“I don’t like this. And I thought you said you weren’t worried about the cheating husbands you investigated. Why didn’t you tell me about these threats?”
She shrugged. “Because it wasn’t relevant and I’m tired of you hovering around me as if I’m made of crystal.” Sirens filled the air as the police, fire, and medics showed up.
“Will you at least get checked out and cleaned up by the medics? We don’t have to go to Las Vegas today either.”
“Good, I can move my servers and everything to my house. Want to make yourself useful and help?”
Carver smiled. “Are you inviting me to your house? I feel so special.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, cowboy.” She winked at him and headed over to the scene.
* * *
Zoe kept looking over her shoulder as she spoke to the fire marshal. Carver was inching closer and closer to her. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to listen to what they were saying or if his savior complex was showing again. She hid her smile.
“Ms. Harrington, do you normally use your back door?”
She shook her head. “Only when I take the trash out. But I haven’t been in town for the past few days. Mr. Healy told me that he saw an alarm guy doing work on the system really late. He thought it was odd because we all use the same alarm company. No one was having any problems either.”
Zoe rolled her eyes when she saw Jamie Tegan, a detective she used to work with, coming her way. “Maybe someone is after you, Harrington. You do a lot to ruin people’s lives.”
“Still trying to learn how to solve cases without planting evidence, Tegan? I can’t believe you still have a job. And instead of focusing on insulting me, why don’t you check on the dead woman in my office?”
He narrowed his eyes at Zoe. “So many days I’ve wished you were a man so that I could knock the—”
“Detective! I’m trying to conduct an investigation of a bombing. Can you leave your personal arguments in your squad room?” the fire marshal said.
“A bombing?” Zoe asked. She felt Carver’s hand on the small of her back.
“Who are you?” Tegan asked when he looked at Carver. “This is a crime scene.”
Do it, please pull out that FBI badge and shut this clown down. Zoe looked at Carver as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge.
“Agent Carver Banks, FBI.”
Zoe knew the one thing Tegan hated more than her was the FBI. She wanted to scream bam, in your face, but Zoe kept her composure. She wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but hearing that someone tried to blow up her business and finding a dead woman in her office had her shaken up.
“You guys move fast,” the fire marshal said. “I just called the ATF.”
Tegan shook his head and walked away. Zoe couldn’t have been happier under the circumstances.
“Is it safe to go inside?” she asked.
The fire marshal shook his head. “The police will have to clear the scene before you can go inside.”
She tugged at Carver’s hand. “I got to get out of here,” she said.
“Let’s go get some coffee until they turn the scene over to you.”
Zoe pointed down the street to a local coffee shop. “They have some great pastries, and I need something sweet right now. And I’m not giving that asshole Tegan a statement right now. I’d rather punch him in his face.”
Carver nodded and wrapped his arm around Zoe’s waist. He wanted nothing more than to take her away from all of this danger and protect her forever. He knew that to do that, he would have to tell her the truth. Carver could tell that she was scared because she didn’t wiggle out of his embrace.
Once they made it to the coffee shop, Carver chose a table away from the windows and headed for the counter to order their drinks and pastries.
“Apple fritters,” she called out after him. Carver turned around and flashed her a thumbs-up sign.
For the next two hours, they sat in silence and drank coffee. After eating two apple fritters each, Zoe looked at her watch. “Do you think they’re done at the crime scene?” she asked. “I have to get in my office and move my servers. Shit! I hope my guns are still in the safe.”
“Let’s go check and see,” Carver said as he wiped his mouth. “Maybe I can use my influence to get you inside so you can collect the important stuff. For the record, we’re not going to Vegas today.”
Zoe sighed. “There’s nothing I can do here. And that asshole detective isn’t going to give me any information. I wouldn’t put it past him that he did it.”
“Wow. You didn’t leave a lot of friends at the NYPD, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
Walking back to the office, Zoe wondered who was behind the bombing and why someone would target her. The only person she could think of with the means and a grudge would be Campos. But he was in federal prison, and as far as she knew, he’d been financially handicapped by the divorce and the Feds seizing his property and money. She didn’t have any other cases where someone could or would do this to her.
When she saw the fire marshal and the police leaving the scene, Zoe released a sigh of relief. The crime scene tape had come down and she couldn’t have been happier. No more dealing with Detective Dickwad today.
“Let’s get my stuff, and I’m going to call the landlord so that he can get this place boarded up.”
Carver brought his lips to her ear. “Just tell the truth, you want me alone in your place so that you can take advantage of me.”
“You have such a one-track mind.” She nudged him in the stomach with her elbow. She pointed him toward her portable servers while she walked over to her desktop. She was happy to see there was no major damage to anything in her office. A few files had been knocked off her desk; the bookshelf on the back wall had been completely destroyed. She walked over to the pile of books and binders. Zoe picked up her file on Singletary and Natalie. Stuffing it in her carry-on bag, Zoe headed for her wall safe, and she was happy to see that it lived up to the manufacturer’s claims. Opening it and grabbing her two favorite handguns, she heard Carver say, “Damn. You have a license for all of those?”
