Apparently, Cassidy and Mike had gotten a big break in their case even though they still hadn’t caught the men who’d chased Wes through the streets and up onto the roof of the urgent care center. The terror I’d felt of almost not getting there in time to save Wes from a bullet to the brain, still threatened to stop my heart.
There must have been something in my expression because he rushed to reassure me. “Candy says the men couldn’t possibly know where I am now and he assured me I’m safe here, sweetheart.”
I searched his sweet gaze and then broke eye contact, pacing away from him as I stared down the dirty street, praying he was right. I needed this kind man in my life. Losing him now would break me. I had to keep him safe. I nearly jumped out of my skin and spun around when he placed a hand on my back.
“Sorry, love.” He took hold of my shoulders and stared into my eyes. “You’re so lost in thought. What is it? You don’t want to do this? We have to catch the serial killer.”
I swallowed hard, doing my level best to dislodge the lump there. “This is all my fault, Wes. I did this without askin’ ya. Ivolunteered ya for this shit. I don’t know what I was thinkin’ puttin’ yer safety at risk. Yer a civilian and yer right. The serial killer must be caught but not at the expense of yer safety. What if somethin’ happens? What if—?” His grip tightened as he searched my eyes intently.
“I’m not defenseless, Patsy. I know that you think I’m helpless because I’m a mathematician, but I’m not. And even if you hadn’t agreed I could help, I would’ve volunteered if I’d known what the FBI needed.” He let go of my shoulder and brought my chin around as I tried to look away. “Listen…I know you’ll protect me, Patsy. I trust you.”
I blew out a long breath, saying nothing as he pulled me into his arms. I hugged him hard, then remembering where we were, turned him loose. I smiled at him. “Okay. Let’s get this bullshit over with.”
He nodded, smiling slightly. “Okay. Should we call the detectives now?”
The door to the bus suddenly opened and Candy appeared in the doorway, mobile in hand. “Wes, Detective Ryan is on the phone.”
“Oh, okay.” Wes took the boss’ mobile. “Hello? Yes, Detective Ryan.” He paused as Cassidy spoke to him, keeping his eyes on me the entire time. He nodded before speaking again. “Sure. Patsy and I can meet you at two. Do you know where we—” He cut off his sentence and waited. “Okay, that’d be fine. I’ll have Captain Sorensen send a—oh…you do? Great. See you then.” He swiped the mobile and handed it back to Candy who waited patiently a few feet away. “The detectives want to pick us up at two. They said you already sent them our location.”
“Yes. I sent them a pin.”
Wes nodded and glanced over at me. “I guess we’re meeting the detectives at two.”
Candy looked at his watch. “That’s in about twenty minutes.”
I glanced at Wes. “Good. I’m starvin’ and I’m sure ya are too.”
He rubbed his belly. “I could eat.”
“Jesus, I should have brought you two sandwiches or something.” Candy looked apologetic as he shook his head.
“It’s no bother. We’ll have Cassidy and Mike take us to a restaurant in a neighborhood nearby,” I said, “’tis the least they can do if they’re bringin’ us bad news.”
“They didn’t say it was bad news, only that they had an update on the case involving the men who chased you.” Candy smiled at Wes. “Have a little faith in the detectives, Wes. They really are on your side. We all want them caught.”
Wes reached out and shook Candy’s hand. “You’re right. Thank you, Captain.”
I glanced at Wes. “We shouldn’t be standin’ out here in the open just in case anyone ID’d Candy as FBI this mornin’.”
Candy nodded. “I deliberately had Mars park the bus far enough away that there was little chance of being seen by anyone from the camp. Especially with so much police activity going on around there, though, I agree, Patsy. The less face-to-face contact you two have with any of us, the better. By the way, I’ll have a few more guys from the team pitch a tent in the camp tonight. They’ll be nearby, just in case the killer comes looking for you.”
I managed to give him a forced smile. “Thanks, Candy.” We watched him turn and climb back into the bus before we walked a block away and sat ourselves down at a bus stop. Thank thesaints Wes was safely by my side. Ten minutes later, my mobile dinged with an incoming message from Cassidy Ryan. I sent him a pin and they pulled up in a Prius a few minutes later.
“How does lunch sound or did you eat?” Mike asked as he pulled out into traffic.
“We’re starvin’,” I said.
Cassidy smiled. “Good. So are we. How do you feel about barbeque?”
I glanced at Wes, and he nodded. “Barbeque sounds great. Thank you,” he said.
Cassidy gave Mike directions to a place in Inglewood, not far from where we were and he made a U-turn to head in the right direction.
“We should probably bring ya up to speed with why we’re in this neighborhood,” I said, catching Mike’s gaze as he glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
“Candy already filled us in on the serial killer case,” he said. “Anything to report from last night?”
Wes and I exchanged a glance and then looked back at them. “Ya wouldn’t believe it if I told ya.”
