Barlow hadn't realized how much of a weight it had been carrying his secret. Telling his story to Pet left him feeling unburdened. She was so easy to talk to, just like back then. She was also so easy to look at, just like back then.

Pet motioned Anson over to order a second round of drinks. She sat up straight in her chair. His story had obviously gotten her attention and interest.

"Let me get this straight," she said. "For the past decade you suspected your father might be a murderer?"

"At the time, what else could I think? What other possible explanation could there be?"

"My god, Barlow, that's insane! Your dad was a hard ass, but I never believed him to be capable of murder."

"I wasn't hallucinating that night, and you and I weren't exactly partying. We were stone cold sober when we broke up. It happened exactly like I told you."

"Just to clarify. We  didn't break up. You  broke up with me."

"There you go, busting my balls again."

She waved him off. "Anyway, you wrote your father out of your life over what might be a misunderstanding. That is so profoundly sad and tragic."

No...letting Pet go had been sad and tragic. Now, it was too late.

She leaned forward across the table. "Why didn't you tell me all of this back then?"

"I didn't know how desperate Dad might be. If you talked, and he found out about it, I didn't know what he might do. If he killed that man, he might..." Barlow didn't finish.

"Your father isn't a killer, and now you're jumping to conclusions over a possible unrelated newspaper story."

"I reviewed my father's books from his business and interviewed his foreman. I'm realizing now that Dad came into a lot of money legitimately around that time."

Pet said nothing for a few moments while staring at her beer mug. "How do you think I can help you?"

"You have access to police reports. Can you look at both incidents, the car crash and the robbery? Knowing what I told you, maybe you can find a connection."

She went silent while considering his request. "Obviously, that case happened way before my joining the PSP. I suppose I could talk my supervisor into letting me look into it on my own time as a hobby case."

Barlow sipped his beer. "A hobby case?"

"That's what we call it. Working on old cases after hours, you know, like a hobby." She grew pensive. "If something comes of this, you would be expected to make an official statement." She looked directly at him. "Are you willing to commit to that eventuality?"

"If it becomes necessary, I'll go on the record. In the meantime, why don't you find some way to take a quick look. See if you can find anything substantial."

Pet took another swallow from her beer and set down her mug.

Barlow couldn't help himself. His eyes wandered to the vee of her sweater. Pleasant memories of her breasts pressed against his bare chest invaded his thoughts.

She caught him looking but didn't say anything. Did she still carry the same pleasant memories of their time together?

"I have to know the truth about my father. You can understand that, right?"

Pet nodded. "I'll see what I can do, but no promises that I'll be able to find anything. There may be nothing to connect the two incidents."

"That's all I can ask. How long will it take you?"

She leaned forward, a gleam in her eye. "How long will you be in Perry County?"

Barlow considered how long he might be able to stay. "I planned to return to Ohio tomorrow morning. My boss really needs me to finish laying shingles before it snows."

"This is Thanksgiving week. How about I call after the holidays on Monday a week from tomorrow to give you an update."

"That's fine. Let me give you my number."

She flashed a shy smile. "I already saved it from when you called me earlier today."

It gave him a warm feeling, her saving his number, but he reminded himself not to read too much into it. "Text me or call if you find out anything sooner."

"Of course."

She pulled a twenty from her purse and set it on the table.

"Put that away. I got it."

"Nothing doing. You paid last night. Oh, and I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to stick you with the bill. The shock of seeing you, I guess, distracted me."

"It's nice to know I can still distract you. Speaking of distractions, I gotta say you rock that outfit you're wearing."

He noticed how she tried suppressing a smile. "Are you hitting on me?"

Of course, he was. "Me? Hitting on a married woman?"

She stiffened, took a deep breath, and acted as if she was about to say something. But she went quiet.

"What's wrong, Pet?"

"You told me you have a girlfriend. What are you going to tell her about spending time with your ex?"

Nothing. Why should he? He shrugged and said nothing.

"My woman's intuition senses the two of you aren't very serious. You haven't even told me her name. You don't talk about her."

"Caroline isn't here right now. I'm with you. Right now that's all that matters."

Pet's gaze went to her lap. When she looked up, Barlow saw her cheeks had turned rosy. "You're flirting with me. Just how serious are you and Caroline?"

He and Caroline were on the verge of becoming exclusive. "Serious enough." Except his rekindled feelings for Pet confused him. If only she weren't married..."Enough about me. Tell me about your husband. How did the two of you meet?"

She paused a long time before answering and scrutinized him. Barlow wondered why. "It's not such a special story. The two of us met at university, started dating, and got engaged shortly after graduation."

"How did you end up becoming a state trooper?"

"My degrees are in criminal justice and forensics. I dreamed of working for the FBI but ended up here...because Charlie got a job in Harrisburg."

He detected resentment in her tone. "I take it Charlie isn't supportive of your career path?"

Pet scoffed. "That's putting it mildly. He didn't even want me to work." She covered her mouth as if she misspoke. "I mean he doesn't want me to work. Tells me he makes enough money so I can stay at home." She dropped her hand to the tabletop. "It's like he expects me to waste my life doing nothing."

Without thinking, Barlow reached over and laid his hand on top of hers. Growing up they had always held hands. If felt as natural as breathing.

Pet's gaze drifted to their now-entwined fingers. Then she met his gaze. "I can't stay much longer. I'm back on duty at six tomorrow morning."

Barlow swallowed. Her hand in his felt so right. "I'm really happy we had a chance to reconnect."

Pet squeezed shut her eyes as if in pain and slowly slid her hand away. "You have a girlfriend, Barlow."

"I'm sorry, Pet. I shouldn't have done that."

"It's okay, and I really should go."

"Are we good?"

"Yeah, we're good. Don't worry about it." She stood. "Since I caught you up with my life, it's only fair that next time you tell me all about yourself. I want to hear about your time in the military, your life in Ohio...and more about Caroline."

"I can't wait to see you again." Barlow felt elated there would be a next time.

Don't hate me over the fact that Barlow and Pet are so stubborn! I'm just the writer telling their story. Besides, there are 45 chapters, so there's still plenty of time for these two to come to their senses. Barlow and Pet agreed to meet for a third time. How many more meetings will it take before they are honest with each other?