Zach gazed down at the toe of his worn sneaker. Britt was really pretty and suddenly it was Zach who was shy. “I gotta find a swimsuit out in the cabana.”
“Okay, we can do that.”
“Zach wants to see the house,” Linc said. “Mrs. Delinski, my housekeeper, is expecting you. She can show you around before you go out to the pool.”
“Perfect,” Britt said, and Zach beamed.
And they would be safe. Frank Marino would be at the house, keeping an eye out for trouble, along with the guards at the gate and the armed men patrolling the property. If Ray Archer showed up, he would find himself on his way back to jail.
“You ready, Zach?” Brittany asked.
Zach’s gaze shot to the big stone mansion. He was up on the balls of his feet, practically jumping up and down. “I’m ready. Let’s go!” The boy dashed toward the front door, so excited he forgot all about their leaving.
Carly could only imagine the expression on the ten-year-old’s face when he got a look at the sweeping double staircases and massive crystal chandelier.
“I haven’t gone swimming in ages,” she said wistfully. “It really sounds like fun.”
“Yes, it does.” His gaze swept over the dark blue skinny jeans, navy blazer, and white lace blouse she was wearing for her meeting with the FBI. As if she wore only a skimpy bikini, the gold in his eyes gleamed. “We’ll take a nice private swim the first chance we get.”
A private swim?Carly’s stomach floated up. The image of Linc in a swimsuit made her pulse race. “Okay,” she said a little breathlessly.
From the ranch, the chopper made a stop at the truck yard so Carly could get Rowena settled in for her first day. She told Row about Zach showing up just as she’d left yesterday, about his dad being responsible for the vandalism at Joe’s house, and warned there was a possibility Ray Archer might show up at the yard.
“He’s a wanted man, Row,” Linc said. “Don’t take any chances.”
“You can bet I won’t. I’ve handled my share of crazies out at the roadhouse. I’ll be okay.”
“There are always truckers around,” Carly said. “Tell the men to keep an eye out for him.”
“Okay, I will.”
Carly waved good-bye to Row and they left the office. She didn’t mention the FBI or the latest threat from El Jefe. There was only so much a normal person could take.
* * *
At eleven in the morning, before the lunch crowd started to arrive, the Tex-Mex Café wasn’t too busy. Linc escorted Carly inside and guided her between the tables to one of the booths at the rear where FBI Agent Quinn Taggart sat bent over his iPad.
Taggart glanced up as Linc approached, didn’t quite mask his surprise that thefriendLinc had mentioned was a woman.
“Have a seat,” Quinn said, but didn’t stand up. The less attention they drew the better.
“Special Agent Quinn Taggart, meet Carly Drake,” Linc said as they sat down. “She owns Drake Trucking—that’s the company with the problem we discussed.”
Assessing hazel eyes swung toward Carly and lit with interest. Linc had met Taggart a few years back when Quinn had been investigating a string of murders in the Dallas area, one of which involved a female employee at Tex/Am Transport.
Linc liked the way Taggart had handled the investigation and Quinn had appreciated the access Linc had given him to company records. The FBI man was smart and capable and more than passably attractive. Fortunately he was happily married with a couple of kids.
“Linc and I discussed your situation in a very general way,” Quinn said to Carly, “but we didn’t talk specifics. I’m glad you decided to come forward.”
“I’m hoping you can help me, Agent Taggart.”
Linc cast her a glance. Carly still didn’t understand that they were inthis together. The way Taggart was looking the two of them over, Linc had a feeling Quinn understood exactly what was going on.
A gray-haired waitress arrived to refill Quinn’s coffee cup. “You having lunch or breakfast?” the broad-hipped woman asked Linc.
“Just coffee.” He turned over the heavy china mug in front of him and Carly did the same. The older woman filled both cups and sauntered away, bringing them back to the conversation.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning?” Taggart suggested. “Then we’ll go forward from there.”
