Jacob stared at him unhappily for a few seconds.“I know you don’t like to believe in hunches or intuition,” he said at last.“But for whatever reason, if you think there’s something else going on here, you shouldn’t dismiss it.”
“Yeah, but I’m not sure what else I can do,” Mårten replied.“I’ll keep pushing those cops to make certain they’re investigating it properly, but I’m an officer of the law from a foreign country.I have very little sway here in America.”
“Hmm.”Jacob nodded his agreement.“I wish I could help more.Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anything that warrants the FBI getting involved,” he added with a frown.
“I know.”Mårten raised his palms to show he understood.The FBI never took part in anything as simple as a break and enter.They were concerned about national security, not petty theft.
“I could ask Miller; she’d know better than I if there were something we could do,” Jacob offered skeptically.
Miller was Jacob’s new FBI partner.Mårten had been introduced to Claire Miller when he’d met Jacob while they were both on their lunch break last week.He liked the woman.She was smart and no-nonsense, a great foil for Jacob’s impulsiveness.But Mårten still found it ironic that Jacob had been paired with the same agent who’d shot him in the leg to stop him from escaping custody when he’d been trying to protect Nikki back in February.Jacob had insisted that he was the one who had requested the partnership, saying that he respected her as a highly skilled officer, and knowing Jacob, Mårten wasn’t all that surprised.He was always doing the thing that people least expected him to do.
“I’m still the rookie over at the office, and you know what that’s like,” Jacob added, his mouth puckering as if he’d just sucked on a lemon.
Mårten patted him on the back.“Don’t worry, mate, I wouldn’t want you to jeopardize your new job.”His ex-partner had been recruited by the head of the FBI after he’d discovered the extent of Jacob’s skills when he’d fought tooth and nail to keep Nikki safe, while exposing a corrupt agent who’d done everything in his power to stop her from testifying at the court case against the Chinese company.Jacob had been in the job less than three months and was yet to complete the compulsory, rigorous, five-month training regime at the FBI Academy in Quantico—the gunshot wound to his thigh making it impractical until he was declared physically fit enough to endure it.Even though Jacob had been at the rank of inspector back in the Swedish force, he’d returned to the bottom of the pile with the FBI and was now a basic-level trainee agent, with very little—if any—clout.Thankfully, because Miller was his partner, people offered him a certain degree of respect that he might not otherwise have received.
“Thanks for that,” Jacob grouched.But then his countenance changed.“Speaking of rookies, have you heard from Aurora lately?”He shot Mårten an impish grin.
Mårten grunted in displeasure.“Don’t you start.I’ve got enough trouble with one willful woman by the name of Summer right now.I don’t need any reminders of the other thorn in my side.Aurora needs to respect that I’m on a break and just get on with the job,” he grumbled.
“Yeah, you’re probably correct.But you did leave her in the middle of an investigation while you jaunted off on holiday.And she just wants to make sure she doesn’t muck anything up while you’re away.Besides, I don’t agree with Nikki’s theory.I don’t think her constant need to contact you has got anything to do with the fact she’s got the hots for you,” Jacob said, but was already on the move as he said it, dodging away neatly as Mårten took a swipe at him.
Nikki had said something similar the first time Mårten had complained about how he couldn’t seem to get any peace from the rookie cop, and so he’d kept quiet ever since.It wasn’t true.Well, he hoped it wasn’t true.She was young, beautiful and very intense, wanting to get everything right.That was all.And Mårten wasn’t the slightest bit attracted to her.Not that he’d condone a workplace relationship anyway.
“It’s your fault that I’ve been saddled with the little…” Mårten bit back the word that’d been on the tip of his tongue.He’d been going to say menace, but that would’ve been unfair.Aurora was just very enthusiastic and motivated.He needed to remember that.If only Aurora would stop emailing him and texting him two and three times a day with so many questions and theories, or requests.Like the one she’d sent him yesterday when she’d asked to be allowed to get a warrant to search an alleged rapist’s house.Which was a definite no.She was driving him quietly insane.
“If you hadn’t left to move halfway around the world, then we’d still be partners and…”
Footsteps in the hallway announced Nikki's entrance, and Jacob stood up to kiss her good morning, offering her his chair as he poured her a coffee.With silent agreement, Mårten knew their conversation was over.
“How did you sleep?”He asked Nikki instead, reverting to mundane topics.
“Gosh, I haven’t slept in this late for a long time,” she admitted.“But how is Summer going?Is she up yet?”
Mårten and Jacob exchanged a glance, but Mårten finally said, “Yes, she’s already been out for a run.”
“Wow, she’s keen.But she mentioned something about competing in triathlons, so that makes sense.”Nikki tilted her head up to give Jacob a doe-eyed look as he handed her a coffee, not realizing how Summer’s safety might have been at risk.“Do you know what her plans are?Perhaps we should help clean up her apartment?”That was so typical of Nikki, always ready to jump in and lend a hand.
They already had an agenda for the day, as it was Mårten’s last weekend in town.They were going to catch the light rail into the city and show him around.Afterward, they were hoping to end up at the famous Pike Place Market, where they would buy some fresh fish and vegetables and bring them home to cook a feast for dinner.Mårten didn’t want to ruin their schedule, but he knew all three of them would give up their day in a flash to help Summer.
As if summoned by their thoughts, Summer stepped into the kitchen, a towel draped around her shoulders as she dried her hair.
“Good morning, everyone.”She smiled warmly at Jacob and Nikki but failed to meet Mårten’s eyes.“That has to be the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.It might even be better than my own bed,” she added, heading straight for the coffee.“Thank you so much for letting me stay.You’re right, I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep if I’d been in my apartment.”This bright and bubbly Summer was a different woman from the one who had snarled at him on the front porch only half an hour ago.But the show was clearly for Nikki and Jacob, and he guessed he deserved his treatment.
“That’s good,” Nikki said, indicating Summer should take the chair next to hers.“We were just talking about whether you’d like us to come and help straighten up all the mess.It’d be no bother; we’d love to be of service.I can’t stand thinking of you going back to that place and having to cope all alone.”She patted Summer’s arm, and something unspoken passed between the two women.
“Thank you, I appreciate the offer…”
Mårten knew what was coming next before she even opened her mouth.
“But I’ll be fine.I don’t want to put you out any more than I already have.You let me sleep in your beautiful house in your comfortable bed, and I’m eternally grateful.”
Mårten held back a grunt of irritation.She was so stubborn, not wanting to accept help from anyone, but he kept his eyes focussed on his coffee, telling himself he shouldn’t get involved.It was none of his business if this woman found it impossible to accept support when it was offered.
“Besides, I have friends I can call on.Mayte and Trent will be around in a flash when I tell them what’s happened,” she continued.
Yes, but she hadn’t wanted to call those same friends last night in her hour of need, Mårten thought to himself.But again, he said nothing.
“I don’t think you should go into the apartment alone.”Nikki persisted.
