Page 53 of Her Passionate Hero

“Checking in with her friend, Lottie, and see if there is anything to the fact that she has expelled four gangbangers this semester. That’s the excuse she’s given the police for the bomb. This Mateo is the guy who came after her, but how else could she have caught his eye, but at the school?”

“Makes sense. So, what time are we questioning Lottie?” Zed asked. Damn, Zed was all in.

“I haven’t called her yet.”

“Get to it,” Zed commanded him. If his friend didn’t mellow, he was going to have to get him drunk, laid, or just beat the shit out of him.

“Who says you’re going to be going with Hunter?” Dalton asked.

“I’ve just spent far too long in a cramped plane. I’m pulling rank, Sullivan. You’re babysitting, while I go out with Diaz.”

“Okay, maybe I can talk Mrs. Jankovic into giving me some waffles,” Dalton smiled.

Hunter glowered at Dalton.

“Hey, I’d eat them here on the street, so I could watch what was going on. I could sit on your bike,” Dalton said.

“I’m going to take your ’vette out for a spin as soon as we get home, and I’m going to eat powdered sugared jelly donuts in it while I’m driving,” Hunter replied.

“Hey, no need to get violent,” Dalton said, holding up his hands.

“Quit it you two. Hunter, call Lottie. We need to get a move on.”

“I guess this isn’t your op anymore,” Dalton grinned.

“He’s an old man, he can’t help but think he’s in charge,” Hunter concurred.

“I’m not so old I can’t take the two of you,” Zed growled.

Hunter looked at his friend and mentor and realized that despite his earlier laughter, he was wound tight. This did not bode well for Ms. Carlotta Rodriguez. He saw Dalton’s eyes make a quick move, and he gave a slight chin tilt. As always, they were on the same wavelength. Hunter pulled out his phone and called the number he had gotten from Mrs. J.

“Ms. Rodriguez, this is Hunter Diaz.”

“Hi. I see you’re punctual,” she said brightly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I thought you would want to question me about our friend. It would be best if we didn’t do it here at the school. Ever since the explosion, I can’t stop eating. I want good food, and I know just the place. There’s a taco truck on La Meda and Conway. Can we meet there?”

“We’ll be there in a half hour.”

“Make it twenty.” She hung up. He grinned. Now they had a reason not to take Zed’s rental car.

“We have a meet, it’s a taco truck on La Meda and Conway, she wants us there in twenty.”

“It’s thirty minutes, maybe more depending on traffic.”

“Not with the right rides. Where’s your sense of adventure?” Hunter asked.

Zed gave him a considering look. “What do you have in mind?”

“Since you’re older, I’ll give you a leg up. I’ll give you the bike. I’ll take Dalton’s piece of shit truck. The last one there buys.”

Zed’s eyes glittered at the challenge. He held out his hand for the keys, at the same time dumping the items Mrs. Price had given him back into the shopping bag. Hunter handed over his keys and gave Dalton the shopping bag. Zed got into the saddle and fired the motorcycle to life.

“She sounds good, Hunter,” he grinned. He put on the helmet and pulled away from the curb.

“Well, that should put the Chief in a better mood. You gonna let him win?” Dalton asked.