Damn, he’d known something bad could do down with that construction crew.
His adrenaline was pumping by the time he returned to The Green Thumb’s tent.“I need to leave, but I want you to repeat everything you’ve told me to Deputy Hanson.She’ll be here shortly, and I’ll reconvene with her when I can.”
“What’s happened?”Becky asked.
He nodded at her.“We’ll do everything we can to get your money back.”
He turned to go.All his instincts were flaring.He hadn’t had a situation this serious since he’d left Chicago, but after so many years on the job, his training was ingrained.Time was of the essence.
He was halfway to his car when someone caught his arm.He spun around to find Maxie looking wide-eyed and concerned.She’d snuck up on him without him hearing, and that rubbed him wrong.She was back to ghosting around.He’d thought he’d gotten her past that.
He glanced to where she held his arm.The way she pulled back, he could tell she’d done it without thinking.So, there were still some impulses there, ones pointing in his direction.He supposed that was a good thing.
“What is it?Did you remember something?”
“No, I just…” The pain in her eyes intensified, and the lines on her forehead deepened.“I wanted to…” She looked at him helplessly before asking, “What happened?”
He stared at her.That’s what he wanted to know.
She gestured towards the phone he still clutched in his hand.“The call.Is something wrong?”
He sighed and surveyed the Park Art area.Things were starting to pick up.Even with the theft of the cashboxes, the atmosphere was happy and carefree.He lowered his voice so nobody could hear.“There was an accident down at the bridge.”
“The construction site?Was anyone injured?”
“Yes, and the scene is still unstable.I need to go.”He stuffed the phone into his pocket and backed away from her.“Update Hanson.She can track down those kids.”
“I will, but, Zac?”
He stopped.The emotion in her eyes was indescribable, and it nearly took the wind out of him.
She licked her lips, and he almost gave up on his promise not to touch her, to make her take the first step.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry.I really do…” Her hands fisted tightly at her sides.“Be careful.”
Maxie watched Zac walk away from her, and her fingernails bit into her palms as he rounded his patrol car.His blond hair had been ruffled by the breeze.She’d wanted to run her fingers through it, but he’d been so cold and distant.Unapproachable.
“Wow.”Roxie came to stand by her side.“Is he in a bad mood, or is he always that serious when he’s on a case?”
Maxie unclenched her fists.She didn’t know.There were a lot of things she didn’t know about him, but she wanted to learn.
“Does this have something to do with the missing cashboxes?”Lexie asked.
“No,” she whispered.None of it had anything to do with that.
Roxie clicked her tongue.“I wouldn’t want to get in his way right about now.”
Neither did Maxie.The way he’d looked at her… It had sliced her open.She’d wounded him badly.Why couldn’t she have been honest this morning?If she’d just put herself out there—
But that was the problem, wasn’t it?She’d never been brave enough.
The Green Thumb van pulled into the parking lot.Cam was back.She started blinking hard as he climbed out of the van with a cardboard carrier full of coffees.Lexie hurried out to meet him.The two of them didn’t seem to have any problems communicating.They were about as solid as a couple could get.
“Hey.”Roxie caught Maxie by the chin and made her look into her eyes.“Are you all right?”
No, she wasn’t.She was tired, her head hurt, and things were spiraling down a path she didn’t like.“Zac and I had a fight this morning,” she confessed.
“Hmm.I thought the tension between you was different.”
