Brooke arrived at Jonas’s office. While she waited, she scanned the area, looking for anyone who shouldn’t be there. Satisfied she hadn’t been followed, she called Gavin and received permission to take a blindfolded Jonas and Felix out to the children’s home/safe house. “Sounds like a good idea. It’s worth a try anyway.”
“Great. Do you want to call Cassie and let her know or do you want me to?”
“I’m more than happy to call Cassie.” Gavin’s voice took on a warmth every time he said the woman’s name.
“I kind of thought you would be.”
Gavin’s low chuckle made her smile. Once they hung up, her smile drooped. Would she ever have what Cassie had with Gavin? Even Adam Donovan had managed to fall in love during the investigation, with Lana Gomez, Rosa Gomez’s sister. Adam’s love for Lana had lit a fire under him in regards to finding out the reasons behind Rosa’s death.
But unless Brooke allowed herself to open up and trust someone about her inability to have children, the possibility of finding love was nil.
What would Jonas say if she told him? He loved his son and she knew he would love to have more children. Eight years ago he’d told her his dream to be married with a houseful of kids. It had been during one of their last conversations before she’d shut him out completely. She shook her head and shoved the painful memories aside. Or at least she tried to. The truth was, every time she was with Jonas, she couldn’t help but long for what could have been. Or what could be now. She knew he was interested in picking up where they left off, but she could tell he was a bit leery of her, too.
She figured he wasn’t real keen on setting himself up for another broken heart and she couldn’t blame him. She knew she was giving off conflicting signals, but didn’t seem to have any control over it. But if there was going to be hope for the two of them, she’d have to overcome her insecurities and fears.
His car pulled into the parking lot and she could see Felix in the passenger seat. He actually had a smile on his face, German shepherd puppies tucked under his chin. Felix and Jonas climbed out of the car and Felix juggled his armload. Jonas’s eyes met hers and he gave her a slow smile. “Thanks for this.” He blinked and she thought she saw moisture before he cleared his throat and looked back at his son.
The puppies licked and squirmed but Felix kept a firm yet gentle grip on them. His gaze met hers and his smile faltered. Then one of the puppies nipped his nose and he yelped, sounding a lot like his new friends. Brooke laughed and motioned for them to get in her vehicle. Mercy sat in the backseat in her kennel, her interest in the puppies clear yet controlled. Jonas opened the back door for Felix and he settled himself in. “Here’s their box,” Jonas said as he passed the cardboard through the door.
“I can hold them,” Felix said.
“That’s fine, just put your seat belt on, okay?”
The teen placed the puppies in the box while he fastened his seat belt. Brooke opened the kennel door and let Mercy investigate. The dog took her time sniffing and examining the squirmy canines. She gave them both a lick and settled back into her kennel, satisfied. Brooke shut the door and climbed behind the wheel. She started the car and pulled away, heading for traffic.
“Did your dad tell you what we need you to do, Felix?” she asked.
“He said you wanted me to use the puppies to get the kid to talk about what he saw the night that lawyer was killed.”
“Right.”
“But use some tact, will you?” Jonas asked. “Don’t mention that night unless Brooke motions for you to say something. She’s the one who’s going to be asking the questions, okay?” Jonas asked.
“We already went over this. I’m not stupid, Dad.”
“I know you’re not, son.” Jonas’s sigh was heavy.
“I’m going to be close by,” Brooke said, “so if I start talking, you kind of just focus on the puppies, all right?”
“I got it,” Felix huffed. But Brooke could tell his attitude wasn’t quite as hard as the first time she’d seen him. He fell silent during the short drive to the edge of town.
She pulled over to the side of the road. “Can you open the glove compartment and pull out those two blindfolds?”
Jonas did as she asked and passed one back to Felix. “Seriously?” he asked.
“Seriously,” Brooke said.
The boy shook his head but didn’t argue, just slipped it over his eyes. “So this is kind of like undercover work, isn’t it?”
He wanted to sound bored, but she caught the thread of excitement in his tone. She smiled. “Yes, it is. You’re going to go in, get Tommy’s trust and help us get information. All you have to do is work with the puppies.”
Felix sighed and she figured they were repeating themselves a bit much. She just didn’t want anything to go wrong or for the whole plan to backfire and alienate Tommy instead of getting him to talk.
“Sorry, Felix,” she said softly.
“Thanks,” he said just as soft.
Jonas reached over and curled his left hand around her right. And she let him.
Until she noticed the vehicle staying steady just behind them. She snagged her phone and dialed Gavin. “I need some backup.”
Jonas whipped off his blindfold. “What is it?”
