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Flynn grinned at Tansy. “I thought you were a physicist and inventor, not an FBI agent.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled. “It’s all puzzles, patterns and problem solving, right Tessa?”
Tessa nodded but didn’t smile. She looked at Flynn as Sam handed her another laptop. “If you had pictures of the faces, would it really help gather data?”
“It would.” He knew she was thinking of their earlier conversation about the sketch artist.
Sam nodded. “We use facial recognition software all the time in the FBI. If the social media sites can search and tag people from their personal posts, imagine what the government’s software can find. That’s how they track down a lot of known associates, find boltholes and vehicles.”
Tessa’s worried gaze turned back to Flynn. “I don’t think it’s worth the risk.”
Sam frowned. “What isn’t?”
Tessa sighed. “Flynn suggested I work with a sketch artist to create images of my father, uncle, and the other men in the house that day.”
Sam nodded. “That’s a good idea. What about Josie?”
Flynn hated the defeat on Tessa’s face. “Tessa is worried about bringing anyone else into our little circle. She’s afraid that they’ll become targets as well.”
Tansy reached for Tessa’s hand again. “I know the feeling. It’s really hard putting your trust and your faith in people when it means potentially putting them in danger as well. But these people are the best at what they do. If we all work as a team, we’re pretty unstoppable.”
Sam joined in. “You two ladies are pretty much the smartest people I know. We can figure out a way to do this and keep everyone safe.”
Tessa didn’t look entirely convinced.
Flynn scrambled for an idea. “What if we had some kind of party or event where it would seem natural for extra people to come in? Then we could add in Joe and Nico along with Josie.”
Sam agreed. “We could do something with Midnight Security. Run a training course maybe. This weekend is free for everyone. We’ve got three days open. We’ll need to loop in the others and get them here soon.”
Tansy nodded. “We’ve got Marcus and Troy in town who would jump right in to help as well. Others too.”
Tessa shook her head and shoved to her feet. “It’s too much. Too much danger for everyone. I can’t put so many people at risk. I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”
Tansy and Sam both protested, but she kept shaking her head and backing away.
Flynn shoved to his feet, but she kept moving away. “We’ll figure it out, Tessa. Give us a chance, here.”
“I’m sorry. It’s too dangerous for you. For all of you. I can’t do it.”
And she walked out the door.
Chapter11
Second Wind
Panic clawed at Tessa’s throat but it wasn’t for her. It was for these amazing people around her. She couldn’t bring the threat of danger to their doorstep. She couldn’t risk Tansy’s new family.
After years of tamping down her emotions and keeping them under control, they were swamping her. Waves of hope, fear, determination, panic, desire, and love kept slamming into her.
She heard Flynn call her name softly but she kept moving. It wasn’t like he couldn’t catch her. He wouldn’t even need to jog if she moved at her top speed. Which she wasn’t.
Then his big, strong body was in front of her and he said her name softly again. He draped her coat around her shoulders and then his arms wrapped around her and he drenched her with his warmth.
They stood there for long minutes, not saying a thing, with his heat slowing her shaking and filling her heart. “I’m so scared, Flynn.”
He kept holding her, kept making her feel not only safe but wanted. “I know, honey. I know.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt. Any of you.”
