Dana appeared out of a bedroom, discarded bedding bags in her hands. “Oh. Hello.” She smiled as her gaze caught on Trudy, who was still snuggled against Jethro’s throat but turned her head tostare at Dana.
“Hi,” Trudy said.
Gemma emerged behind them with a box inher hand. “Hi.”
Jethro introduced them.
Dana nodded. “We managed to get beds for the three bedrooms as well as bedding. I figure one of the bedrooms is supposed to be an office, but we made it Trudy’s bedroom for now.”
Gemma looked around. “Three bedrooms?”
Angus and Nari brought in the remainder of the boxes.
“Thanks, Dana,” Jethro said.
“Sure.” She nodded at Nari. “I’ll seeyou tomorrow?”
Angus shook his head. “Hop in the truck, Dana. I know you only live across the cul-de-sac, but this storm is brutal, and Wolfe is at least fifteen minutes behind us. We’ll drop you at your front door.” He cut a look at Jethro. “How about we meet at my place in thirty?”
Jethro nodded.
Nari patted his arm before following Angus and Dana back into the garage.
Jethro looked down at the little girl. “How about we check out your new room?” He carried her down the hallway, where he spotted a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, and a smaller room with an adorable Cinderella-themed bed, complete with gauzy drapes.
Trudy gasped and struggled to get down. He let her and she ran toward the bed, leaping onto it.
Gemma sagged against the doorframe, herface too pale.
“Bad migraine?” Jethro asked.
She nodded, looking as if it hurt to move.
“Okay.” He took her hand and drew her toward the master bedroom. “You’re in here. I’ll take theguest bedroom.”
She blinked. “You shouldn’t stayin the house.”
He didn’t have time to argue with her. “How about I stay here tonight and we talk tomorrow when I have a plan for Fletcher and you’re feeling better?”
She looked toward her daughter’s room. “That’s fair.” In the soft light she looked delicateand breakable.
“Who are you running from, Gemma?” he asked. They’d come too far not to be honest with each other. He’d told her he worked for MI6, forgoodness’ sake.
She pulled away. “Nobody. I just like my privacy.”
So much for trust. “I’ll be just a couple of houses away and should return in a couple of hours. Call me if you need me.” Without waiting for an answer, he strode out the front door and let the cold take away his anger as it shut behind him. Grasping his phone before he stepped off the front porch into the blistering wind, hecalled Brigid.
“Hey. What’s up?” she answered.
“I need you to do a deep dive on Gemma Falls right now,” he said without preamble.
Brigid was quiet for a moment. “How deep?”
“Light her up,” he said, stridinginto the night.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jethro kicked off his boots and jacket at the entryway to Angus and Nari’s new home. Smooth lines and modern angles formed the exterior of the house, while comfort and elegance reigned inside. The place had definitely been designed by Nari, but touches of Angus and his love for the outdoors were everywhere. A couple of antique fly-fishing poles were crossed above a bookshelf near the window.
