COLLATERAL CASUALTIES (The Kate Huntington mystery series) by Kassandra Lamb

him.’”
                “I think you should go away,” Kate said, “at least for awhile. Miller said there were some attempts on his life, things that would have looked like accidents. Do you know what he was talking about?”
                Jill gazed at the ceiling as she thought about that. “A few times he seemed preoccupied. One of them was the day after that party. Then, a couple weeks ago, I came home and he was all scraped up. He said he’d been running and slipped and fell down an embankment. He kept changing the subject when I asked for details. I wish I could remember that ambassador’s name. I could ask my neighbor.”
                “No! Miller would not want you to investigate. Anything you do that lets on that you know he was killed and why, then you’re in jeopardy.”
                Jill’s mouth was set in a stubborn line. In a much gentler voice, Kate said, “One of the last things he said to me was that if things went wrong on Friday, at least they would leave his family alone. If you try to investigate and get yourself killed, his death will be for nothing, and your kids will be orphans.”
                Tears streamed down Jill’s face. Kate handed her the box of tissues she kept close at hand. “Is there someplace safe you can go?”
                Jill dabbed at her eyes. “I’ve been giving that some thought. I have a friend in Colorado. We’ve lost touch the last few years so there’s no record of recent contact, but I know she wouldn’t move without telling me. It’s the kind of friendship where we just pick up wherever we left off, no matter how long it’s been. If I show up on her doorstep, she’ll take me in.”
                “Can you give me her address and phone number?” Kate asked.
                “I didn’t think to bring them with me.”
                “Okay, here’s what I suggest. Go home and pack. Do you have a garage?”
                Jill nodded.
                “Pull your car in there so no one can see you loading it up. Just clothes and your most precious small mementos. Nothing more than will fit in your trunk. When you pull out of there tonight, it should look like you’re taking the kids to McDonald’s for dinner.”
                Kate’s brain was scrambling for a way to safely get the contact information from her. Wait, she could have Rose pick it up.
                “Write down your friend’s address and phone number, then take with you or destroy anything that might lead someone to her, old Christmas cards, anything. Give me your address. A friend of mine will come by this afternoon. A short Hispanic woman with her hair tied back in a bun. She’ll pretend to be taking a survey or have a fake petition to sign. Slip her the contact information.”
                Jill nodded again as she pulled a small pad out of her purse to write down her address.
                “I’ll be in touch in a week or so, after the dust settles some,” Kate said, leaning forward to take the slip of paper. “It might be a good idea for your parents to leave town as well. If you have to call me, use a prepaid cell phone, then destroy it after we talk.”
                Jill let out a short humorless laugh. “We sound like a bad spy movie. How did this happen? How did my life end up in this place?” She started to cry again.
                Kate gave her a moment, then softly said, “You know Miller never imagined this would happen. He thought all of that was well behind him. A different lifetime.”
                “He only mentioned it a couple times, and then rather vaguely. He said he’d done some things he wasn’t proud of, but that were necessary.”
                They talked for a few more minutes, Kate doing the best she could to be supportive in a situation that was totally