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Marcia was getting old too.
Causing Bri grief had been fun in the beginning, but now that a blackmailer was involved, it had lost its appeal.
Especially after the shooting on Saturday.
Yeah, he’d picked an excellent spot and escaped unscathed, but it had been risky. The repercussions of a shooting were a whole lot more serious than wrecking tires or damaging a car.
He had to get out of here.
But he couldn’t. The blackmailer had said to sit tight until further notice.
He bit back a curse.
“Travis? Are you listening to me?” Marcia’s tone sharpened.
“Yeah. I’m listening.” He snapped out the response.
“Hey.” She stuck her hands on her hips. “I asked a simple question. What’s with you tonight?”
He reined in his temper. Ready as he was to leave St. Louis, as long as he was here, he ought to be smart and keep the owner of his safe house happy.
Reaching deep for a smile, he tried for a placating cadence. “Sorry, babe. With my vacation winding down, I’m a little bummed.”
Her face fell. “You’re leaving?”
“In a few days. I do have to work, you know.” Surely the other person who had a grudge against Bri didn’t expect him to hang around forever.
“Maybe you could get a job here.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel and joined him at the table.
“I don’t think there’s much call for smokejumpers in St. Louis.”
“No, but we do have fire departments. Fighting fires is fighting fires, right?”
Not even close. There was nothing like the adrenaline rush of diving into a raging inferno and taming it.
“Smokejumping is different.” He left it at that. Why bother trying to explain the thrill to Marcia? She’d never understand.
“But you can’t do that kind of work forever. And there would be other compensations if you moved to St. Louis.” She rested her hand on his. “Why don’t you—”
“Hold on a sec. Call coming in.” He picked up his vibrating phone and checked the screen.
Unknown.
This could be his mystery nemesis.
His breathing hitched.
“I have to take this. Give me a few minutes.” He shoved hischair back, strode to the door that led outside, and pushed through onto the deck before he answered.
“Nice job on Saturday, Travis. I’m glad I can count on you.” The same genderless voice from the first call responded to his greeting.
“I did what you asked, and I waited until you called, like you told me to. But I have to go home.”
“Not yet.”
He gripped the banister on the deck and stared into the dark hedge at the rear of Marcia’s property that blocked her house from the view of nosey neighbors. “I can’t stay here forever.”
“You don’t have to rush home. You’re on leave. And I’m sure Marcia has made you feel welcome.”
