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“What? Bakr Morcos isn’t enough?” She leaned back from the laptop and rubbed her hands together. “I hate tossing Ruth out of her home, okay? It’s wrong.”
“It’s temporary. She and the sheriff are getting married soon. There’s more to it.”
“Again. Not liking you.”
“You’re worried about Bart. Let’s call the hospital and check in.”
“It’s more than Bart.” She leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “If the doc says he’s fine and Ross says he’s protected, I have to accept it as true and do my job.”
He tried not to read too much into the professional tone of her voice. Her fortitude in tough circumstances was one of the things that attracted him, but that ‘love you too’ Bart had uttered echoed persistently in his head. “Then what’s the real issue?”
She cracked her neck before meeting his gaze. “This whole hideout idea is stupid and inconvenient. Taking you away from your job, your family, and Shannon is an imposition. If they insist on you staying here with me, despite the protective detail out there, the least I can do is minimize it.”
“You’re my job right now.”
“But the sheriff said—”
“Forget what Cochran said.” He still didn’t understand why the sheriff had even made a reference to Shannon and he had bigger issues on his mind. Like keeping her alive. “We may be small town, but we’re still professionals, Eva. You should understand and respect that just like everyone else does.”
“I do.”
She might have said more, but his cell phone sounded an incoming message. “Speak of the devil. It’s the sheriff.” He read the text message. “Says he’ll be here within the hour.”
“Great.” She turned her attention back to the laptop, her fingers already flying over the keyboard. “Here’s hoping I’ll have some news by then.”
He left her to it, quietly hauling everything upstairs to the guest rooms. She didn’t need to stay downstairs and make her challenge any tougher. Her woman-on-a-mission attitude was understandable, but Ruth would be appalled if Eva didn’t make herself at home for however long it took to rein in Morcos. Not that there was much chance Ruth would find out if Eva slept on the couch, but it was the principle of it.
He placed her luggage on the bed in the room at the back of the house and tossed his duffle inside the door of the bedroom across the hall. Standing there, looking from one open door to the other, he shook his head. Ruth’s hospitality was the least of his worries. He’d never get any sleep knowing Eva was only a few paces away.
On the other hand, staying awake meant he’d do a better job of keeping watch. He headed back downstairs to the kitchen to verify there was plenty of coffee to clear the cobwebs in the morning. Passing the den, the soft glow of the laptop highlighted Eva’s face. The furrowed brow and narrowed gaze told him she was engrossed with whatever filled her screen. He’d seen the look plenty since she’d come to town.
It didn’t take much to imagine the way she’d laugh if she knew the direction of his thoughts. He was almost grateful this wasn’t the time or place to make a move. Reality check, he thought. Even if he took that leap, Ross and Bart would string him up in a heartbeat. She was off limits and well out of his league.
He’d just finished a mental grocery list when the doorbell rang. Eva didn’t seem to hear it, making him wonder if she was pulling real leads already.
The front door opened before he got there and the sheriff’s voice stopped him from drawing his gun. “It’s just me, J.C. I’ve brought the radios and a couple of guests.”
“Come on ahead, then.” The door swung wide and two more silhouettes followed Cochran into the dim foyer. “She’s settled in back here.”
“Sheis right here.” Eva stood in the doorway between the den and kitchen.
“Ms. Battaglia,” the sheriff said, removing his hat. “Think you’ll be comfortable here?”
“What’s that about? You always call me Eva. Oh,” she said, drawing it out and frowning as she spotted the others. “Special Agent Nichols must have rubbed off on you.”
Sheriff Cochran was flanked by a tall guy in a suit and a woman in a DEA windbreaker. Neither of them looked too happy.
Carson moved to Eva’s side as the sheriff introduced Special Agent Dan Nichols of the FBI and Hannah Thalberg of the DEA.
“Hannah?” Eva’s brow furrowed. “Has something else happened to Bart?”
“He’s stable and his room is guarded,” the sheriff said quickly. “They’re here because today’s sniper incident might be connected to an open FBI case.”
“I’m really just extra baggage,” Agent Thalberg said.
“Regardless,” the sheriff continued, “with Ross’s various contacts this is quickly turning into an unofficial joint effort. Ross wants Nichols kept in the loop.”
Eva planted her hands on her hips. “On which details?”
