Final Hour (A Maggie Flight Suspense Thriller—Book Seven) E-Book

Kate Bold

• Herausgeber: Lukeman Literary Management
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Serie: A Maggie Flight Suspense Thriller
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 258

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

"This is an excellent book… When you start reading, be sure you don't have to wake up early!" —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the unforgiving landscape of Joshua Tree, CBI Agent Maggie Flight hunts a killer who turns victims into mummified masterpieces. As she delves into off-grid communities and faces brutal desert conditions, Maggie must outsmart a murderer before another life is eternally entombed. This is BOOK #7 in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestsellers have received over 600 five star ratings and reviews. This gripping crime series navigates through unexpected turns, heart-pounding action, and startling twists and turns. With its addictive storytelling and intricate plot, this page-turner will have you burning the midnight oil, unable to put it down until you've unraveled every last clue. Fans of Lee Child, Kendra Elliot, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love. Future books in the series are also available. "This book moved very fast and every page was exciting. Plenty of dialogue, you absolutely love the characters, and you were rooting for the good guy throughout the whole story… I look forward to reading the next in the series." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!" —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I really enjoyed this book. The characters were authentic, and I see the bad guys as something we hear about daily on the news... Looking forward to book 2." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a really good book. The main characters were real, flawed and human. The story went along quickly and wasn't mired in too many unnecessary details. I really enjoyed it." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Alexa Chase is headstrong, impatient, but most of all brave with a capital B. She never, repeat never, backs down until the bad guys are put where they belong. Clearly five stars!" —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "WOW what a great read! Talk about a diabolical killer! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading others by this author as well." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships. I got into the middle of this story and couldn't put it down. Looking forward to more from Kate Bold." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Hard to put down. It has an excellent plot and has the right amount of suspense. I really enjoyed this book." —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Extremely well written, and well worth buying and reading. I can't wait to read book two!" —Reader review for The Killing Game ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Leseprobe

F I N A L

H O U R

(A Maggie Flight Suspense Thriller—Book Seven)

K a t e   B o l d

Kate Bold

Bestselling author Kate Bold is the author of numerous series in the mystery and thriller genres, including Meg Thorne, Heather King, Brynn Justice, Beth Drake, Maggie Flight, Addison Shine, Barren Pines, Nina Veil, Nora Price, Kelsey Hawk, Alexa Chase, Ashley Hope, Camille Grace, Harley Cole, Kaylie Brooks, Eve Hope, Dylan First, Lauren Lamb series.

Many of Kate’s books are available for free. Please visit Kate’s author page to find out more.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Kate loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.kateboldauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

SERIES BY KATE BOLD

MEG THORNE

HEATHER KING

BRYNN JUSTICE

BETH DRAKE

MAGGIE FLIGHT

ADDISON SHINE

BARREN PINES

NINA VEIL

NORA PRICE

KELSEY HAWK

ALEXA CHASE

ASHLEY HOPE

CAMILLE GRACE

HARLEY COLE

KAYLIE BROOKS

EVE HOPE

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

PROLOGUE

“I don’t have time to speak to you now!” Harper Mull spat out the words, anger surging inside her as she gripped the phone.

She was furious that this call had come in just as she’d been about to film her yoga session, at dawn, in the serene, arid beauty of the Joshua Tree National Park.

It was a perfect morning in early spring, and this shoot was something she’d been planning for months. As a yoga and fitness instructor, she’d moved more from “trainer” to “influencer” in recent years, thanks to her natural good looks – slender, flexible, with good bone structure and a mane of dark, wavy hair. Now, she was making determined efforts to promote herself, because she knew that she had to fight, in a competitive market, to maintain her high profile.

She’d had a lucky break, but fame could be fleeting, and hard work would be the decider.

A dawn, springtime session in this hauntingly desolate location would be memorable and impactful to her followers. She’d had the idea to end the session with the Tree pose, and if she timed it correctly, the rising sun would shine behind her as she finished, and highlight her silhouette.

The effect would be breathtaking, she knew it. But the timing was essential, not only for the angle and brilliance of the sun, but also because the park would be quiet. She didn’t want any background activity, any other hikers or runners or bikers. She’d picked the perfect spot, on a path framed by Joshua trees, which would allow her a flat place to do her yoga while also ensuring the most stunning backdrop ever.

