Page 22 of Two Favors Repaid

Two minutes later, Emma was back in the room, this time dressed in a pair of black leggings and a bright blue sweatshirt. She sat down on an armchair, facing the agent.

Rob chose to stand, still facing the door. He typed a quick message to Susan. Hopefully she’d be able to track down a locksmith to fix that door fast. Not that he regretted his actions in the least.

“We just found out Ford has a partner,” Lorraine said smoothly.

Not one to sugarcoat things.

“In prison?” Emma asked, her eyes filling with fear. Emma was smart. She knew Lorraine wouldn’t be here if this was something they could have talked over the phone.

“No, this person is outside. But they’ve been communicating, and we have every reason to believe he might now know about you.”

“You think I’m in danger?”

“We don’t know, but Ford’s clearly an obsessive character. We can’t take the chance.”

“We certainly can’t take the chance,” Rob said, folding his arms in front of his chest.

Emma stood up and paced the living room floor. She seemed a hairsbreadth away from freaking out. “So what do you want me to do?”

Rob moved one step closer to her. He wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her, tell her that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. That nothing would happen to her while he lived and breathed. But he waited for Lorraine to speak and tell Emma of the choices they’d discussed on the way here.

“I think you should come back to the city with me and my partner. We’ll get a protective detail on you there. At least for the next weeks.”

“Weeks!” Emma screeched. “No. This is my home. I want to stay here. You can’t make me go anywhere.”

Lorraine looked up at Rob, weighing her words carefully. “You’re right, Emma. We can’t make you go anywhere. But we want you to be safe. We have every reason to believe this man may have helped Ford with his last couple murders. He may know who you are and where you live.”

“I don’t want to leave Sharp’s Cove,” Emma said, her eyes filling with tears. She angrily wiped them away. “I’m not crying. I’m just frustrated,” she hissed.

“It’s okay to be upset, Emma,” Lorraine said. “You’ll be safe with us in the city.”

“But the city is full of people,” Emma said.

“So’s Sharp’s Cove. It’s summer. There are tourists and strangers everywhere. You’ll be safer with us.”

Emma approached the window. Rob was about to tell her to move back, but he didn’t want to scare her further. Instead, he walked closer to her and peered out from behind her at the deserted street.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Emma spoke, her voice soft but decided.

“I’m not leaving Sharp’s Cove. Ford’s not getting anything else from me. You can protect me here, can’t you?” she asked, looking up at Rob, her blue eyes imploring.

He swallowed hard.

Lorraine cleared her throat. “I can’t force you to come with us, Emma. We don’t even know if you’re actually in any danger. If Chief Deputy Hope agrees, you’re free to stay here with him, of course.”

The agent looked at Rob. He nodded, hyperaware of the responsibility he was taking on.

“I’ll stay with Emma. We’ll call you if anything happens.”

“I hope I won’t hear from either of you anytime soon, then,” Lorraine said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get Agent Ramsay to pick me up and we’ll be on our way. If you’ll walk me to the door, Rob?”

As soon as they were out of Emma’s hearing, Lorraine’s voice lost her softness. “I don’t think she realizes how much danger she could be in, Rob.”

“I won’t let her out of my sight.”

“You’ll have to sleep sometime,” the FBI agent said reasonably.

“Let me worry about that. You focus on getting more information about this man. Do whatever you have to do to find out who he is. Emma and Natalie won’t be safe until we know.”