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.

began to steady Josie, though worry still furrowed her brow. “What

had just undergone surgery, so he wasn’t fit for additional stress.

“Driving yourself crazy won’t help. Get

and she was knocked

refrained from moving, Josie napping on his shoulder, seeming

turned his head to sneak a look at her

with his phone, he looked at the picture with a satisfied smile.

a couple of hours. As she sat up, wincing from the all-over soreness, she glanced up at Arnold and shuffled back a bit,

all I get is suspicion,” Arnold quipped, his tone relaxed as he teased Josie,

door was swung open. “We’ve got a situation!

grin disappeared. “By whom?”

glanced at Josie and then at Arnold, … Dexter… Mr.

equally stunned.

was the first to bolt 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.

was etched on her face. “What if

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

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