The pizza place hadn’t been busy and traffic had been light. He’d made good time, but the trip had still taken longer than he wanted. Marianne had sounded pretty shaken up. She’d covered it with anger the way his sister Jill did, but he could tell. What had Mackson been thinking? He’d had his chance and passed. Had he come to his senses and realized that he’d thrown away a chance to marry a smart, brave, beautiful woman? Or had someone at the Trust pressured him to reconsider? He knocked again, and waited. No answer. Dan’s senses sharpened, and he pressed an ear to the door. No sounds of movement. Marianne was expecting him. She wouldn’t go out. “Marianne!” Dan pitched his voice to carry, in a tone that demanded an answer. He pounded on the door with the side of his fist. “Marianne!” Had Mackson returned? Had he refused to take no for an answer? Dan scanned the dimly lit parking lot. Marianne’s Corolla was in its space. There was no sign of Mackson or his car. Dan tossed the pizza onto the landing and pounded with both fists.
