“Takes a real lowlife to threaten a woman and sick kid.” Dev’s tone vibrated with anger. “I’m in. What do you want me to do?”
Reid explained his need for someone to go to the bar in case Fowler showed his face there. “I know you’re off, and I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Colin will watch Fowler’s motel. Russ is helping me here with protection, and I’ll be calling Micha in too. Ryan is home with the new baby, but I know he’ll still spell Colin.”
“So I’m last choice, huh?”
“I didn’t want to have to call you at all. Not after the grueling training schedule you had last week.”
“I’m just messing with you.” He laughed. “I’m glad to go so Ryan can spend more time at home with the little fella. I was starting to go a little stir-crazy anyway. Too much time hanging with a brother like Colin can do that to you.”
“Hey,” Colin yelled in the background. “Goes both ways.”
Dev laughed. “Do you have a picture of this guy?”
“I’ll text it to you. It’s from the bank robbery years ago. Still Megan recognized him so he must look basically the same.”
“Roger that. I’ll start at the location closest to the hospital. If they don’t show there, I’ll move on.”
“Thanks. Keep me updated.” Reid shoved his phone into his pocket and returned to Megan and Russ.
She crossed her arms. Had she picked up on his mood? Probably. He would tell her Colin and Dev were onboard, but he didn’t intend to tell her about his conversation with Jack yet. Didn’t want her to stress over not having anyone watching out for her and Ella.
First, Reid needed to create a plan to keep her and Ella safe. To make sure Fowler didn’t retaliate by hurting either one of them. A crime a man who allegedly killed his own friend was most definitely capable of committing.
5
All these years later, and now Megan rode with Reid on their way to retrieve Boo-Boo bear. Unbelievable. But here she was. Seated in the buttery softness of the leather seats in his SUV. She stroked Bandit’s soft fur and took in the vehicle that was so neat even the rubber floor mats gleamed. That was so very much Reid. Neat. Tidy. Organized. To the extreme.
Would Jessie be that way too? A sweet girl and so dedicated to bringing her therapy dog to sick kids. She’d remained at the hospital with Russ and Ella, but Bandit couldn’t stay there without Reid. Megan hadn’t expected to hold Bandit for the drive, but the little sweetie curled in a circle on her lap, and his warm body brought her a sense of comfort and peace.
Or maybe it was the man who’d once given her so much strength, sitting tall and strong behind the steering wheel. Sure, he’d brought her equal parts pain, but today she had nothing left to fight him with and simply wanted to feel safe.
She shifted to watch the steady drizzle and familiar sights of the urban streets pass by. Large holiday wreaths with bright red bows hung from doors and garland circled lampposts. They should cheer her, but not with Ella in the hospital and Fowler hot on their heels. She couldn’t begin to think about Christmas, much less find the joy of the season. Not that she was succeeding with that even before Fowler appeared—what with Ella’s ongoing illness. But Megan would make sure the day was as special as possible for her daughter like she’d insured happened for the past three years.
They turned a corner, revealing the gas station where Fowler had sprung out of nowhere. A lump formed in her throat, cutting off her air. She breathed hard and pointed out the window. “That’s where I saw Fowler.”
“I’ve asked Jack to find out the name of the station attendant that Fowler talked to. He’ll keep after it until he has it.” Reid didn’t face her as he spoke. Not even a quick glance. He’d said little since they’d left the hospital, as if distracted and wishing he were anywhere else but with her.
“Sounds like you respect him,” she said, hoping to get him talking and lighten the tension between them.
“I’d trust him with my life.” He’d said his life, but Megan could read between the lines. Reid would trust Jack to keep her and Ella safe too. And shewasfeeling less threatened at the moment. With Reid by her side. At least for her physical well-being. Her emotional health? Not so much.
She shouldn’t look at him. Had tried not to, but he concentrated on negotiating the thick city traffic, and she snuck another quick peek.
His profile was all hard angles, as if chiseled from granite. The perfect profile for an FBI agent, tough and invincible. His dark chocolate-colored hair was short on the sides and back, but longer on top and sleekly held in place. He was still all hard muscle with broad shoulders to carry heavy problems.
He’d always worked out, and she wasn’t surprised he remained fit. What she hadn’t expected was to find him volunteering at a children’s hospital. And leave the FBI? She’d thought he’d die before doing that, but surprise, surprise, he’d also retired from the Bureau.
Now he was taking her to get Boo-Boo. A sweet gesture from a hard-as-nails man.
But why? Could he have ulterior motives, as when he’d dumped her to move ahead in the FBI?
Did it even matter? She wouldn’t tell him to take her back to the hospital anyway. Not when Ella counted on Megan to get her beloved bear. Still, Megan had to know why he was helping her. At least then she could erase the idea of him being one of the good guys now. A crazy idea that was doing a good job at trying to replace her anger toward him.
She swiveled to face him, and Bandit stirred to change positions. “Can I ask you a question?”
He cast her a wary gaze. “I guess.”
Okay, so hewouldlook at her after all. Good to know. “Why are you doing this?”