The only problem was that it was going to get busy later, and she needed to get her filming done on time to ensure that she was alone.

She wasn’t alone.

As she rummaged in her backpack, still trying to wrap up the annoying conversation, because now Jed had asked her to hold on while he signed for a delivery, she saw another young, attractive woman was setting out along the trail, dressed in bright pink gym gear, and also with her phone at the ready to do some filming and selfies. She was wearing a sponsored backpack, and the most stunning shoes that Harper had priced a few weeks ago, and reluctantly conceded were unaffordable.

Harper thought she looked familiar, possibly even famous. She greeted her with a shy smile, but the woman barely gave her a second glance as she headed confidently into the park. Her face was flawless. She was slimmer than Harper, and also taller.

Watching her jog out of sight along one of the winding trails dented Harper’s sureness. She had the uneasy feeling that the Joshua Tree Park in springtime was already a destination for the beautiful, attention-grabbing set, and that her yoga session might be too little, too late.

“Babe,” the pleading tones of her ex-boyfriend sounded in her ear again. “I’m back.”

“I have to go.”

“I need to check up on a few things.”

"It's not a good time and I can't speak to you. I'm about to do a yoga shoot, and I've already had delays."

Gritting her teeth, Harper did her best to stay polite. She didn’t want to. She wanted to yell at him, and utter a few choice swear words, and tell him exactly where he should go, and what he should do.

But she couldn’t. She’d discovered that being a social media celebrity meant you paid a heavy price for anything that damaged your image. And you never knew when people were going to be two-faced.

Jed could be recording this conversation, he could even be live with it. He could use it against her, threatening that he’d release it and let people hear her swearing at him and telling him to go to hell. People were mean. She’d realized that even her friends weren’t necessarily loyal to her, and Jed was not a friend. He was an ex with a grudge.

“I know that, babe, but I have some questions that you have to answer, because I’m getting the movers out today, and I can’t remember which of the books are yours, and which are mine. We need to discuss it.”

The books?

Her mind flashed back to happier days, when she and Jed had browsed markets together, buying trinkets and clothing and coffee – and books. That was one of the qualities that had endeared Jed to her at the start of their two-year relationship, during which time they’d ended up moving in together. An action she now regretted.

Books were replaceable, she decided. This shoot, and the timing, was irreplaceable. She wanted to get this out today.

“Take them all,” she said.

"Seriously? But some of them are yours. I mean, the Madonna biography and the Game of Thrones series?"

She sighed. He wasn’t getting it.

“Yes, those are mine,” she explained patiently. “I owned those already, before you moved in. What I meant was that you should take any books which we bought together. Those, you can have. The books that were there when you arrived – they stay there.”

He should have moved out a week ago! Disorganized and most probably reluctant, he’d delayed the move, and now she was the one who was inconvenienced. He hadn’t even been supposed to come back today. He’d been supposed to come back tomorrow – but yeah, Jed never did anything he was supposed to do on time.

“Okay. I’ll see if I can remember which are which.”

“Thanks, Jed.”

She hung up, and then turned her phone to silent, so that she wouldn’t be bothered by him again. That had eaten up precious minutes that she wouldn’t get back. Already, the light was brighter than she’d thought it would be – and in its soft glow, she saw someone who had just appeared on the path.

Frustration surged inside her. Wrong place, wrong time, and now an early morning walker was at the exact place where she needed to film. She'd already set up her tripod, that couldn't be moved, or the angle would be incorrect. She'd just have to hope that he went somewhere else. The track branched off in a few different directions, and with any luck, he'd take one.

He didn’t, of course.

He simply stood there, with the hood of his jacket pulled down low over his face, and Harper felt a chill as she watched him, because there was something creepy about his demeanor.

Why was he standing like that, so still? As if he was watching her while she struggled to attach her phone to the tripod again?

She knew that in her new influencer role, there were some men who were – well, obsessive about pretty, high-profile women. She'd seen it before. She'd experienced it a few times, but always with other people around.

Now, she was on her own, and this man was walking toward her in a way she didn’t like. He hadn’t taken any of the side paths. Just her luck.

