He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

where you don’t have to worry about being recognized.”
    Relief flooded through her that he wasn’t asking her out. At the same time, a flash of disappointment shot through her. Why? Hadn’t she already told herself she couldn’t deal with a relationship right now? She glanced at her watch, surprised to see she’d been at the police station for the better part of the day. The sunlight coming in through the lone window in Logan’s small office was already fading. “I should get back home, start working on that algorithm.”
    He looked like he wanted to argue, but then he shrugged and took the pile of papers from her, setting them on the desk. “Maybe some other time.” He opened the door and waited for her, then accompanied her to the elevator. When he stepped inside next to her she glanced up questioningly.
    “You didn’t think I’d let you walk to your car alone, did you? I have to make sure my best computer programmer stays safe,” he teased.
    She smiled and looked down, clasping her hands together. As they’d walked next to each other from his office to the elevator, she’d actually forgotten about the killer. She’d allowed herself the fantasy of pretending she was a normal woman walking next to a handsome man who was interested in her. The reality was far less appealing, far less flattering. There really was a killer out there, probably looking for her. And the man next to her probably only seemed interested in her because she might know something that would help with his investigation.
    So why not have dinner with him? It wasn’t a date, so there wouldn’t be any awkward dating conversation or pressure on her to say something interesting. And even though she loved to cook, she remembered the days when she’d enjoyed the occasional meal out, trying new dishes, watching the people around her. She wasn’t a hermit by nature, only necessity.
    Logan would keep her safe. So why not come out of her shell for an hour or two? She could fantasize that she was normal, that she hadn’t been forced to change her entire life, and that she didn’t have to live in fear. For a few hours, the fantasy would actually be true.
    When the elevator opened they stepped into the lobby of city hall. The women they passed aimed admiring glances at Logan but he seemed immune, as if he didn’t even notice them. Amanda ducked her head, letting her hair cover her scar. But she couldn’t resist a secret, gloating smile that the other women were probably jealous of her because of the incredibly appealing man next to her.
    They exited through the front doors and turned left toward the parking lot on the side of the building. They went down the steps and she said in a rush, “I guess I could spare the time for a drive and dinner.” When she risked a quick glance up at him he was smiling.
    “Good,” he said. “I’ll get one of the detectives to bring down the boxes I need to take to Okaloosa. Mind if we take my car?”
    “I don’t want you to have to come back here for my car later. I’ll just follow you.”
    “I won’t have to come back. We can take my car and one of my men can drive your car to your house.” He waved at someone in the parking lot and she realized the white Crown Victoria that was normally sitting on her street was now sitting in the parking lot. Two men had just reached the car, probably because they’d been inside the building all this time watching her, without her knowing. Logan waved them over.
    “I didn’t even know they’d followed me here.” Amanda was vaguely alarmed that she hadn’t noticed them trailing behind her to the station this morning, but she was also impressed that they were able to tail her car without her noticing.
    Logan grinned. “Maybe I won’t have to fire them after all.”
    A manda shouldn’t have to live in fear, afraid to step outside because the killer might find her. That was no way to live. Logan had hoped to put her at ease by choosing an out-of-the-way diner, several miles outside of town. So far she was anything but relaxed.
    She chewed on her bottom lip while she read the laminated menu. Even though her back was to the rest of the diner and only Logan could see her face, she kept playing with her hair, finger-combing it over her scar.
    He sighed. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”
    She glanced up, her eyes wide and questioning. “Why?”
    “You seem uncomfortable.”
    “No more uncomfortable than I would be anywhere else. I haven’t been