her back into place.

“Where do you think you’re going being in this state? Planning to walk right into the enemy’s clutches? That’s a one-way ticket to disaster. They’ve got your Pop, and their motive’s likely more complex than just wanting cash. They might be using him as leverage against you or Dexter.”

If it was about blackmail, the perpetrators would reveal their hands sooner or later.

his words began to steady Josie, though worry still furrowed her brow. “What if they hurt.

so he wasn’t fit for additional

“Driving yourself crazy won’t help. Get some rest first, and then we’ll talk about

expected, and she was knocked out cold in

napping on his shoulder, seeming

head to sneak a look at her serene sleeping face, an unfamiliar

taking a snapshot with his phone, he looked at the picture with

she sat up, wincing from the all-over soreness, she glanced up at

in shining armor, and all I get is suspicion,” Arnold quipped, his tone relaxed as he

room’s door was swung open. “We’ve got a situation! Scar and the others have been

disappeared. “By

glanced at Josie and then

was equally

from the room, but thanks to his long legs, Arnold surged ahead and grasped her arm, urging, “You need to lay low. Sneak out through the back exit.

momentarily. Her concern was etched on her face. “What if he’s here

struck – how had this scenario become reminiscent of an operation to catch a cheating spouse?

“If he were after you, he wouldn’t have taken Scar.”