Gasping For Air 2 (Last Chance Romance Series) by Abigail Keam Page B

water. You can have it tested tomorrow, but I’m sure the red in the water was due to food dye.”
    “I could just brain Heather. She cost this hotel a great deal of money and trouble, not to mention getting me in Dutch with Eva.”
    “I don’t know Eva that well, but if Mike loves her, she must be a pretty good egg. She might be impressed with how well you took charge and corrected the problems.”
    “Or she might blame me.”
    Masterson took a sip of his tea. “She might.”
    “Any word on that boy yet, Officer Masterson?”
    “Call me Jim. Remember? I think we know each other well enough to go on a first-name basis.”
    Lillian didn’t respond but looked down at her fingernails. She needed a manicure.
    “I’m sure your wife will be unhappy about you spending your nights here,” stated Lillian. She blushed when she realized she was fishing for information.
    “Not married,” answered Masterson, reaching for a cookie.
    “Never?”
    “Once, but she called it off. Said she didn’t want to be a cop’s wife.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Why? I’m not. We would have been terrible for each other.” Masterson looked inquiringly at Lillian. “What’s your story besides the obvious?”
    “Went to college. Got a degree in accounting. Met a man. Fell in love. Got married. Had a daughter. Did not live happily ever after.”
    “Miss your daughter?”
    “I regret to say that my daughter turned out to be much like her father. Once she reached the teen years, we were never close. It makes me very sad, but it is what it is. If we had been on better terms, I might have stayed. I figured that I had only one life to live and I was not going to waste it on two selfish people, so here I am.”
    “You had the guts to leave. Some women don’t.”
    “Do you have any children, Officer . . . I mean Jim.”
    Masterson shook his head. “That’s been a regret, Lillian. Not having any children.”
    “You should find someone. You still have time to have children.”
    “What about you?”
    Lillian looked down at her empty mug. “I don’t think being married again is in the cards for me. I can’t even think of being happy one day. It’s all I can do to find the energy to work and prepare myself for the divorce.”
    “That’s pretty sad to hear,” responded Masterson. “I hope things change for you.”
    “Thanks.” Lillian looked at the clock. “I better get back to bed. I’ve only got a couple of hours before I have to open the office.”
    She got up and started toward her bedroom.
    “Lillian.”
    “Yes.”
    “Things will get better. You’ll see,” assured Masterson softly.
    “I hope you’re right, Jim, because I feel empty inside.”
    “You worry about your divorce. I’ll take care of your stalker problem.”
    “I would appreciate that.”
    “I’ve got your back.”
    Startled, Lillian turned and stared at Jim. “What I would have given to hear my husband say that to me and mean it. It might have saved our marriage.” Without waiting for a response, she entered her room and closed the door.
    Masterson thought Lillian was one of the saddest women he had ever encountered. He was determined to put an end to Salvador’s tormenting her.
    If only he could find him.

26
    O fficer Masterson took a short flight to Jacksonville and was in the school’s administrative office by 9 a.m. There was talk of privacy issues until Masterson waved his badge around and talked about getting a warrant.
    Reluctantly, the administrator gave Masterson Salvador’s address and class schedule. Masterson tipped his hat in thanks and after checking his watch discovered that Salvador should be in his first class.
    With map in hand, Masterson hurried to the biology building where Salvador should be learning about the reproduction methods of amphibians.
    He quietly entered the classroom and sat in the back of the large lecture hall looking for Jeremy Salvador. He didn’t see him.
    Distracted by Masterson’s rather ominous