who’d been helping them pointed toward a room.“You can use this office.”
Levi knew who was on the phone. Any good cop would have checked out his credentials and called Denver. He’d wanted to avoid getting his butt chewed in front of Jo, hoping to make the call when it wasn’t necessary to keep her directly next to him. They both entered the room and shut the door.
Jo had said three words: coffee, cream and please. That’s it. Nowshe sat next to the phone.
“Cooper.”
“Who the hell do you think you are? I want explanations for abusing your status as a United States Marshal.” Sherry spoke loud enough to be heard without a speaker. There wasn’t a way to turn down the volume or walk away from the extension.
“I identified myself in Texarkana and helped with the search. Nothing more.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence.A train was set on fire and you absconded with a victim, crossing state lines. You’re currently in Dallas working a twenty-year-old murder. Shots have been fired.”
“You knew I was escorting Jolene—”
“You aren’t escorting a witness, Cooper. There. Is. No. Witness. Period. Did you hear me that time?”
“Yes, ma’am. Loud and clear.”
As could Jolene.
“You’ll be lucky if youcan keep your job over this incident. How long have you been having an affair with her?”
“You checked my files?”
“Of course we checked your files. I have a rogue marshal flashing his badge around in two different states. Of course I gave the order. All the favors you’ve asked from fellow marshals in the Atlanta area, switching with others to pull duty in the area yourself. This goesway beyond stalking, Cooper.”
The shocked expression on Jo’s face verified that she’d heard, too.
“If you found the files, then you know there was no affair. I was watching my witness. Joseph Atkins knew his daughter would be in danger. I have his statements—”
“Atkins’s death is an unfortunate accident. He and his family are no longer the responsibility of the Marshals Service.”
“I led the people trying to kill her straight to the funeral. Hell, I practically bought their plane tickets.”
“Don’t push this any further, Levi. Walk away.”
“Not happening. I gave my word.”
“Then I have no choice. You’re officially suspended.”
* * *
“W ELL THAT didn’t go as planned,” Levi said, coming through the hotel door just behind her.
Jolene toed her shoesoff, leaving each directly in Levi’s path and totally not caring. Let him trip. She hadn’t spoken. Not a word. She hadn’t known what to say at the police station. Since the phone call from Levi’s supervisor suspending him, she hadn’t been capable of forming a coherent sentence.
How could she be furious, terrified, mortified and betrayed all at the same time? The desire to let loose a blood-curdlingscream of frustration had never been as strong as it was finding out he’d been spying on her.
“You ready to talk?” he asked. He’d been silent and hopefully a little embarrassed.
Where did she begin? Levi was certain to have a logical explanation. She looked through the curtains, careful to keep her body next to the wall instead of the glass like her father had taught her. Leaving thelong, gold drape in place, she watched rush hour traffic on the nearby highway. Car after car sped forward only to stop again several yards ahead.
Sort of like her life. Full of starts and stops and unexpected turns. Just when she thought she was moving forward, something happened to push her in a different direction. Last week she was sitting behind a desk with an unexciting career in herfuture. Today...being shot at by unknown murderers—someone attempting to discover a secret that had died with her mother.
And then there was Levi. She’d just begun to trust him again. Why had he lied to her? Again. Could she forgive him for fulfilling a promise to her father?
Maybe, but not right this second.
The kiss two years ago had
Levi knew who was on the phone. Any good cop would have checked out his credentials and called Denver. He’d wanted to avoid getting his butt chewed in front of Jo, hoping to make the call when it wasn’t necessary to keep her directly next to him. They both entered the room and shut the door.
Jo had said three words: coffee, cream and please. That’s it. Nowshe sat next to the phone.
“Cooper.”
“Who the hell do you think you are? I want explanations for abusing your status as a United States Marshal.” Sherry spoke loud enough to be heard without a speaker. There wasn’t a way to turn down the volume or walk away from the extension.
“I identified myself in Texarkana and helped with the search. Nothing more.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence.A train was set on fire and you absconded with a victim, crossing state lines. You’re currently in Dallas working a twenty-year-old murder. Shots have been fired.”
“You knew I was escorting Jolene—”
“You aren’t escorting a witness, Cooper. There. Is. No. Witness. Period. Did you hear me that time?”
“Yes, ma’am. Loud and clear.”
As could Jolene.
“You’ll be lucky if youcan keep your job over this incident. How long have you been having an affair with her?”
“You checked my files?”
“Of course we checked your files. I have a rogue marshal flashing his badge around in two different states. Of course I gave the order. All the favors you’ve asked from fellow marshals in the Atlanta area, switching with others to pull duty in the area yourself. This goesway beyond stalking, Cooper.”
The shocked expression on Jo’s face verified that she’d heard, too.
“If you found the files, then you know there was no affair. I was watching my witness. Joseph Atkins knew his daughter would be in danger. I have his statements—”
“Atkins’s death is an unfortunate accident. He and his family are no longer the responsibility of the Marshals Service.”
“I led the people trying to kill her straight to the funeral. Hell, I practically bought their plane tickets.”
“Don’t push this any further, Levi. Walk away.”
“Not happening. I gave my word.”
“Then I have no choice. You’re officially suspended.”
* * *
“W ELL THAT didn’t go as planned,” Levi said, coming through the hotel door just behind her.
Jolene toed her shoesoff, leaving each directly in Levi’s path and totally not caring. Let him trip. She hadn’t spoken. Not a word. She hadn’t known what to say at the police station. Since the phone call from Levi’s supervisor suspending him, she hadn’t been capable of forming a coherent sentence.
How could she be furious, terrified, mortified and betrayed all at the same time? The desire to let loose a blood-curdlingscream of frustration had never been as strong as it was finding out he’d been spying on her.
“You ready to talk?” he asked. He’d been silent and hopefully a little embarrassed.
Where did she begin? Levi was certain to have a logical explanation. She looked through the curtains, careful to keep her body next to the wall instead of the glass like her father had taught her. Leaving thelong, gold drape in place, she watched rush hour traffic on the nearby highway. Car after car sped forward only to stop again several yards ahead.
Sort of like her life. Full of starts and stops and unexpected turns. Just when she thought she was moving forward, something happened to push her in a different direction. Last week she was sitting behind a desk with an unexciting career in herfuture. Today...being shot at by unknown murderers—someone attempting to discover a secret that had died with her mother.
And then there was Levi. She’d just begun to trust him again. Why had he lied to her? Again. Could she forgive him for fulfilling a promise to her father?
Maybe, but not right this second.
The kiss two years ago had
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