“Four. I have four guns, and yes, Agent Banks, I own them legally.”
“You should probably take them home, since you don’t know when the door will be fixed.”
“You see this safe withstood a C-4 blast, but you might be right.” She handed him the other two guns. “Now you know if you get out of hand tonight, I can shoot you.”
He took the weapons apart and put them in a backpack he’d found in the corner of her office. “I’m not worried about that.”
Chapter 15
After the most expensive cab ride in the history of taxi rides, Zoe and Carver arrived at her home. She pointed him toward her dining room so that he could put her servers down. She told the cab driver to leave the computers on the stoop, since he and Carver wanted to act as if she couldn’t lift anything.
She wanted to punch them both. “Is that all?” the driver asked. He looked right past her and addressed Carver. Zoe threw her hands up and walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
She heard the front door close, then she looked up and saw Carver heading her way. “You should’ve let a medic check you out.”
“Please don’t start that. I have some cotton balls and peroxide. I’ll be fine.”
“Mind if I take a look around? And what happened to your meeting?”
Zoe folded her arms across her chest. “I have no way to communicate with folks, thanks to you. So, I’m going to shower and we’re going to get my phone.”
“Sounds like a plan. And I’m going to look around to see if there’s anything here we should be worried about.” Carver leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “And don’t say a word about that. You almost died today.”
Zoe shivered. She hadn’t wanted to think about that. Didn’t want to process the fact that someone was out there trying to get her. “But I
didn’t, and that’s what’s important. I’m glad you were there.” She turned and headed upstairs to shower. Only when the warm water hit her face did Zoe allow herself to have a moment. Backing against the wall of the shower, she closed her eyes and tossed her head back. She’d been threatened before—from ex-police officers to husbands who had to pay out millions—but no one had ever come after her. And an innocent woman was dead. A family didn’t have a sister, a mother, or a friend anymore.
This was what Zach had been afraid of when she’d told him that she was opening her own private investigation firm. She’d fought him tooth and nail because she’d wanted to do her own thing. She had never been afraid—until today.
“Zoe. You all right in there?”
She shut off the water. “Yes, I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Are you sure that you’re okay? You’ve been in there for an hour.”
Zoe stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around her wet body, and opened the door. “Please don’t do this, okay?”
“Do what? Be concerned about you? This isn’t about me trying to . . . Zoe, I almost lost you, and I don’t like how that felt.”
Her knees went weak when she looked into his eyes. For the first time ever, she really believed that Carver felt something deeper than the lust she’d always accused him of having for her. Now, she was really scared.
“Excuse me, I have to get dressed.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders and she felt as if her body was on fire. “Zoe.”
“Carver, please.”
“You don’t have to be tough all the time. You can lean on me.”
“I don’t need to lean on you. I’m fine.” She forced a smile. “Just let me get dressed.”
“Fine.” He let her go and watched her walk into her bedroom. Zoe slammed the door and sighed as she leaned against it. She wished that she could accept his concern at face value. Maybe what he was saying was real.
* * *
Carver knew that he should’ve told her the truth right in the bathroom. He should’ve let her know the real danger that she was in. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to open his mouth and say those words to her. Zoe tried to act as if she was fine and what had happened earlier today didn’t affect her, but he saw in her eyes that she was scared. What would she do if she knew the truth?
Carver pulled out his phone and called Steve.
“Hey, man, have you made it to the hangar yet?”
“No. Looks like we won’t be flying out until tomorrow. Is that going to be a problem?”
“Nope. I’m taking the missus out on a cruise in a few days, so I won’t be needing the jet or my pilot. It’s at your disposal.”
“Thanks.” After hanging up with Steve, Carver headed into the den and took a seat on the love seat. He started to turn the television on when Zoe walked downstairs. He had to give it to her; she looked as if nothing had happened to her at all.
“Ready to go?”
“And I was getting ready to log on to your Netflix and chill.”
She rolled her eyes and headed for the door. “You know you’re too old to be talking about Netflix and chill. As a matter of fact, any man over the age of thirty who wants to Netflix and chill should spend the night in jail.”
“That’s harsh.”
“I don’t care.”
Carver rose to his feet and caught up with Zoe as she walked out the door. “Are we heading to the phone store first?”
“Yes, and since you helped me bring my things in from the office, I’m going to buy you dinner. Where are you staying tonight?”
“I haven’t booked a room yet, but I need to check in at the field office before it gets too late.”
She nodded. “All right. Well, after I get my phone and we eat, you can call me and let me know where you’re going to be and what time we’re flying out tomorrow. I’ll pull the car around.” Zoe bounced down the stairs and Carver called Steve again. He decided that he and Zoe would leave around ten a.m. tomorrow.