Harper was starting to wish that she hadn’t gotten off the phone so fast. She could have told Jed this was happening, and he could have advised her what to do.

Then she told herself not to be ridiculous. This was just a harmless hiker, and she should stop thinking the worst of everyone.

Let him pass, and then do your video, she advised herself. You can cut out a few of the middle poses and still wrap up with the tree at the right time. It’ll just save on editing, that’s all.

With that good advice given to herself, she stood back and waited as the man approached.

She still couldn’t see his face. His hood was pulled all the way over his face, as if he was the Grim Reaper. And why was he opening his arms as he walked toward her? Was that an actual blade she could see? The dull, steely gleam couldn’t be anything else, could it?

Shrinking back, her heart now pounding, Harper knew that this was trouble. Big trouble – deadly trouble. Influencer or not, she had a good instinct for people. And a sense of stranger danger.

"Come here!" His voice was singing, and it made her heart race.

Harper grabbed her phone, not even bothering about the tripod, and she began running down the hill. She needed to get to people now. People could help her, save her, but there was nobody around. From here, the parking lot was invisible.

And the man was following her, striding behind her as if he had a prearranged meeting with her.

The emptiness of the park didn’t feel soothing now, it felt scary. There was nobody else around but him. The other woman had disappeared along the trail.

That knife. She was sure it had been a knife.

Harper ran faster. With her legs pumping, and the backpack thumping, and her heart pounding, she raced ahead, heading toward the parking lot, deciding that the safety of her car would be a better choice than being alone out here, and that if she came back, she should bring a friend with her.

Except, in her confusion, she’d somehow gotten turned around. Dodging between two large rocks, and several more of the Joshua trees, Harper realized that she wasn’t seeing the parking lot ahead of her.

She wasn’t seeing anything except for the rough, rugged terrain of the park itself, the brightening sky giving her a clue now that she’d run the wrong way, the rocks now becoming more plentiful, the trees thicker.

Oh, no. Breathing hard, she slowed, glancing behind her again. What had she done? She’d literally run into the more deserted part of the park, further away from where she wanted to be.

And closer to the man who was chasing her.

Could she hear his footsteps?

She could hear a soft scrunch-scrunch across the hard, stony ground. That was him, coming this way. Coming for her. There were no other people nearby, nobody who it could be.

She’d run and she’d gotten lost, and now, there was only one option, only one solution, and that was to hide.

With her heart now hammering, she shrank behind the craggy rock, seeing a fissure in it on the far side. Perhaps he wouldn’t look there, perhaps he wouldn’t see her. Maybe he’d walk straight past, and this rock where she’d hidden, would keep her safe?

Cringing inside it, she tried her best to be invisible, to blend in with the rock, to mute her gasps, breathless and terrified.

And as she tried to hold her breath, to somehow muffle her hysterical gasps, she heard his words – whispered and strangely intimate as he approached.

“Where are you, beautiful? Where have you run? Come to me. Come to me – and you will be beautiful forever. I’m going to give you eternal youth. That’s what I’ll give you. Eternal youth.”

CHAPTER ONE

“I’m not worried. I have a dog, you know? I’m sure Wilbur will bark if he hears anything. But I am – well, disturbed.”

“I can hear you are. And I’m not surprised, Mom. That’s very traumatic. I’ve asked the police if they can keep a close eye out.”

Maggie Flight gripped the phone as she listened to her mother's voice. Her mom was shaken. She could hear it. Her tone was strained. She was trying to be brave, but this was a difficult situation to be brave in. Her mom was a recovering alcoholic. Day by day, she was fighting and winning the battle with an addiction that had gripped her for most of her life. She was holding down a part-time job, she was caring for her beloved rescue dog, and she was attending meetings.

Maggie was trying to give her as much support as possible, even though they lived hundreds of miles apart.

And something like this? It was scary and unsettling. Having both her neighbors broken into within the space of a week was enough to give anyone a setback.

It was no coincidence. That, Maggie knew, with a cold certainty.

“Do you think the police will catch this perpetrator? What are the chances, Maggie?” her mother asked.

“They’ll do everything they can. I was with the LAPD for years. They’re the best, Mom, and I’ll speak to my ex-colleagues and ask them if they have any leads.”

