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you doing this to help me?”
    “There’s no one who would mind.”
    Suddenly Max pulled her into a hug. “I must say again, old friend, I am sorry. For your pain all those years ago. And I hope now that you know the facts, you’ll never worry again what kind of man you were in love with.”
    Jill relaxed in his arms for a moment, reveling in the strength and solid feel of him, the realness of him, but then pushed away, terrified she might revive a passion only she could recall.
    “Like I said, we were just kids when all this happened. You disappearing from my life was a blow, yes, but I recovered. I married another man a few years after you left, as a matter of fact.”
    “I see.” He leaned on the kitchen counter. “And were you happy?”
    “No. Not at all. But it wasn’t because of you.” She cleared her throat, a bubble of happiness growing inside her. “So let’s wipe the slate clean. You’ve apologized. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Max glanced at his watch. “I don’t know your schedule, but may I take you to dinner tomorrow? We could fill in the details about what’s happened with each other the last decade or so. It can be a very unusual blind date. Ja?”
    At that moment, Max was exactly the same guy she used to know, full of charm and energy. “Ah, I’m not sure of my schedule then . . .”
    “You need time. Of course. I understand.” Max held out a business card as they walked to her door. “Here’s my cell number. Will you call and let me know about dinner?”
    His hand was warm and she saw relief in his face. And something like joy. Attraction?
    Slow down , she told herself. “Of course. I’ll call you tomorrow some time.”
    “Thank you, Jill.” He cocked his head sideways, a twinkle in his gorgeous eyes. “Don’t forget.”
    “That’s a bit fresh for you to say.”
    He looked stricken for a moment, and relieved when she chuckled.
    “I won’t forget,” she said. “Talk to you later.”
    They exchanged brief kisses on the cheek before Max walked away. Jill watched him, his stride relaxed and easy. Jaunty even. He was relieved. She closed the door and leaned against it.
    She did not feel relieved. Her legs were rubbery and, for a moment, she considered slipping down to the floor and taking a nap in the foyer, but one thought gave her enough energy to head for the bedroom.
    While she had been dreading tomorrow’s Easter lunch with her mother at the nursing home because it would mark a new era of loss, she now had something to look forward to that might be positive. The man she once loved, and lost, was back, seeking a chance to reconnect. That had to be a good thing, right?
    Jill shook her head, wishing for a moment she could see into the future.
    Later that night, the man who killed Ben Pierce stared out his hotel room window and the starless dark sky.
    He was not particularly sentimental, but Jill Farrell had triggered a confrontation with the painful truths he seldom allowed into his thoughts.
    He could have taken a different path, despite his father’s example, and become a different man. Am I getting soft? Soft would be deadly.
    He sat for a moment longer and then turned out the lights and lay down in the strange bed. The sheets were cool but his mind remained fevered.
    With a groan, the man turned over and squeezed his eyes closed.
    It was the reunion.
    Perhaps he should abandon his plan, and not expose himself to so many people all at once?
    No.
    If he wasn’t bold now, when so many people who could reveal the truth about him were gathered in one place, he would live in fear for the rest of his life.
    And the next time someone discovered the truth about him, he could lose everything.
    He thought again of Jill Farrell and sighed.

Chapter 5
    Friend’s House was bustling with visiting family. Jill parked the car and grabbed the plastic-encased orchid corsage she had brought for her mom. Her mother had always acted surprised when her father presented her with one,