“Yes, I do,” he said cautiously. “But why can’t he just tell you?”
“I don’t know. He’s your CI,” Spares snapped. “Can you bring the cop here?”
“To the safe house?”
Excitement and anticipation flaring through her, Maren nodded vigorously to encourage Colt to say yes.
“I’ll see if I can find her. You’ll need to text me the address. And then we’ll have to arrange for a new location for Steve.”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Spares said. “I’ll send the info. Just park at the curb and come to the front door.” Spares hung up.
“What do you think Steve remembered? And why will he only tell me?” Maren’s breath hitched. “It has to be something about Opal. Maybe he thought of where she might hide.”
She opened her door. Thankfully, she’d brought a change of clothes consisting of a COK9 Unit shirt, dark pants and tennis shoes in case they were called to one of the cases they were working. She didn’t think arriving in a dress would be appropriate. Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought a Kevlar vest with her. She prayed it wouldn’t be needed. “I’ll grab Haven, change clothes, and meet you at the SUV after you change and get Rusk.”
* * *
Colt pulled to the curb outside of the nondescript house located in Boulder, Colorado.
There were no signs of life outside the house or through the curtained windows. But Colt checked the address again, verifying this was the safe house address that Agent Henry Spares had given him.
Uneasiness had been dogging him every mile he and Maren had traveled closer to where Steve Loren was being held in protective custody.
He glanced at Maren in the passenger seat. Her honey brown hair was pulled back. Like yesterday, she’d applied a little gloss on her lips before church. But she didn’t need any enhancements. She was beautiful inside and out.
The more he came to know her, the more he respected and admired her. And he worried for her safety. He couldn’t bear the thought of her coming to harm. Was he falling for her? That kiss last night had rocked his world.
There was no denying he found her physically attractive. He also found her to be a woman of substance, integrity and compassion. A woman worth taking a risk on.
But how did he trust his judgment? When he’d started a relationship with Rebecca, he would’ve never guessed she was hiding such a devious side. He didn’t believe that Maren had a deceptive side. But only God knew what lurked in the hearts of people.
He felt Maren’s stare and glanced at her. Sure enough, she was looking at him as if she knew he was thinking about her. “I don’t like this. Why would Steve need to speak with you?”
“The guy’s a drug addict. Why does he do anything?” She popped open her door and stepped out. She’d changed into a pair of black, lightweight cargo pants and a COK9 Unit T-shirt. She looked lethal, all business and yet undeniably appealing. Like she had last night. He wasn’t sure if he’d initiated that kiss or she had, but when she’d slid her arms around him, he’d thrown caution to the wind and fully embraced the moment. Every barricade he’d ever erected around himself had crashed to the ground, leaving his heart exposed. Yet, he didn’t feel vulnerable. Instead, he felt invigorated. As if he’d had a reawakening. For too long, his heart had been dark. Rebecca’s betrayal had left him cold and afraid. But now…
He wasn’t sure what to think. Or feel.
There were too many variables and too much at stake for him to delve into the emotions stirred by Maren.
He hoped she didn’t have any regrets. The best thing would be to stay professional and get the job done. He reached for the door handle and got out.
“If whatever he has to say will lead me to my sister and you to Shadow, then we have to go,” she said, rounding the vehicle.
They had been rehashing the same argument for the last two hours. Trying to view this from every angle. Why hadn’t Steve just told Agent Spares what he wanted Maren to know? Why bring her all the way here? Was Steve working for Shadow? Was this a trap?
A steely resolve settled in his gut. “Be ready for anything.”
“Always.” She unclipped the safety strap on her holster at her hip. “Let’s get the dogs.”
Once they had the two K-9s leashed and in their vests, announcing they were working dogs, they headed to the front door.
“Why didn’t he have us come from the back? He said we should park at the curb and come to the front door.”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you said Steve would need to be moved,” Maren said.
On the threshold and about to knock, he felt a trickle of unease travel through him and he dropped his hand. He grabbed Maren’s arm and pulled her away from the door. She tugged Haven to her side.
“We should call the task force,” he said. “I don’t like this. Emmett said whatever backup we needed, he would provide.”
