“Okay, I’ll call Will and see what he can arrange. But I want you to let me know what you find out, Dina.”
She could feel Jarek’s intense gaze as he blatantly listened to her side of the conversation. She imagined her relief at her sister’s agreeing to get away was evident on her face, but that couldn’t be helped. “I promise to keep you updated. Thanks, Michelle.”
“Be careful,” Michelle said. “Emily and Noah need their Auntie Dina.” A pause, then she added, “And so do I.”
“I can take care of myself,” Di assured her. “Let me know when you’re settled, okay?”
“Okay. Be safe.” With that, her sister ended the call.
“It’s nice you sent your sister to be safe.” Jarek arched a brow. “Not sure why you won’t do the same.”
“I told you. I need to find this guy.” She glanced over as the two cops who’d gone into the building across the street returned.
“We think that’s where the shooter was. It’s an empty apartment, and the door was forced open,” the officer said. “But I didn’t see anything inside that could be used to identify him.”
“He was smart enough to pick up his brass,” the other cop chimed in. “And he must have wiped the place down on his way out. I didn’t even see a footprint in the dust.”
“I still want the crime scene techs to go through the apartment,” Jarek said. “They should be finished with the other crime scene by now.”
“I’ll call them.” The first officer took a step back, lifting a hand to his radio.
Di turned toward Jarek. “You saw as much as I did. I don’t see a reason to provide another statement.”
His jaw clenched, but then he nodded. “Fine. But let’s go up to your apartment. I want to make sure there are no other surprises waiting for you.”
She wanted to argue but sensed it was fruitless. She couldn’t really prevent Jarek from following her inside. Without saying anything, she turned and opened the front door, keenly aware of the lack of security. In her defense, she was a trained soldier. And she was always armed.
To his credit, Jarek didn’t point out the obvious as he followed her up the stairs to the third floor. She ran five miles every morning to stay in shape, and it appeared he took his physical conditioning to heart too. He kept pace without a problem, and she sensed he’d have beaten her up the two flights in a race.
At her apartment, she used her key to unlock the door. Jarek stood on one side, leaving her positioned at the other as she pulled her weapon and pushed the door open, then waited a beat for anyone who may have gotten inside to show themselves.
There was nothing but silence. She led the way inside, sweeping the room with her gun as she scanned the area. Jarek followed close behind her, no doubt also advancing with his weapon held ready. She was a neat freak by nature, so there wasn’t a single item out of place as she continued through to the single bedroom and bathroom.
“Clear,” she announced.
“Clear,” Jarek echoed.
She returned to the main living space, acutely aware of the sparse furnishings. Her twelve-plus years in the army had convinced her she didn’t need a lot of stuff. Her only personal item was her sister’s family portrait.
“Pack a bag,” Jarek said curtly. “I’ll give you a lift out of here.”
She bristled. “I plan to leave, but I don’t need a ride.”
He sighed loudly. “Honestly, Di, what is your problem with accepting help? If this guy has your address, he likely knows your vehicle license plate. You need to rent a car or hop a train. Either way, it’s too far to walk.”
He was right, but she didn’t have to like it. If she were honest, if any of her other teammates were there offering a ride, she’d have accepted without blinking an eye. It was Jarek who put her on edge. Mostly because he was a cop.
But also because he’d rubbed her the wrong way from the moment they first met. He was classically good-looking and came from a family of cops. She didn’t put much faith in law enforcement. Her attempt to get help when she was fifteen had not gone anywhere. That was mostly due to her stepfather’s wealth and status in the community, but still.
She drew in a slow breath, understanding she needed to stop losing her temper around him, or he might start digging into her past.
And that would only end in disaster.
Jarek watched the myriad of emotions flash across Di’s features. He truly didn’t understand her hostile attitude. Okay, sure, he’d given her the nickname Di, but so what? Everyone on the team had been given nicknames. His was Jarhead, which was sort of funny because the term more often pertained to the marines. Not the army.
“Fine. I’ll pack a bag.” Di spun on her heel and disappeared into the bedroom. He stood where he was, glancing around the space. Whatever income Di earned from being one of Grayson’s Guardians, she clearly didn’t spend on herself.
Did she send money to her sister? Maybe. To his chagrin, he hadn’t even known she had a sister. Listening to her convince her sister to go away for a while had been admirable. Of course, Di wouldn’t take precautions of her own, but she would for her sibling.