Maggie was sure the perp was Cole, her twin brother, the person she’d once adored, the redheaded mirror image of herself, who’d been her confidante and her support, her rock and her co-conspirator.

She and Cole had been so close when they were youngsters, and also when they were teens, although their later teens had been the time when Maggie had realized that Cole was capable of actions that she hadn’t thought possible. Like hurting people, badly.

When she was in her early twenties, she’d realized that he was involved in bigger trouble – that he was a member of a gang.

He’d given her a warning to back off, and that she shouldn’t get involved in his business anymore. That warning had been more of a threat. Then, he’d disappeared from her life.

Maybe it had been the knowledge that Cole had gotten involved with a gang, that had prompted Maggie to join the police. It was as if she’d felt the need to balance out the imbalance that Cole had caused.

“Well, that gives me some peace of mind. I feel like I’ve got an insider contact, with you having worked for the police in the past. I’ll try not to worry.”

“Good. I don’t want you to worry, Mom. I’ll come and visit next week.” Maggie hesitated. “There’s a chance I might bring a – a friend with me.”

“A friend?” Now her mother sounded completely different. Intrigued. Curious. And thankfully distracted from what she’d been worrying over.

"Yes, a friend. I have this – um, friend in the Bureau. We've been partnered together on several cases, and I guess we've become good friends. And my friend and I have been wanting to do a trip to LA and watch a show. And of course, I've talked a lot about you and he wants to meet you."

That was lame. How many times could you repeat the word ‘friend’, she wondered. Of course, the more she said it, the more her mother knew he wasn’t just a friend.

“And what’s his name?”

Maggie felt herself blushing. “His name’s Jamie. Jamie Rodriguez.”

“I look forward to meeting Jamie.” Her mother sounded positively upbeat now. Her tone was totally different from how she’d sounded when she had called Maggie.

Her mother said goodbye, and Maggie hung up.

Not even a moment later, Maggie’s doorbell rang.

It was Jamie.

She’d invited him to dinner. And, despite the last-minute call from her mother, Maggie was pleased that she’d managed to prepare a Bolognese sauce, which she’d then added to the pasta she’d cooked, and was now baking it in the oven, with cheese on top.

With that disturbing conversation still simmering in her mind, Maggie rushed to answer the door, tugging at a couch cushion to straighten it along the way.

She opened the door, and there was Jamie Rodriguez.

This evening, he was wearing a burgundy golf shirt paired with pale blue jeans. The effect was very different from the sleek, dark suits he wore for work, and, she had to admit, just as attractive. No matter whether he was smart or casual, with his dark hair and his chiseled jawline, Jamie Rodriguez was hot. But never mind his looks – it was his perception, humor and caring side that Maggie found herself falling for.

And the way he looked at her? The expression in his eyes, admiring and appreciative as he saw her, was unexpected. She had taken care with her own appearance earlier in the evening, in between putting some wine in the refrigerator and setting her small dining room table. Her deep red hair was shiny, waving to her shoulders, and she wore a hint of make-up that emphasized the porcelain quality of her skin.

“You look great,” he said.

Now, she knew her face was reddening as she stepped up to him for an awkward hug. Awkward because neither of them knew where this was heading, she guessed. Or rather, how fast it was heading. The direction, they did actually know.

All the same, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, breathing in his sandalwood scent and feeling his arms clasp around her. His hand stroked softly over her hair.

“Glad you could make it tonight,” she mumbled, aware of how inane that sounded.

As they stepped away from each other, Jamie breathed in the aroma of food that she now realized infused her small apartment. The kitchen and living room were open plan, separated only by a low wall that ran halfway across the room, and on which Maggie had put some ornaments.

“That smells amazing. You said you made it?”

“I gave it a try. It’s pasta bake. Like a lasagna, but done with Bolognese and macaroni. And cheese.” Remembering her hostess obligations, Maggie hastily added, “Do you want some wine?”

“Thanks. I’d love some.”

Maggie poured two glasses of merlot, and they sat down on either side of her two-seater couch.

“What’s your Saturday been like so far?” Jamie asked.

