“I thought their operation had slowed down. What do you think is in there?” I whispered.
Bray shook his head. “Hard to say.”
She carried it up the driveway to where Melanie stood at her SUV’s open back. She slung it into the back of the SUV alongside another duffel bag already sitting there.
“Money?” I hazarded a guess. “Black market binkies?”
Bray shot me a look.
I playfully grimaced.
“Whatever it is, we need to find out,” he said. “Maybe they are into other things to compensate for their slow business.”
“And to pay back their pissed-off supplier,” I added.
We watched as on-screen Melanie shut the SUV’s back hatch. She then pecked Sandra and Jana each on the cheek before they parted ways. Melanie’s garage door slid closed, sealing off the light and view of her with it. The other two made their way back to Jana’s car where they climbed in and drove off screen. We continued watching Melanie’s house. Not a single light flicked on, as if she was used to prowling around in the middle of the night.
“Do you think you can get into their garage tomorrow?” Bray asked.
I considered. Though we’d popped in there to gather the wagon to head to the park that day, the garage hadn’t been part of the tour, and maybe for a reason. Maybe the incriminating evidence wasn’t only stashed in Melanie’s office like I had thought. Maybe she kept it locked up in her car too.
“I can probably come up with an excuse,” I offered. “If nothing else, I can pretend I got lost in that house looking for something.”
He nodded in approval.
“I still can’t believe you’re going to make me go to work tomorrow when there’s a hitman out there looking for me.”
“I promise you the Brownings’ house is the safest place you can be right now,” he defended.
“You say this after we literally just witnessed Melanie Browning engage in criminal activity.”
“If that were the case, I’d cross the street and arrest her right now. We need more evidence still.”
I growled at him, and he had the gall to smile. “You are unbelievable.”
His eyes softened and he gave me a steady look. “Erin, I’m doing everything I can to keep you safe, okay?”
The sound of my name on his lips called me back to my dream. To when he’d whispered it in my ear as he’d touched me in a way I hadn’t been touched in far too long.
I was suddenly too hot and bothered to be sitting in the dark and whispering secrets with our bodies pressed together. I wanted too much more.
“I’m going to go back to bed,” I announced and pushed myself to stand.
He looked up at me with a pang of regret, as if he wanted me to stay up with him all night. “Okay. I’ll stay out here and watch for anything else.” He nodded at his tablet.
“Good night, Agent Bray,” I said and headed for my room.
“Good night, Erin.”
The sound of my name followed me like a lonely shadow full of longing.
CHAPTER17
Ifound my house empty the next morning and the SUV patrol car back in its position. Bray had neatly folded the blanket on the couch and left before I woke. He’d left a note on the dining table.
Nothing new to report overnight. Good luck today!?
That damn smiley face again.