“Behind us. No one followed me to your office, I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe it wasn’t you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what if someone followed me from Felix’s school?”
He had a point. “I think it’s time we got you and Felix some twenty-four-hour protection.”
“What?” Felix blurted from the backseat. “No way. I don’t want someone following me around all day. It’s bad enough the school resource officer won’t let me out of his sight and now you want to make it a full-time thing? No way. Dad, tell her no.”
Brooke ignored Felix. She understood his concern, but right now, she was growing more anxious by the second as the car behind her closed the distance.
* * *
Jonas could see Brooke’s worry as her gaze snapped back and forth between the road and the rearview mirror. “Is help on the way?”
“Yes, but we may have to take care of things ourselves until it gets here.”
“Take care of things how?”
“Hold on tight,” she muttered. The car sped up. “He’s going to try to run us off the road.”
Jonas’s adrenaline shot to maximum levels as he turned in the seat to catch Felix’s frightened gaze. “Hang on, son.” Felix nodded and held his precious cargo.
Jonas tried to get a glimpse of the driver, but the man had a mask on. The car crept closer. Closer. Jonas held his breath and gripped the door. He wanted to throw himself into the back and cover Felix with his body, but there wasn’t room—or time.
And then the car following them tapped the rear bumper. The only reason they didn’t spin out was because Brooke surged ahead.
“Grab something and hold on tight,” Brooke shouted. She slammed the brake and spun the wheel. The car’s back end swung out. Felix yelled and puppies yelped. The vehicle on their bumper flew past. Jonas caught a glimpse of it, then spinning trees.
Then they were stopped. An abrupt halt that jerked him against the seat belt. “Felix? You all right?”
The boy didn’t answer. Jonas whipped his head around to see his son hovering over the two puppies. Mercy had been knocked around, but stood and shook herself. “Felix?”
Felix looked up and Jonas flinched at the blazing anger in the teen’s eyes. “I’m fine. Who is doing this? And why?”
“Hold that thought,” Brooke said. “They’re coming back.”
“What?”
Sirens sounded and the black sedan slammed on brakes before reaching their vehicle, backed up and did a one-eighty turn. It sped off and Brooke sucked in a deep breath.
Nicholas pulled up beside her. Two other police cars swept past them and gave chase. She rolled her window down. “Pretty fancy driving there,” he said.
“Maybe. I’m glad you showed up when you did.”
“Did you get a plate?” Nicholas asked.
“No. I tried, but couldn’t catch it.”
“I think I caught the letter X and maybe the number 3,” Jonas said.
Brooke looked at him, admiration glinting in her eyes. “Nice job.”
He shrugged and glanced back at Felix. He’d released the puppies back into their box and sat with his arms crossed, the glare in his eyes not having lessened. “What is it, son?”
“They can’t get away with this.”
“They’re not,” Brooke said, her tone grim. “That’s why we’re doing everything we can to stop them.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “All right, let me call Cassie and tell her we’re going to have to do this another day—”
“What? Why?” Felix demanded.
Jonas frowned at the boy’s tone, but Brooke lifted a brow. “You don’t want to go home and chill out a little? You got knocked around a bit.”
“I’m not hurt and in case you forgot, my home is a veterinarian’s office right now, thanks to these people. And no, I’m not interested in chilling out. I want to find the dude that ran us off the road and tried to shoot us at the restaurant. If we don’t find him fast, these things are just going to keep happening. We need to help so those kids can go back to living in their home and feel safe.”
Jonas couldn’t help his sagging jaw. This was his son? His surly, attitudinal teen who only thought about himself most of the time? He shot a look at Brooke, who looked more amused than anything. She gave a slow nod. “All right then. You’re on. Let’s get going.” She looked at Nicholas. “Will you make sure we’re not followed?”
“Absolutely. Officers are in pursuit as we speak.”
“Good. Call me if you need anything else.”
He nodded. “I talked to Jeffries and rescheduled our meeting. We’re on for tomorrow morning first thing. At his house again.”
She lifted a brow. “Is he going to be there this time?”
“He says he is.”
Jonas watched the two converse and wondered if there was anything between them besides work. At first, jealousy flared, but then faded. He didn’t get that from them. He got a sense of deep respect and friendship, but nothing more. He wanted to disregard the relief flowing through him, but couldn’t. He also couldn’t ignore the fact that Brooke was important to him. And the more he was around her, the more that grew. He wanted to find out if they had a chance this time around but was leery about getting his heart trampled on again.
She looked at him. “Blindfold, please.”
“Seriously?” Felix asked from the back even as he did as asked without hesitation.
“Seriously.”