Huck looked over. “She’s not alone. We’re five minutes away.”
“She’s sixteen,” Laurel snapped, then softened her tone. “She thinks she’s part of the team. She is. But she shouldn’t be out there alone, playing undercover.”
Walter looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you going to tell Kate?”
Laurel winced. “I think I’m supposed to, right? Kate is my friend, and she runs our office. Viv is a smart and ambitious girl, but nobody goes undercover without a full backup in place. I’m hoping Viv will tell Kate.”
Then Walter straightened a little in his seat. “Subaru. Coming in from the south.”
Laurel leaned forward between the seats. A battered Subaru trundled past the burger joint at a steady speed—rear fender held by duct tape, one hubcap missing. Familiar. That was Viv’s boyfriend’s car. “That’s her.”
Walter pulled onto the road, moving up on the vehicle and flashing his lights. Viv looked in the rearview mirror and then waved. She drove another half mile before signaling and turning into the gravel lot of a rundown tire shop. Laurel let out a quiet breath as Walter eased the SUV forward and parked behind the Subaru, engine still running.
Huck’s voice was quiet. “Stay in the middle. Tso? Go get the keys from Nancy Drew there and follow us back to the office.”
Officer Tso stepped gracefully from the vehicle, shut the door, and walked to the Subaru. Laurel nodded, lips pressed together. She watched through the windshield as Viv stepped out of the Subaru, hoodie sleeves pushed up, messy bun lopsided, eyes bright. She wasn’t nervous. She looked excited like she had something to tell them.
Officer Tso didn’t need to say much and just held out his hand.
Viv placed the keys in his palm without hesitation. Laurel watched her closely. No attitude. No fear. Just energy and purpose showed on her face.
Tso nodded toward the SUV. Viv gave a small smile and jogged over, climbing into the front passenger seat and looking back at Laurel.
Laurel exhaled as relief filled her. The nearby trees swayed in the early evening breeze, skeletal pines casting long shadows across the gravel lot. A minivan rumbled past on the road, its side door held shut with bungee cords.
Laurel focused back on Viv. “What in the world were you thinking?”
Viv grinned, apparently a little breathless from the excitement of it all. “I’ve been working there for a few months, so me checking things out was easy.”
Laurel shook her head slowly. “Viv? There are protocols for going undercover. You broke all of them.”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Nobody would suspect me. All I did was nose around a little bit more than usual.”
Walter started the engine and pulled out into the street.
Huck leaned forward, his voice low and firm. “A sniper shot into those offices just the other day. You will not go back. Call them and say your schedule doesn’t allow for the internship and that you’re very sorry.”
Viv frowned. Most people folded when Huck used that voice. She didn’t, not quite, but her energy dipped. “I actually had fun today,” she said. “And I think I was helpful.”
Laurel watched her carefully. Viv looked so young all of a sudden, despite the sharp mind and fast mouth. Too young to be anywhere near this. Her stomach twisted. This was on her—Laurel was the one who’d encouraged her. Encouraged all three girls to follow their interests, really. Pushed Viv toward law enforcement and criminal justice. Toward this world.
Was that a mistake?
Laurel wasn’t accustomed to kids. Never had been one, not really. She’d skipped childhood by being so much younger than everyone else at school. But somewhere along the way, she’d gotten close to this one and her sisters. Close enough that the fear had a name now. It wasn’t just worry. It was responsibility.
And the worst part was, she wasn’t sure what the right move was anymore. “Does your mom know about your afternoon?” she asked, her voice gentling.
Viv paled.
“That’s what I thought,” Laurel said. “I appreciate your initiative, but it’s too dangerous. I’m sorry, Viv.”
The girl nodded, not happy, but not pushing back either. That helped. A little.
Laurel hesitated, trying to shift the weight off her chest. “However . . . did you find out anything interesting today?”
“Yes.” Viv hopped in her seat. “Seriously. Nobody pays attention to interns, so I kind of had free run of the place. The techs aren’t careful at all about the security panels. I just walked inside after a couple of them. Not the clean rooms, but the rest. It was awesome.”
Laurel shook her head. “Viv. Your mother was kidnapped in an earlier case, and it hit the news. You have the same last name. If anybody at the lab really takes a deep look at you, they’ll know your mom works for the FBI. You are not going back.”
