“Guys?” said Kershaw throwing up his hands.
“Chaudry has one brown eye and one blue,” I stated. I can’t believe we missed it but I wasn’t going to admit that to Kershaw.
“Shit,” said Kershaw.
“Yep.”
“We need to talk to the FBI and Wes Chaudry,” Mike said. “There’s a target on his back and we can’t keep this from them. They need to know.”
I nodded and stood. “This has been very eye-opening—excuse the pun—Kershaw.” I reached across the desk and held out my hand. “Thank you so much. You’ve been great.”
“So have you. If you hadn’t made the time to investigate Chaudry to begin with, I wouldn’t have been able to fit all thepieces together. I need to meet with Marigold Bishop and her mother. Do you think you could arrange that for me?”
I nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
“Thanks.” Kershaw smiled, shaking Mike’s hand as well.
We walked out of his office knowing that two cases had been solved. Now, all we had to do was warn Chaudry that there was a target on his back and catch the three guys looking for him. I sighed. Patsy Good wasn’t going to take this lying down.
Chapter Sixteen
PATSY
I drove home, dreading the conversation I knew I had to have with Wes. “Why did I volunteer him for such a fuckin’ risky assignment without even talkin’ to him about it first? It’s too bloody dangerous!” I pounded on the steering wheel. Then glanced to my left as I idled at a red light and saw the startled expression on the driver’s face in the next lane. He snapped his eyes back to his windscreen, probably thinking he’d just witnessed a nutso madman with road rage. “Feck me.” I shoved the Beetle into first gear as the light changed. And hit speed dial on my mobile, using the Bluetooth as the phone rang.
“Hello?” Wes picked up on the third ring.
“Hello, luv,” I said, unable to keep the smile off my face as I pictured the big, beautiful bear who occupied all my thoughts these days. “Are ya at home?”
“Yes, I’m here, Patsy. Where are you? It sounds like you’re driving.”
“I’m on my way home. I have somethin’ important to talk to ya about. Please stay there, yeah?”
“O-of course.” He stammered but it was the worry I heard in his voice that made me pause. “Is everything okay?”
I blew out a long breath. “Everything’s good as gold, Wes. It’s just important that you’ll be there when I get home.”
“I’ll be here. I was just sitting here reading,” he said, sounding a little more relieved. “Honestly, I can’t wait until my job starts. I hate feeling unproductive.”
I smiled to myself, feeling so much affection for the quiet, sweet man who’d never hurt a fly. “You’ll be back to work in no time, mo mhuirnín.”
“I like it when you call me that, Patsy.” I could hear the warmth in his words. I was pretty sure I could listen to him reading the phone book and I’d find it riveting. Wes’ voice soothed me like nothing ever had. He took away my anxiety and helped center me. I hadn’t been kidding when I’d told him I liked how much taller and broader than me he was. When he wrapped his big arms around me, I felt sexier than I’d ever felt in my life. I slowed down for my street, pulling into the right lane to turn.
“Listen, I just got home, Wes. Let me park and I’ll be right up.”
“See you then, Patsy.”
I found a place to park, heading into my building a minute later. When I unlocked the front door, Wes was waiting for me wearing a pair of sweats, and a long-sleeved tee, with a worried look in his different colored eyes. Every time I stared into them, I marveled at how lucky I was. The very idea that I could’ve lost him in Raj and Rami’s shop the night they’d been robbed, haunted me. And now, more than anyone, I knew the danger I could be putting him in by asking for his help involving a heartless psychopath.
As soon as I shut the front door, Wes pulled me into his arms. The kiss that followed was warm and sweet, and all I could think was how badly I wanted to take him by the hand and drag him back to my bedroom where I could keep him safe. When he finally broke the kiss and leaned back so he could see my face, heheld me around the waist to keep me close while he searched my expression.
“What is it? Did the detectives find out something about the men who tried to kill me?”
I swallowed down the bitter taste in my mouth left from a hell of a lot of guilt. The truth was, ever since last night when we’d been in bed together, I hadn’t given more than a passing thought to what my dear, sweet man had gone through and how that mystery was still unsolved. I shook my head and reached up to cup the side of his face, loving the feel of his beard’s soft whiskers. “No, luv. I didn’t hear from Cassidy or Mike today. This is something totally different.” I reached down and took his hand. “Come on and sit down with me. I have somethin’ important to ask ya.”
“Okay.” He dropped his hands and let me lead him over to the couch. I stayed close to him, taking his hand as soon as we sat down. “What’s happening, Patsy?” He reached up and brushed a lock of hair off my forehead. “You look worried.”
I smiled at him, lifting our clasped hands and kissing his palm. “I’m a wee bit worried, but like I said, it has nothin’ to do with those men.”
