Janie nodded, her almond eyes sliding back over to Emmett’s. “He knew he was running out of time.”
“You mentioned the man said something to you before he left?”
The detective’s question had her breaking eye contact to look that way. “He said the next time I see him I won’t be so lucky.”
Son of a?—
Emmett ran a frustrated hand over the scruff on his jaw to keep from spewing out the run of curse words filling his head. That was it. Everything they needed to prove Janie had become a target.
But whose?
“Okay, Miss Reynolds.” The other man put his tiny notebook away. “I think I have everything I need for now. I suggest you stay somewhere else tonight. Preferably, not alone.”
“She won’t be alone.”
Not until they found the man responsible for nearly taking her life.
Janie shifted her stance to face him more fully. “I won’t be?”
Emmett gave no specifics but simply slid his head from side to side.
“Good.” Boone seemingly agreed. He scanned the room and stated with confidence, “Looks like my techs are about finished processing the scene.” To Janie, he said, “If you’re feeling up to it, Officer Harlowe is waiting to take your official statement. It’ll keep you from having to make an unnecessary trip down to the station later on.”
“I’d definitely rather get that over with now.” She removed the ice pack from her beautiful, weary face.
With a stolen glance Emmett’s way, Janie left to sit at the small kitchen table at the other side of the room.
“Now that she’s out of earshot…” Boone kept his voice so low only Emmett could hear. “You want to tell me why you and your team arereallyhere?”
The unexpected comment left Emmett blinking. “I’m sorry?” He faced Boone head-on, casually sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
A smirk lifted one corner of the other man’s mouth. “Cut the crap, Shaw. I know who you are. I also knowwho they are.” He motioned to the four Echo members waiting quietly in the wings.
“Then I guess you have us at a disadvantage, Detective.”
They locked eyes before Boone looked away with a humor-filled huff.
“Talia Foster.” At first, that was all the man said. But then, “She told me you wouldn’t be an easy nut to crack. Looks like she was right.”
Talia?
“You know Agent Foster?”
“Former agent,” the man corrected him. “And yeah. My unit assisted with one of her Homeland cases when she first got to the city. I must admit, I was more than a little surprised to hear that she’d resigned. Almost as surprised as hearing she’d moved to Chicago and married one of your fellow R.I.S.C. operatives.”
Emmett assessed the man’s unwavering gaze, making a mental note to have Blake vet this guy the first chance he got. “Janie’s a client,” he revealed.
“Why’d she hire your team?”
His lips formed a shallow smile. “That information is confidential. I’m sure you understand.”
“Can you at least tell me whether what happened here is connected to her reason for seeking the services of your team?”
“I honestly have no idea.”
Did he believe Janie’s assault was related to her investigation into Amy Weaver’s disappearance? Damn straight, he did. But knowing and proving were two separate things.
“You don’t trust me yet.” Boone rested his hands on his hips and sighed. “I get it.”
