“He’s at my apartment, pacing and confused,” Nari said, reaching into the back for a fast-food bag. “Figured you’d be hungry. For now, how strong is the case against you? All Agent Fields would tell me was that you might be arrested and I could go to prison as an accomplice after the fact for providing a false alibi, although it isn’t false.”
Angus rested his head back and his shoulders lowered as he obviously took a moment to try to relax. “Honestly? I wasn’t arrested because they’re still trying to build a case, and they don’t want me to hire a lawyer. All of the evidence is circumstantial, but it isn’t bad as a case. A good prosecutor might be able to make it stick. If they find an ounce of physical evidence, I’m probably screwed.” He groaned. “Plus, it’s a race right now to see who gets to me first—the HDD or Metro. They both want to arrest me and will the second they have enough evidence.”
Nari drove up the interstate. “Do you think the killer intended this consequence? Or is it just that he’s after you, after us, and this is a result of the HDD and now Metro both being pissed at you?” At all of them, actually.
“Dunno.” Angus bit into a burger, his shoulders too wide for the seat of the compact. “How much trouble are you going to get into for being with me?”
“None.” She switched lanes and sped up. Oh, she was probably going to get fired. But for now, they had a serial killer watching them, a bomber/shooter trying to take out Angus and maybe her, and she couldn’t think how leaving Angus to fight all this alone would help anything. “Brigid acquired new phones for us and they’re in the back seat. We had lunch together while waiting for word on whether or not you were arrested.” Thank goodness he hadn’t been. Yet.
He glanced into the back seat. “Already programmed?”
“Yeah. Numbers, contacts, everything. She’s good at what she does.” Nari drove faster and headed for the exit to her apartment.
Angus reached for another burger in the bag. “Did you two have protection?”
“Yeah. There’s an HDD detail on her. I refused one, considering I planned to help you.” Nari tried for a light tone but definitely failed. No doubt Quan or Opal would find out, and she’d be in for a lecture, a transfer, or termination. Right now, she couldn’t worry about it. “If there’s another body tonight, will Tate call you?” A new victim had appeared every night, and the idea of another dead young woman made Nari want to throw up.
Angus crumpled up the wrappers and shoved them in the bag. “Considering Tate almost arrested me, I doubt he’s willing to share any more information.”
Nari rolled her eyes and pressed down her window to punch in the gate key. “How nice it was for HDD and Metro to work together to bring you down. So much for jurisdictional rivalry.”
“Oh, they’re not working together. It’s a fight to the finish,” Angus muttered. Anger rode his tone, but he kept it low. “HDD knows me better, so if I had anything to give up, I would’ve probably done it with them. Then the case is Metro’s, so Tate had to be the one to finish the questioning and make the decision on arrest or not. For now. HDD is the one with warrants to search. Did they go through your place?”
“Yeah and they made a mess.” She frowned. “You’d think I’d get some professional courtesy.” She drove forward and parked near her apartment.
Angus stilled. “Does Roscoe have food?”
“Of course. I bought him food earlier while working on your situation.” She slid from the car, anxious to be inside rather than out in the open. Too many people had tried to hurt her lately.
“Good.” Angus followed her, a solid form in an uncertain world, instantly changing the feeling of her entire apartment when he walked inside. The cool, calm lines now held a certain tension.
Rosco jumped off the white sofa and came right for Angus with a welcoming bark. Angus caught him in a hug and set him down, vigorously rubbing his fur from head to tail. “I’m okay, boy. There’s nothing to worry about.” His voice gentled as he reassured his dog.
The moment slammed right into Nari’s heart. Angus could be so sweet sometimes.
Then he looked up, his green gaze clear and still sharp with anger. “We need to come up with a good plan for you.”
She paused. “Huh?”
He looked at the sofa, which held a Roscoe-size imprint. “We’ll stay here tonight, but then you need to leave. Go somewhere safe. I think I can talk Wolfe and Dana into going with you. He’s all in on this case, but she’s pregnant, and he’ll choose her safety every time.”
“I’m not leaving.” Nari tossed her keys on the entryway table, which was once more in place.
“Yes, you are.” His jaw firmed and he looked like an impenetrable stone wall in the center of a peaceful home. “You have to be safe until I catch this guy or guys, and leaving is the best option. You’re a target on two fronts, and neither of us can ignore that. Also, every second you spend with me jeopardizes your entire career, and that can’t happen.” He released his hold on the dog’s head. “I’m not asking, Nari. You are leaving.”
Her mouth gaped open. “You can’t make me,” she blurted out. Great. Five minutes with the guy and she resorted to grade-school jargon.
He didn’t retreat. “I can and I will make you.”
Her head jerked in surprise. “The hell you can. Last guy who tried to manhandle me got punched in the junk. You want to go?”
“Sure.” He lifted a shoulder. “However,thisguy knows what you can do and is prepared for you. Also, I’ve trained with the best, have about a hundred pounds on you, and am pissed off enough to run through a wall. Feel free to kick me, princess.”
A knock on the door prevented her from responding.
She leaned to look through the keyhole and saw Vaughn Ealy on her front porch. Could this night get any worse?
* * *