That was a question she couldn’t answer in any imaginative way, because her Saturday had been spent tidying the apartment, buying ingredients, cooking, and washing up. She’d had time to detour to the gym in the early morning and had enjoyed a bout of sparring with her boxing partners. Apart from that – well, the troubling conversation she’d just had with her mother was still at the top of her mind.

She really shouldn’t introduce that topic. It might ruin the evening.

Of course, Maggie couldn’t help herself. She’d never been one for polite small talk. To be honest, she didn’t understand how it even worked.

“Apart from all the food prep, which was fun? I just got off the phone to my mother, and she’s worried.” She touched her glass to Jamie’s. The crystal chime of the glass sounded sweet compared to the grimness of the topic she was about to bring up.

“Why’s that?”

"There have been robberies on each side of her. Literally, both her immediate neighbors have been robbed in the past couple of weeks."

“That’s unusual for the area, isn’t it?” Jamie said.

“Very unusual,” Maggie agreed. Cradling her wine in her hand, she glanced at Jamie, and he saw the expression on her face.

Jamie knew about her recent history with Cole.

Since her brother had disappeared, Maggie had never given up on the hope of finding him again. In her spare time, over the years, she’d prowled the LA neighborhoods where gangs were known to have their base. Quietly and discreetly, always in plainclothes, she’d asked questions that she hoped, one day, would give her answers.

And just a couple of months ago, she’d heard from him, but not in the way she’d wanted it to happen.

Her brother had sent a message to ask for a meeting with her mother in a bad part of town. Following it up herself, Maggie had gone to the meeting, and had found a friend of Cole's there. The friend had said that Cole was desperate to get out of the criminal life he'd become entrenched in, and that he was looking for help.

And then, when she’d returned the next week, breathless with excitement and anticipation that she might see her brother at last, she had found only a note.

A note that asked Maggie to give him fifty thousand dollars to help start his new life.

It had definitely been in Cole’s handwriting. That, Maggie had known. She’d recognized it.

But the words, the tone, the request? She hadn’t known what to make of that.

Cole had asked her for a substantial sum of money to start a new life, without even seeing her? How the hell did that work?

Strangely enough, her brother’s wry advice to her had often been, “Dream huge, Maggie. Ask for what you know you’ll never get – and then fight for it.”

Unable to summon fifty thousand dollars out of thin air, and unwilling to take out a loan and put herself in debt to allow a criminal to escape the country – if that was what he was even planning on doing – Maggie had done nothing. She’d ignored the note.

Cole didn't like being ignored. It made him mad.

And Cole never got mad – he got even.

All of this was giving Maggie a very bad feeling about these robberies, and she wondered if Jamie felt the same way.

Looking at him, she could see the horrified expression on his face which told her that yes, he had also concluded this.

"Wait, am I being paranoid to think that these might somehow be connected to what's happened with Cole? Robberies on each side of your mother's house? Have there been crimes like that in the past few years?"

“Not that I know of,” Maggie admitted. “I checked the records quickly yesterday, and there has been nothing recently.”

“On either side?” Jamie sounded outraged now.

Grimly, Maggie nodded. “I know, right?”

“You think this is some kind of a threat? That it’s your brother, showing you what could happen to her if you don’t pay up?”

Maggie nodded. When she thought of that, she felt sick inside. Would Cole really do such a thing? Threaten her mother by breaking into the neighbors and silently showing her what could happen to her? Would he genuinely organize for such a thing to be done to people who lived on either side of her?

Wishing so badly that she could give that thought a firm ‘no’, Maggie realized she couldn’t.

She had no idea what Cole was capable of or how he'd changed since she last saw him.

Maggie stared at her wine, swirling it around in her glass, wishing that she had a better idea of what to do next.

“I’m worried it is a threat,” Jamie said.

“Me, too,” Maggie admitted.

“Do you think your brother would be capable of that?” Jamie asked.

Maggie shrugged, feeling miserable at the thought.

“Ten years ago? Maybe. And that was the last time I saw him. Whatever path he’s on, he’s gone further down it.”

Jamie stared at Maggie for a moment, his eyes troubled. Then, he stared at the wall, his face thoughtful.

That wall had a window on it, but since it had a not-so-good view of the apartment opposite her, Maggie kept the beige blinds closed. She’d been meaning to pick out a picture to put on the wall. It hadn’t yet happened. Still on the to-do list.”

