Julia shook her head. “This might come as a shock to you, Chief Birch, but most agents don’t get their jollies by going after every Tom, Dick, or Harry who toes over the line of legality. If I wanted to go after people who jaywalk or text while driving or floor it when they see a yellow light, I’d have to start with my own family.”
Or yourself,Britt added silently. He’d witnessed her doing all three.
When Hew remained unconvinced, Julia glanced up at the overhead light as if it might hold the answer to how she could persuade Hew she was telling the truth. Eventually, she lowered her chin and said, “Britt says Ozzie is a white hat hacker. Which in my book falls under the heading: the ends justify the means.”
Pride swelled in Britt’s chest until there was no way to contain the grin that split his face.
“I don’t know why you’relooking so happy,” Hew grumbled at him. “You just added another wrinkle to the fabric of this mess. Not only are the feds out to findhim.” He hitched his chin toward Knox before angling it toward Julia. “But they’ll be lifting every rock and cutting down every tree to findher.”
“You’re right about that.” Concern creased Julia’s forehead when she looked around the little cabin. “The running generator tells me this place isn’t hooked up to the electrical grid. The rain barrels out front say the same goes for any connection to a municipal water system.” Her gaze landed first on Hew and then on Britt. “Is there any way this property can be traced back to anyone sitting in this room?”
“None,” Britt assured her.
“Is there any way this property can be traced back to someone any of you just happen toknow? If so, the techs back at the bureau will unearth that connection.”
This time, it was Hew who said, “None.” He rolled the word around on his tongue like he was tasting it.
She blew out a windy breath. “Okay, then. We’re in for the long haul. We stay put until your white hat hacker comes through.”
Britt blinked. Now that he’d presented her with the proof of Knox’s innocence, he expected her to ask him to make good on his promise to take her to the nearest phone. “You don’t want me to take you into Traverse City?”
Her nose wrinkled like she smelled sulfur. “I hate thinking about my associates out there not knowing where I am. And I hate it worse that someone will inform my family that I’m missing. That’ll worry them like crazy. And poor Sean will have to go to my place to feed my animals. Gunpowder hates him and will try to peck his eyes out. And Chewy? Chewy will bite his ankles if he doesn’t get the wet dog food to dry dog food ratio just right.”
Julia realized she was naming people and animals the rest of them didn’t know. Er…shouldn’tknow.Brittknew because he’d been…you know…stalkingher.
“Sean is my brother and the only one not on duty tonight. My father and my three brothers are all firemen,” she explained. “Chewy, short for Chewbacca, is my rescue Chihuahua who sounds like a Wookie and is particular about everything from his food to his dog bed to his favorite blanket on the corner of the couch. If it’s not folded in exact fourths, and if it has even the slightest wrinkle, he’ll make that rrhhhaawwww sound until you smooth it out.”
Sabrina eyed Julia with a new appreciation.
And Britt understood the change in her opinion. Until now, Julia had been nothing if not professional—the consummate FBI agent. But this peek into her private life humanized her. It spoke of who she was beyond the badge: a bleeding-heart animal rescuer, a sarcastic sister who kept her brothers on their toes, a loving daughter…
“And who’s Gunpowder?” Sabrina asked quietly.
“Gunpowder’s her African grey parrot,” he supplied helpfully. “What are his favorite phrases again?” He looked at Julia expectantly.
“Sugar tits and dick breath,” she supplied automatically. But her eyes were narrowed on him. “How did you know that?”
His heart skipped a beat. Had he just given himself away?Again?Then he remembered. “You told us about Gunpowder during the Senator McClean case. You said you adopted the bird after you put his previous owner behind bars.”
“The weapons dealer,” she nodded, the flame of suspicion guttering in her eyes. “Right.”
Britt breathed a silent sigh of relief.
“Hence the bird’s colorful vocabulary,” Hew said. Then he lifted an eyebrow. “Unlessyou’rethe one who taught him sugar tits and dick breath?”
Julia rolled her eyes. “No.” Then she grimaced. “But Idotend to overuse the phrasecockwaffle, especially in reference to Ren. He’s myotherdog, a three-legged pitbull mix who gets the zoomies, can’t control his momentum on my hardwood floors, and inevitably crashes into something and makes a mess. I guess when that happens, I tend to yellcockwaffle!Now Gunpowder thinks Ren’snameis Cockwaffle. So anytime Ren enters the room, Gunpower says,Hello, Cockwaffle.Followed by a squawk.” She made a face. “It’s no wonder my sisters-in-law ask me to come totheirhouses to babysit instead of bringing my nieces and nephews to my place.”
Britt realized he was grinning at Julia like an idiot when he caught his brother giving him a considering look.
He quickly changed the subject. “I’m sorry for the worry it’ll cause your family. And I’m sorry for your brother’s ankles and eyes. But I appreciate that you’re willing to remain here with us.”
Julia shrugged. “If I go back, there will be questions. Questions I can’t answer without putting all of you in danger.”
Britt could see her lips were still moving. But he couldn’t make out her words. All he could hear was his own heartbeat, fast and fierce and hungry.
Julia was staying. With him.
The sensation that bloomed to life inside his chest was the same one he would have felt had he won a prize.
