For a moment, he didn’t understand her meaning; then his gaze narrowed. “Are you kidding me?” When she didn’t answer, he asked, “What does that have to do with anything?”
She turned back. “Either you tell her, or I will.”
“It doesn’t mean anything, Kit. Why even bring it up?”
She stepped closer. “A year ago, I would’ve said the same thing. Then I met Charley.”
His gaze bounced from Kit to me, then back again.
“Tell her.”
“Jesus Christ.” He stood again as though unable to face me when he gave the next bit of information. “She’s been telling everyone for years, since she was about four, she’s going to die before she turns fifteen.”
I blinked, confused. “And when does she turn fifteen?” I asked.
The next word was spoken so softly, I almost didn’t hear it. “Tomorrow.”
Cookie placed a hand on her chest in shock.
Kit turned to me. “Like I said, a year ago, I wouldn’t have given her premonition a second thought.”
“Then you met me.”
“Something like that. Do you think it has any merit?”
“Let’s just say, I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“I need to get some air,” Agent Waters said. He stood and started for the door, stopping short when he came face-to-face with my husband. My angry husband. As far as he was concerned, Agent Waters had almost attacked me. The agent stopped long enough to let the full effect of Reyes’s glare make its point, then stepped past him and strode out the front door, his movements brusque and sharp.
After he closed the door, I turned to Kit. “All right, what gives?”
“What?” she asked.
“I’m sensing a lot of hostility between you two. What’s going on?”
She glanced toward the door, then said, “Jonny’s my ex.”
“You were married?”
“Don’t act so surprised.”
“No, I’m not. It’s just—”
“You think I can’t land a man?”
“Kit, that has nothing to do with that. You’re just so all-business. I’m a little surprised you took the time.”
“Well, I’ve been married.”
“And to a Fed, no less. Aren’t there rules against fraternizing with the help?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Kind of. Not really. It depends, but yes, he’s a Fed.”
I sat taken aback.
“I like to call him my FedEx.” A tiny smile broke through her severe expression. “He hates that shit.”
“Too bad he didn’t take your name.”
She groaned. “I know, I know. His name would have been Jonny Carson. I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t go for that.”
“Did you ever go by Waters?”
That rankled her feathers. “No, I’d already been established in the bureau, so I kept my name.”
“Maybe that was the problem.” I raised my brows, chastising her with them. They were quite unsettling at the right angle. “Maybe you weren’t totally committed to the marriage.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re going to give me marital advice? You’ve been married, what? Eight minutes?”
I gasped. “More like eight months.”
“And have you taken his name?”
I cringed, glanced over my shoulder at my totally understanding husband, then said, “We were pressed for time.”
“Ah, yes.” She nodded, taking in the surroundings. “You had to drop everything and get to the ‘safe house.’” She added air quotes.
“Exactly.”
“Are you going to tell me why you’re out here?”
I pulled my lower lip in through my teeth. “You don’t want to know.”
She leaned closer. “What if I did want to know? Would you tell me?”
An uneasy smile spread across my face. “Probably not. Some things are better left unknown. I’m just so floored you were married,” I said, expertly changing the subject. “There’s so much about your life I don’t know.”
“Look who’s talking. The woman who solves crimes using almost supernatural methods and yet won’t tell me anything about how she does it.”
I checked my watchless wrist. “Well, would you look at the time.”
“Charley.”
“We have a wedding to get ready for, right, Cook?”
Cookie nodded her frazzled head as I shoved Kit past Reyes and toward the front door. I opened it and saw two vans parked in the driveway. One from the caterers. One from the florist. And Jonny was standing on the porch, one hand holding a bottle of water, the other stuffed into a pocket. He straightened when we walked out.
I still couldn’t believe it. Kit had been married. I also couldn’t miss the spike of emotion that leapt inside her when she saw him again. She was still in love with him. I wondered if I should tell her that he was still in love with her, too.
He turned to us as Kit addressed Cookie. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your wedding preparations.”
Cook waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, please. We’ve been cooped up here for months, going a little crazier with each passing day.”
Before she could run in the opposite direction, I lunged forward and gave Kit another quick hug, but it was an excuse to whisper in her ear. “I’ll call you tonight and let you know if she’s alive.”