Page 88 of Long Past Deadly

Quaid grabbed her hand when she would have left.

He looked to the other three. “Give us a minute, can you?”

“Not a problem.” Mackey followed Harrison out.

Elizabeth paused, then kissed her cheek. “Be safe. I hope you get the answers you want.”

She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Oh, no worries about me.” She kissed Quaid’s cheek and shut the office door behind her.

Quaid put hands on her hips and pulled her against him. “Let’s talk this through.”

Well, at least he wasn’t going overprotective on her.

“My reasoning is simple. We should pull all the agencies into this because the man is not only a one-method serial killer. He’s an assassin, and we need expertise on our side that tells him he’s targeted and hunted.”

“Agreed. But will he try for us again?”

“I’m not sure, but he believes he’s smarter, more skilled. And in some ways he is, but he’s on a plan I don’t understand.”

“Maybe Whit can help?”

“We won’t know until I talk to him.”

“Let’s go.” He went to his desk and handed her a weapon.

“One more thing.” She stayed in place but tracked him. Crazy to want to know exactly where he was.

“What?”

“You can’t keep handing me guns. I have several of my own. Somewhere in this schedule, I need to go to my apartment in LA and get them and some more clothes.” She hadn’t meant to be so adamant.

“Understood. We’ll figure it out. Your current service weapon is with Tinkerton. She was cleaning and reloading it. This is my backup. We can square this later.” He handed off her credentials and badge.

She grabbed his hand. “I’m grateful you’ve covered me, but I’ve fired my weapons repeatedly. I know their feel and what they’ll do. With all the threat, I’m better equipped with my own on my belt.”

“I get it. Might have to send Niles to your apartment.”

“He does so much.” She expelled a breath, not happy with the plan. She’d put things in order when she left, but she’d expected to be back, not to be stuck in San Diego for a week.

“He’s glad to do it, and it’s what I pay him for.”

“He’s family and you’d let him. It has nothing to do with pay.”

“True. But I’ve insisted on the salary because it’s right and fair.”

“Is he paid by you or QM?”

“Both.”

She leaned in. “There’s a story there. I’ll need to hear details. But not today. Come on. We need to go. My ear is bothering me, too. And Cait’s going to meet me and check it. I popped some Tylenol after my shower, but it’s not enough.”

Quaid gave her a stern look. “You should have told me that first. Everything else all right?”

“Yes.” She emphasized the word so he wouldn’t worry there either. “I think you exaggerated how sore I’d be. I’m fine.”

His smile was full of masculine ego. “Good to know.”