“What? No.” Then, she stared into his eyes. “I don’t know. That never occurred to me. The reason I brought this up is that I’m going to wait for the internal process to play itself out.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m shifting my entire focus to finding Uncle Charlie. No one is working my caseload, so that leaves me to get the job done. You made me your priority. Now, I’m making you mine.”
“This isn’t a quid pro quo thing. You don’t—”
She pressed her finger to his lips. “There’s no way I’m going to walk away from you and let this crazed maniac hunt you down. I’ve got your six, Sinclair Develin.” She flashed him a smile. “And together, we’ll get it done.”
20
Teaming
At six in the morning, Evangeline slipped out of the town car and hurried into her apartment building, Sin close on her heels. Alexandra had texted them that the story would air during the seven o’clock morning news, again at noon, and during each of the local evening newscasts.
“Are you sure?” Evangeline pulled a suitcase out from beneath the bed.
“Positive,” Sin replied. “You’re safer at my place. I have surveillance cameras and a security system.”
“Okay.” Evangeline changed out of her clothing and packed in record time. “I’ll drive to your office.”
“Anton will follow us.”
“You go with him,” she said, packing the box of luxury vodka he’d bought her. “I want to stop by Hannah’s and tell her what happened with Rava. And I’ve got to get over there before Joey stops by. He’s there more than I am.”
“Do you have a picture of him?”
“No.”
“Get one.” Then, he drew her into his arms. “We’ll handle the press together.”
“It’s an open investigation, so I won’t say much.”
He dropped a light kiss on her mouth. “I’ve got you.” Her smile had him kissing her again.
“And I’ve got you, too.”
On the way to Hannah’s, she called her sister. “Too early to stop by?”
“Of course not. I’d love to see you.”
Once there, Evangeline cooked scrambled eggs while Hannah, still in her jammies, boiled water for tea.
“How was your New Year’s Eve party?” Evangeline asked.
Hannah shrugged. “It was fine. I’m still getting used to Charlene being so nice to me.”
“What does she think about putting the baby up for adoption?” Evangeline didn’t care what Charlene thought, but suspected Hannah did.
Hannah poured the tea. “She thought it might be a good choice for me. She said that being a mom was thelastthing she ever wanted.”
“Charlene doesn’t have a maternal bone in her body, so I wouldn’t give credence to anything she says on the subject.”
They sat at the kitchen table and ate. “I have good news. I’ve been working with someone who was able to find the woman in the sex video.”
Hannah’s eyebrows flew up. “That’sgreat! Wow, you never said anything.”
“I couldn’t. Anyway, the story is airing this morning at seven.”