“Well, I’ll re-file the flight plan.”
“Thanks, man. This means a lot.”
“You know how many times you saved my life in college? I wish you would reconsider my offer and come head my security division. You’re going to make more money working for me than you will for the FBI. And it’s a lot safer.”
“I just need a few more months of service before I can get my full retirement. Maybe I’ll think about it.”
When Zoe pulled up, Carver told Steve he had to go. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
* * *
Zoe didn’t like what she felt when she saw Carver on the phone, hanging up as soon as she pulled up. He could’ve very well been talking to a woman. And it is none of my business.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” Carver eased into the car and smiled at Zoe.
They drove in silence for a couple of miles, and then Carver glanced at Zoe.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked as he stretched his legs.
“If you’re going to ask me every five minutes if I’m all right, we’re going to have a problem.”
“You can’t fault me for being concerned.”
“It’s misplaced and misguided.” Her voice quivered a bit, but Carver pretended not to notice.
“You think your brother feels that you’re in trouble? That twin connection thing?”
“Really? Do me a favor, let it go. If Zach knew I was in the car with you, he’d think that’s the most troubling thing in my life.”
“So, what’s he going to do when you take me home for our first family dinner?” Carver quipped.
“That’s never going to happen. Once we end this case, we’re going back to our respective corners and pretend that we don’t know each other anymore.”
“Not doing that. I’m telling you right now, I’m going to make you mine, Zoe.”
“Do I get a say in this? What if I don’t want to belong to a man?”
“What are you afraid of? Why can’t you open your heart and let me in?”
Zoe nearly slammed into the car in front of her. “Carver, I’m not doing this with you because there’s no need to play the fantasy game.”
“Who said it’s just a fantasy? Zoe, I—”
“Stop. Please stop.” She couldn’t listen to him say he cared or even loved her without getting scared.
“Okay, I’m done—for now.”
They pulled up at the wireless store and walked in silently. When Zoe walked over to the iPhones, Carver cringed. She could easily be tracked with that phone, and he wanted to stop her.
“I think you should buy me the new one—the big one.”
“So, I’m your upgrade, huh?”
She nodded as the sales consultant headed their way. “Good afternoon. Do you two need help with the phones?”
Zoe shook her head. “I want the 128-gigabyte rose gold one.”
“Do you currently have a phone you want to trade in?”
Zoe glanced at Carver. “Actually, I don’t. Someone dropped my phone and destroyed it.”
“Like, cracked the screen?”
“It was an accident in New Mexico,” Carver said. “The phone is beyond repair.”
“Did you even bring it with you?” Zoe asked.
“You know I didn’t. Since I knew I had to replace your phone, I just tossed it in Santa Fe. You did back it up to the cloud, didn’t you?”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Of course I did.”
“All right, then. Let me check and see if we have the phone in stock.” The sales clerk headed to the back of the store.
“Have you thought about getting a new number?” Carver asked.
“Why would I do that?” Zoe ran her fingers through her hair. “I can’t imagine the number of clients I’ve missed the past few days. I probably need a second line.”
“That’s on you.”
She smiled. “I know. Not going to bilk you out of all of your money.” She walked over to some sim
ple cell phones and picked up a flip phone. “This will be my travel phone. Good and sturdy.”
Carver nodded. “Good idea.”
When the sales consultant came back with the new iPhone, Zoe told her she wanted to add a second line to her plan and held up the flip phone. “Do you have any more of these in stock?”
“I’ll check.”
Carver eased closer to Zoe, and when he wrapped his arm around her waist, she didn’t move. She actually leaned against him. I could get used to this, she thought as she inhaled his masculine scent. But this isn’t going to happen. I don’t know why I’m pretending that it will.
“You’re in luck,” the sales consultant said. “We have the phone in stock.”
“Great.”
They followed her to the register and Carver held her hand. Zoe rubbed her thumb against his palm. He glanced at her and then released her hand. She didn’t say anything as the clerk rang up the purchases and activated the phones. Because she’d been a customer so long, Zoe got her second line and phone for free.
Carver handed the clerk his credit card and paid for her iPhone.
“Sweet,” she said as she turned on her phone. The first thing she needed to do was call Zach. “I’m going to call my brother. I’ll be outside.”
“I’m going to the bodega to get something to drink. You want something?”
“Orange juice.”
“Got it.”
Zoe stood next to the entrance of the phone store and dialed Zach’s number. He picked up on the first ring.
“I was about to book a flight for New York. Where have you been?”
“Hello to you, too,” she said with a laugh.
“Don’t do that. Chante and I have been out of our minds with worry. Where have you been?”
“I’ve been working on a case and I was in New Mexico.”
“And you couldn’t pick up the phone and call me?”
“Actually, no. My phone was broken.”
“Really? What kind of case are you working on? Are you in danger, sis? I don’t like this, and I told you a long time ago that you should stop putting your life on the line because you want to prove a point to me and Dad.”
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