GABE WAS STARTING to like when she reacted like that. Push a little, and Caisey Lyons’ incredulity meter flipped into the red zone. Her face got all flushed and she sputtered, like she couldn’t begin to think how to react.
She was so in control when it was anything to do with work. Life or death, firing questions at the sheriff as he came at them on the ATV, swooping in and saving him from the fake trooper like it was no big deal, she impressed him at every turn. And yet Gabe took the most pleasure in throwing her off when she was completely out of her element. Her floundering was incredibly cute.
Gabe decided she’d had enough torture. “So what did you need to tell me?”
She tugged on his arm and they walked to the stoplight. He hit the button for the crosswalk. It would give them some time to talk, going the long way back to his cousin’s classic car.
“Just that I talked with a couple of the agents who ran the investigation along with my dad and they say your uncle isn’t doing much of anything anymore. When the economy tanked, apparently so did the market for illegal arms. Who knew?” She shrugged. “Anyway, he streamlined his businesses and concentrated on what was doing well, like gambling and drug dealing, until things like construction began to pick back up and he could get back in that game.”
“Where does that leave us?”
“Well, officially the FBI considers the death of the undercover agent closed, since your dad was convicted. They are, however, talking to him about Arturo to see if they can finally pin something on your uncle.”
Four steps removed was closer than Gabe thought he’d ever be to his father again. “My dad and Arturo might only be brothers-in-law, but they both have the same unbreakable stubborn streak.”
Caisey’s lips twitched and they set off across the street. “Don’t we all?”
“You’ll keep me posted?”
“Are you going to try and see him?”
Gabe was curious to know what his father was going to do. Curious enough to stay in Denver and put his life on the line for the sake of getting word that his father wanted to see him.
“I’d like to ask his forgiveness, if I can. Is that nuts?”
She laughed. “You did the right thing, testifying, but if you’re carrying guilt it’s not going to go away unless you make peace with it. That doesn’t mean it has to involve your father, though.”
“I’ve been praying about it for so long it’s hard to believe I might actually be able to see him. I’d like the chance to look him in the eye and say more than sorry in the heat of the moment.”
He’d also thought he would never get to meet Caisey again and now that he had, well…he’d assumed it would go differently. Holding on to the dream for years, he’d prayed that God would someday bring it all back around—that the time spent wouldn’t be wasted, that he’d get the girl, that testifying wouldn’t have meant his world was destroyed and there would still be something to salvage. Writing had been enough for a long time, but now he’d seen Caisey’s strength, her pure convictions, the sound of her voice and the way her mouth crept up at one side when she thought something was funny he didn’t think he could let her go.
A horn blared. Caisey whipped around. An old seventies RV accelerated toward them. The driver was a man, but not close enough Gabe could make out his features.
Caisey didn’t move. He tugged on her arm until she blinked, whipped around and shoved him back, moving with him to get them out of the path of the vehicle. She kept shoving until the back of Gabe’s shoes hit the curb and they fell. He locked his arms around her.
They hit the concrete. “Ouch.”
She shifted and looked down at him. “I think the word you’re looking for is, ‘thank you’.”
“That’s actually two words.”
“Whatever. I just saved your hide.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Do you want a medal?”
**
As soon as the car moved past, Jenna sprinted across the street with Nic right behind her. She reached them just as Gabe stood up and brushed off the back of his jeans. Jenna nearly tripped. She’d half expected them to be dead. Not only were they alive, but they looked unharmed.
She pulled up short. Both of them were looking at anything but each other.
“Are you guys okay? What was that?”
Caisey rolled her shoulders. “We’re fine.”
“That RV just tried to run you over. What is wrong with people?”
Sirens turned the corner and two cop cars with lights flashing pulled up either side of Nic’s car.
Caisey frowned. “Who called the police?”
Jenna put her hands on her hips. “I did.”
Three uniformed officers climbed out; an older black man with stripes on his sleeves and two younger guys all strode over. Jenna’s eyes caught on one and she laughed at the high school flashback. “Bobby Summers?”
The officer grinned. “As I live and breathe, Jenna Cartwright. How are you, girl?”
Jenna shrugged one shoulder. “Can’t complain.”
Nic reached out his hand. “Summers.”
The two men shook and the officer looked to Jenna and then back at Nic. “You two together, just like high school. Am I right?”
Jenna felt her cheeks warm. “We have a son.” Bobby Summers didn’t need to know Nic hadn’t ever met Jake.
“No way! Awesome, dude.”
“Officer Summers!” They all turned to look at the guy with the striped on the sleeves on his dark blue shirt, where he stood to the side with Caisey. “Get started with interviews. I’d rather not be here all day.”
“Sure, Sarge.”
The old man shook his head and Jenna watched him look at Caisey, who shared a smile with him. Apparently they knew each other. They stepped further away, in their little cop huddle.
“Hey.” Nic nudged her elbow. “You okay?”
“I cannot believe she nearly got splatted and she’s standing around like it’s no big deal.”
“They seem fine. Gabe looks windblown, but that’s probably just because she shoved him out of the way.”
“Yep, that’s Caisey. Defender of humankind.”
“You don’t think she should have?”
Jenna stared at him. “You think she was right, telling you to stay away from me and Jake? I don’t think you understand what you missed.”
Nic’s lips pressed together. “Sixteen years of his life. That’s what I missed.” And that was her fault?
Jenna ducked between two cars and ran back to her spa. Why couldn’t he have stayed away? Everything was fine this morning, and now she knew Caisey lied. Nic showed up, bringing danger. She wanted to believe she could handle it all, but she hadn’t ever tried before, content to let Caisey take on the hard decisions. Standing up for herself was harder than she thought.
**
Caisey saw Jenna duck back across the street to her spa and shot Nic an inquiring look. He shook his head and made his way over to Gabe.
“That all of it?”
She turned back to Sergeant Tucker. “If I think of anything else, I’ll give you a call.”
He nodded. “Good deal.”
Her phone buzzed. She pulled up the text message that was Liam telling her he was parking around the corner.
A minute later he strode up to her. “You okay?”
“Could have killed me. Didn’t.”
Liam rubbed his jaw. “I don’t like it.”
Caisey wanted to brush it off and laugh, but she couldn’t.
“I think I have a serial killer stalker.”