“I want to believe it’s just coincidence, and not deliberate targeting. Have you given him a firm answer about the money he wanted?”

Maggie shook her head. "In the note, he left banking details. The fact that the money hasn't been wired into that account is a no, I guess. I haven't actually replied or even followed up on who the banking details belong to. I guess I didn't see the point of that, because it wasn't in his name and it would be a dummy account."

Jamie nodded as she continued. "I don't know how to get in touch with Cole. I've tried to find him for ten years. He knew where I was all along and where my mother was. When he wanted to, he found us." She could hear the cynicism in her voice.

“He’s not the person you are.” Jamie’s voice was firm. “I know you both had a hellish childhood, but he had a choice, just like you did. He chose to go and join gangs. Wasn’t like he was born into the lifestyle He chose it. And now, you’re the one who has the problem, because he’s showing you that he’s mad, and that he’s going to scare your mother until you do what he wants.” His voice was harsh. Then, it softened. “I see your courage every day, Maggie, and the way you handle things. You choose good, fairness, compassion. He had that choice.”

She glanced at Jamie, feeling warmed by his words and by the expression in his eyes. He reached his hand out to hers, and she took it. Her heart beat faster as his fingers caressed hers.

“Time to check the food,” she said, reluctant to break the moment, but dinner was calling.

She let go of his hand and stood up. Opening the oven, she felt a rush of heat and inhaled a blast of meaty, cheesy flavor as she awkwardly groped for the dish with the oven gloves.

Jamie was hovering, holding his wine, ready to help as Maggie transferred the dish to the stovetop.

“Cole chose differently, but now, it’s my problem. I don’t know what to do, though.”

“I don’t know what you should do, but what if your mom is targeted next?”

Maggie tightened her lips. “I cannot allow that to happen. No way. That would traumatize her. It would be hideously unfair. It might cause her to relapse.”

“How are you going to stop it?”

“I’m going to have to find him,” Maggie said. “And I’m going to have to do it before he decides to do anything else.”

CHAPTER TWO

“So you’re going to find him?”

As Jamie asked the question, Maggie dished two steaming bowls of the pasta bake. Wholesome food. She wished the conversation was on a par with it, but here they were, discussing Cole, and the wrench he was throwing into her life.

“I’m going to have to.”

“You’ve been trying for ten years.”

“Not hard enough.” Maggie insisted.

“What are you going to change, then, to find him this time?”

“I need to think about that,” she said. Jamie carried the bowls to the table, and Maggie topped up the wineglasses.

Then, they sat down, and suddenly, she stopped worrying so much about Cole and the destruction he might bring.

Instead, she took a moment to be grateful for the fact that she was sitting opposite Jamie, with steaming plates of food in front of them both – food that she had to admit looked mouthwatering. The Bolognese sauce had been slow-cooked, and it was meaty and glossy and well flavored with herbs. The pasta had even come out okay. At any rate, it hadn't turned to mush.

As for the cheese – well, Maggie was a cheese lover, and this topping, with its rich aroma of mozzarella and parmesan, was a triumph, if she said so herself.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” Jamie said, moving the conversation to happier topics. “This is great. Amazing.”

“I didn’t know I could cook either, until recently," Maggie admitted. "I didn't think I'd enjoy it, but I have been. There's something relaxing about it after a stressful day."

“So, are you going to teach me how? I’m keen to learn,” he said teasingly.

“You do realize it would be the blind leading the blind?” Maggie quipped as Jamie snorted. All the same, she liked the idea of the two of them learning together. Maybe they could watch a tutorial video, or work on a recipe together. It would be fun. She was looking forward to it.

“This outing to LA?” Jamie said, as he dug in. “We’re going to go and see a show? Sounds like an adventure.”

“I’m hoping it will be one,” Maggie said. “And – um – my mother?”

Jamie nodded. “I wanted to ask you if we should go and visit her. I’d like to. And I’ve heard a lot about Wilbur.”

“You need to meet Wilbur,” Maggie said. “He’s the most fantastic dog. He’s such a character.

“That’s a bonus,” Jamie grinned.

The food was going down well. The wine, also. And as for the company – Maggie knew that she was making memories right now, that the relationship with Jamie was deepening.