Suspicious (On the Run) by Sara Rosett Page A

right away.”
    “Why? Can you think of someone I could take this to? Someone who’d help us out?”
    “No, to get you out of here.”
    “I’m not going to go off and leave you here to sort this out on your own.”
    A faint smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “Don’t think I can handle it on my own?”
    “You are the most resourceful person I know, but I’m not leaving you to deal with this by yourself. We do things together, not on our own. We work better that way.”
    “Zoe, you should go now, while there’s the chance.”
    “No. We’re not going our separate ways. We’re all in on this marriage thing, so I’m not running away at the first hint of trouble.”
    “The first hint of trouble would have been that quarrel we had last year over where to put the new couch. This is in a different league.”
    “Doesn’t matter. All in. Not leaving.”
    He stared at her a moment then blew out a sigh. “For someone with such a free and easy personality you can be quite obstinate.”
    “All part of my charm.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for not being too absurdly old-fashioned about it.”
    “Yes, well. I’m not sure that’s a compliment, but in any case,” he pointed to the bottle, “I think we should get out of here and find a safe place for that. There’s no guarantee that Alessi won’t come back and search our room again.”
    “Sounds like a good plan. I don’t want to stick around here anyway.”

Chapter Five

    They left their room, but didn’t return their key to the nook in the wall behind the unmanned front desk. They’d decided that, for now, the lotion bottle was the best place for the bracelet. The lotion certainly wouldn’t harm the diamonds, and it wouldn’t be unusual for Zoe to carry a small bottle of it.
    “Are they still with us?” Zoe asked.
    “Bun Lady has dropped back, and Mustache Guy is on point.”
    “Great. Where are we going?”
    “Someplace busy and noisy. I know just the place.”
    They twisted through the streets, stopping to admire windows where Zoe didn’t look at anything on display, only the reflection of the people in the glass. Their two followers stayed with them. Zoe was so focused on what was happening behind them that she barely paid attention to where they were going, but as they moved through increasingly crowded streets, Zoe heard the rush of water. “What is that?”
    Jack smiled fleetingly, the first break in his grim expression since they’d left Alessi. “Wait and see.”
    “That’s not the Trevi Fountain, is it? It is,” she said as they rounded a corner and emerged into a cozy piazza where the roar of water was even louder, and tourists stood fifteen deep in front of the famous landmark. A mass of twisting mythical figures, the fountain centered on Oceanus, who looked bulky and a bit like a WWF fighter as he rode his shell-like chariot, pulled by two powerful sea horses, which were flanked by tritons. The reverberation of the flowing water filled the space. “Impressive. And a great idea.” Zoe worked her way down the shallow steps to the edge of the pool at the base of the fountain. Even over the roar of the water, Zoe heard chatter in English, French, Italian, German, and possibly Russian. She fished some coins from her messenger bag and handed a few to Jack.
    “You only need one,” he said.
    She tossed her coins. “Insurance,” she said and then felt her smile falter as she remembered Harrington’s quip about throwing coins in the fountain to insure he returned to Rome.
    Jack nodded. “I know what you’re thinking.” He tossed his coins.
    Oblivious of the other tourists edging forward to take their place, Jack held their ground at the edge of the fountain and looped an arm around Zoe’s shoulders. “Now’s a great time to talk. Can’t be overheard and our friends are hovering at the top step.”
    “I don’t even know where to start.” Zoe rested her head against his shoulder for a moment, then pulled