“Where?”
“Lots of places around Raleigh. He’d changed his appearanceand was staying at some hourly hotel. BOLOs are out, and all the local cops are looking. Faith has called some CIs, and they’re looking too.”
“What else?” Jacob asked.
“No details, but Faith says Sabrina found something big. She’s organizing her thoughts and will want to share it with us when we get there. Maybe a video chat or something. Who knows?”
Jacob didn’t look up from his phone as he spoke. “We’ll have the car drop us at the office and then take Zane back to the hote—”
“No way.” Zane leaned forward in his seat. “I’m going with you. I can get an Uber later. If there’s any chance this is the guy who used me for target practice, I want to look into his eyes.”
Luke didn’t blame Zane, and he wouldn’t mind having his buddy with him. Gil would have a duck when he learned he’d been left out of the loop, but it was for the best.
They arrived at their office ten minutes later.
“’Bout time,” Gil spoke from Marty’s desk as Tessa perched on the edge of it. “You didn’t really think I was going to the hotel, did you?”
Luke didn’t have time to argue with him. “Where’s Faith?”
“Already in the conference room. She’s on the phone with somebody at the FBI. She knows we’re here.” Gil smirked at him. “But thanks for being worried about me. You know, being in the office when I’m supposed to be taking it easy and all. Tessa here said you’d be upset, but I see how things stand.”
Luke didn’t respond as he hurried down the hall, drawing up short a few paces from the conference room. He needed to prepare himself. He was a professional. Faith was a professional.
Faith stepped into the hallway, head down, phone in hand, and ran straight into Luke. His arms reflexively wrapped around her as he steadied her, and for a moment she was pressed against hischest. When she looked up, her face inches from his, the desire to kiss her overwhelmed him.
So much for being a professional.
But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. She would have to make that move.
But she didn’t. She took a half step back and he dropped his arms. Her expression was tight as she crossed her arms and whispered, “I don’t like this, Luke.”
He almost apologized but stopped himself. This wasn’t about them or about him touching her. This was about the case. “What is it?”
“I don’t know.” There was a hint of despair in her words. “The pieces of the puzzle, they’re here in front of me and I can’t figure it out.”
They were standing close, heads bowed and almost touching. He placed his hands on her elbows and squeezed. “You don’t have to figure it out alone, Faith. Let’s hear what Sabrina has to say, and then let’s work it together. We’ll figure it out.”
Luke released her, but her arm traced his as he pulled away and her hand found his. “Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re not dead.”
There was barely a hint of forgiveness, but her words carried the hope of it. “Me too.” He squeezed her hand, and the small smile she gave him as she reentered the room filled him with warmth.
Maybe she would forgive him. Maybe they could talk it out like adults, and their fathers’ choices wouldn’t dictate their future.
Luke turned around and looked straight into the eyes of a very appreciative audience. Zane leaned against one wall, Gil the other. Tessa stood in the middle. Was she wiping her eyes? Jacob stoodback from all of them, phone in hand, not paying attention to the drama that had riveted the others.
As Luke approached, Zane, Gil, and Tessa gave him a round of silent applause. He ignored them. “Conference room. Everyone. Now.”
They followed him, Jacob bringing up the rear. Faith was on the phone, standing in the far corner of the room as they all found seats.
“Did you make up?” Tessa whispered.
“I don’t know, Tess. Women are complicated. I’m working on it.”
“From where I was standing, it looked like you’d made short work of it.” Gil leaned forward in the chair, rubbing a hand across his head. He shouldn’t be here. Once Faith got them all on the same page, Luke would try to get him to the hotel. Ugh. They needed life to go back to whatever kind of normal they could piece together after this never-ending week.
