“It’ll all be over soon, and you’ll never have to come here again.” Hawk gave her hand a gentle squeeze, released it, and backed into her parking space.
Her gaze darted around the lot, then landed on the elevator.
“Charlotte.” Hawk used one finger on her chin to turn her head toward him. “If you’ve changed your mind—”
“No way.” She drew her shoulders back and adjusted the camera. “I’m doing this.”
“Let me make sure that thing is working.” He opened the app and got a crystal-clear view of his dashboard. “Looks good. You’ve got your earpiece?”
“Right here.” She patted her bag.
“Good.” He leaned across the console. She met him halfway, and he kissed her.
A horn honked somewhere, and he slowly lifted his lips from hers.
“Let’s take this son of a bitch down.” Charlotte picked up her bag, grabbed her lanyard, and started to open her door.
“Ahem.” He cleared his throat.
“Oops, sorry, I almost forgot.”
Hawk cut the engine, climbed out, and circled the front of the truck to open her door.
“I hope this thing still works.” She looped her badge around her neck.
“It should. Unless Kimball deactivated it before he came out to my place.” If he had, Luna could probably access the security system and reactivate it.
He tapped the call button for the elevator, the doors slid open with aswish, and they stepped inside. They arrived on her floor and walked over to tap the card to the reader.
Beep.
She blew out a relieved sigh, and he pushed the door open.
“Let’s go to your office first.” They were passing the break room when her boss stepped out.
“Charlotte?” He held a mug in one hand, a cookie in the other, and looked very confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Doug. Um, Mr. Pennington asked to see me,” she said. “I told him I was on vacation, but he insisted. Said it was very important.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ll go talk to him.” He started to turn away.
“No!” She grabbed his arm and released it. “I mean, that’s not necessary.” She kind of glanced around the large space. “We’re already here, so I might as well find out what’s so important.”
“We were heading to the museum anyway.” Hawk remembered the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library was not far from the office.
“Oh, well, if you’re okay with it—”
“I am, really.” Charlotte stepped up to him and hugged him. “Thank you, Doug, for caring.”
“Uh, sure, you’re welcome.” He held his arms out, and coffee sloshed over the top of his mug.
Poor guy, he had no idea what was going on. Not only was he about to lose an incredible employee who cared deeply about the victims they were tasked to help, but there was a very good chance he would be out of a job soon.
Hawk hoped they didn’t find out the guy was dirty, because Charlotte would be crushed.
As if remembering the hidden camera, she quickly stepped back, causing him to almost spill his coffee again. Fortunately, the thing was tucked safely away between her perfect breasts.
“Well, I’d better scoot.” She moved back. “Hawk’s going to wait for me in my office while I’m in with Mr. Pennington.”
