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“What could be safer than a trip to the firing range? Live ammo, right?”
“Of course.”
She beamed and took a giant step back from her luggage, arms spread wide. “Haul away, kind sir.”
Her bright smile was worth every effort he’d made to bring it out. He scooped up her bags and let her lead the way out to the car.
Chapter 5
Minuteslaterhepulledup to Ruth’s house and, following orders, drove around to the back, parking at the garage. He went to the keypad and entered the code to raise the door. When he turned to the car he caught Eva scowling. “What’s wrong?”
“You know her security code?”
“Sure. I’ve done repair work for her.” He recognized the exasperation on her face and the cause. “Relax. The sheriff parked us here for a reason. Defensible. Perimeter. These terms ring a bell with you?”
She shook her head.
“Defensible means—”
“Oh stop it.” She dragged her luggage from the back seat. “I can probably reprogram it without much hassle.”
He squelched the automatic offer to handle the bags, knowing she’d argue and insist on doing even more for herself. Grabbing his things, he locked the car and lowered the garage door behind them.
They passed through the workout room Ruth had carved out of the breezeway between the garage and the kitchen. He glanced around, impressed that everything looked normal again. He hadn’t been here since the night when Ross had stopped an assassination attempt on Ruth’s niece, Allie, last month.
Now it was his job to prevent a similar attempt on Eva’s life. The thought settled like a block of ice in his gut. He said a prayer he was up to the task and that the woman would cooperate. Just a little.
“I’m setting up back here.”
He followed her voice to the den. A small room with a wide bay window overlooking the lake, he couldn’t decide if it was safer than the rooms on the front side of the house. Perimeter or not, he would have suggested a windowless room but she’d never go for the idea of riding out the threat in the tiny downstairs powder room.
“Stop trying to judge the distance and target resolutions,” she said as she slid her laptop out of the bag. “Shall I define perimeter for you?”
“No thanks.”
“I’m sure one of Ross’s old pals is already hunkered down in the best spot, thrilled to death to be in his ghillie suit again.”
“Takes all kinds I guess.”
“It does. Could be worse,” she said with a wink. “We could all be former Marines.”
Ignoring that, he reached for the bags she’d brought from the motel. “I’ll get these upstairs.”
“Oh, no. Don’t bother with that. I figured I’d just stay down here. Couch feels comfy enough.”
She was babbling and refusing to meet his gaze. “You can’t work this twenty-four-seven.”
“I can and I will. The sooner we find this bastard the better.”
“We’re already here. Ruth would want you to be comfortable.”
“Couch is comfy,” she repeated. “I’ll be fine right here.” Her eyes were on her computer, but he could tell it wasn’t close to done booting up.
He left the bags and eased into the chair across from the couch. “Talk to me.”
“I am talking to you.”
Bracing his elbows on his knees, he whispered, “Do you have some terrible fear of the upstairs?” It earned him an annoyed glance. “What’s really bugging you?”
