Page 61 of Defender
“Right. Of course.” She tucked her hair back behind her ears.
They quietly left the warehouse and walked toward the office. “So, I have a million questions,” Michael said.
“Ask away.”
“Well, the top one is, uh…” He palmed the back of his neck and glanced at her as they walked.
“What?”
“Do you kiss all your rescuers like that?” A glint of humor and more vulnerability than she’d ever seen displayed on his face made her pulse jump.
But she needed to keep this light. How impulsive was she to go from friend to passionate kisses in one moment? Her mother would be appalled. And impulsiveness was what had gotten her trapped in the first place.
“Only the handsome ones.” She winked.
Michael laughed like he always did. It echoed off the side of the building. The tightness in her shoulders relaxed.
They approached her car.
“I think we should leave your car here and get you checked out at the hospital. If you’re cleared to work, I’ll bring you back in the morning.”
There he was, still trying to rescue her. He was too good. Too wholesome and steady.
Too distracting.
She could really fall for him, and that was not part of the plan. She needed to think about what was good for him first.
“I’ll be fine.”
The sweetness of the moment evaporated, and a seriousness crept into his eyes. “How did you get trapped in there? There was a lock on the latch that I had to cut off from the outside.”
Oh, that. “I was working late and needed some expense receipts from one of the shop guys. I came out to look for them and heard voices. I get the feeling there’s more going on here than simply embezzling.”
“Did you find anything?”
“No, but I heard someone and saw the refrigerated trailer’s door open. I went to investigate it, and before I knew it, a man picked me up and threw me in. Then the door was shut and locked.”
“So you didn’t see him?”
“No. But he said, ‘Should’ve stayed out of this, sweetheart.’ He’d lowered his voice and was practically growling. I don’t know that I’d recognize his normal speech pattern.”
Michael scanned the area. “I dunno, Dani. This is pretty dangerous. Are you sure you should come back?”
“I need to close the case. There must be something happening if someone is threatened enough to do this.”
Michael’s lips thinned. “Any chance you can bring in some backup or something?”
“I’ll have to report this to the ASAC. She probably won’t let me investigate it myself, but no way will I back down now. I’m getting close. I need to finish.”
He nodded. “I get that. And you’re smart. You’ll figure it out soon. But in the meantime, be careful. And if you need help, you know who to call.”
“You’re not going to talk me out of it? Tell me it’s too dangerous? Or that I’m being too dramatic?”
He tilted his head. “Why would I do that? This is your job. If anything, I say buckle down and dig in. But I don’t want you to break your cover. So treat it like any normal citizen would. Report it, and I’ll come help investigate what happened tonight. If this guy is doing anything shady, we’ll shake him up a bit, make it easier to catch him.”
She couldn’t help but smile up at him. It was nice to have his support, his understanding, and even his encouragement. Someone who believed in her for once.
“Thanks, Michael.”
