AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The gun range is on the other side of town. It’s called The Barracks.”
“We should check it out. We—wait. The Barracks?” Seyla grabbed his forearm. “TB. Is that what TB stands for?”
She felt the muscles shift under her palm and withdrew her hand.
“It fits. Self-defense places that require a key card for access do exist. I bet that card with the barcode is a key to gain access to the range. I’ll ask my uncle if anyone knows who the members are.”
“If we get that list, I guarantee the shooter is on it.” Seyla sighed, thankful for the new lead.
Jax scrolled through some more of Janet’s search history and files, opening the one with her resume. “Are you sure Janet’s not involved? Because she updated her resume today. For your position.”
Seyla leaned over to view the screen and laughed. “I bet she does that on a daily basis.”
“Wow. Makes for a great work atmosphere, I bet.”
“That’s an understatement.”
Jax scanned the room. “I guess that’s it.” He stood and shut off the computer. “Time to go.”
“I have to feed Juniper first. It won’t take long.”
/////
Jax watched Seyla don a thin coat and gloves, then prepare formula. He followed her into another room, where the tiny fox lay curled into a ball on a Sherpa-lined bed in a kennel. A castcovered the leg that had appeared broken the last time he’d seen the creature.
The animal scent he remembered wasn’t as strong this time, but he still wanted to leave. “Wow. He looks a hundred times better than the last time I saw him.”
“Her,” she stressed with a laugh. “It’s a girl.”
“So sorry. Pardon me, Juniper.” Jax made a show of bowing and laughed.
Wait. Was he flirting?
Focus on your mission.
Seyla slipped both hands under the fox and bundled it in her arms, tilting the bottle to let it drink.
“Sheeee has a healthy appetite, that’s for sure,” Jax said.
Seyla gazed down into the face of the kit, her own face lit with joy. “She’s doing great. If we can, we’ll find a surrogate mom after we finish her skin medication.”
Seyla would make a great mother someday. The thought came out of nowhere, and Jax didn’t welcome it. He had no business thinking thoughts like that.
Seyla finished feeding it and returned it to its kennel. The fuzzy creature peered up at them, making part-bark, part-trilling noises. Jax had to admit it was a cute little thing. All the more reason to stay away from it.
“Good night, Juniper,” Seyla said in a lilting voice before flipping off the lights and shutting the door.
They walked in a companionable silence through the hall, opened the exit door without a sound and slipped into the ink-black darkness, heading for the parking lot.
/////
Jax pulled into a parking spot in front of Seyla’s apartment.
His cellphone buzzed on the seat beside him. Rich. What was he going to tell him?
He winced when he brought the phone to his ear. His head, shoulder, and arm ached without mercy. The tendons and ligaments, though badly strained, weren’t torn. Regardless, the doctor had handed him a script for pain medication. He’d torn it in pieces right after they left, despite Seyla’s disapproving frown. Staying alert right now far outweighed anything else.
“Hey, buddy.” Jax shifted, uncomfortable both physically and emotionally.
