Freezing Point by Elizabeth Goddard Page B

“Sure, I’ll be fine. Butwhat about Simon? Are you going to take him to the vet tomorrow?”
    â€œHis leg will be fine. Whatever happened, he’s not limping anymore. If you don’t mind, I was thinking of leaving him here—that is, for you, to keep you safe.”
    â€œDon’t you think that’s overkill? Especially if I set the alarm?” she asked, a tremor in her voice. She knew enough about alarms to know they weren’t foolproof, even when set. If someone really wanted in…
    â€œWhoever was here is long gone, and with the cops coming out to look around, I doubt they’ll come back. But there’s no better protection than a guard dog, though I wouldn’t exactly call Simon ferocious. Still, he can protect you.”
    Casey’s throat constricted. Maybe she should just move out of her uncle’s house. But how? She’d need money to get an apartment or rental home. And she was already in a lease in Oregon—she’d paid for the next three months up front. Where, then, could she go?
    Besides, her initial intention was to wait things out where Tannin was concerned. She hadn’t considered how long that might take when she’d decided to run.
    â€œThank you for your offer, but no, I’d feel guilty having Simon here—he’d miss you. Plus, I’d be responsible for him. I can hardly take care of myself as it is. Isn’t that obvious?”
    â€œIt’s your decision, of course.” Jesse called Simon to him, then just before he stepped outside, he turned back to her. “Don’t forget what the sergeant said.”
    â€œI got it. Set the alarm.”
    Still. Would it be enough?
    Â 
    Jesse dropped Simon off at his house and headed back to watch Casey. He hadn’t known how to respond to her comment regarding taking care of herself. It wasn’t as if he couldspill any of his concerns because they were all related to his mission.
    All evening, he’d wondered if Spear had been the intruder. Had the guy returned to look for the thumb drive? If Casey had been home would he have simply knocked, and questioned her politely? Or had he been waiting for her to leave?
    His pulse thrummed in his neck. What if…what if he had planned to question her in a similar manner to the way he’d handled her the other night, and then he’d taken off when he’d seen Jesse with her?
    Argh. There was so much Jesse just didn’t know, so much information that he was still waiting on—like how many silver SUVs were in the area? Had Casey’s tire been tampered with? Was there anything relevant on that thumb drive? Anything incriminating? Or was Spear telling the truth?
    These things took time, and they distracted him from his real focus—the sting operation to bring down the cash-smuggling crime ring.
    Pulling up next to the curb and behind a van a little distance from the Helmses’ home, he prepared to keep vigil, watching over the house. It would have been nice if Casey had allowed Simon to stay—that way Jesse could have stayed, too, though outside, and without her knowledge. Instead, he’d had to take Simon home. The dog had whimpered a little when he jumped from the Jeep, his leg still bothering him. Jesse suspected whomever Simon had chased had kicked the dog, but he didn’t want to say so in front of Casey, increasing an already stressful situation.
    Nevertheless, he knew Simon would be fine. If his pain persisted tomorrow, Jesse might take him to the vet.
    He settled back in his seat. Before he could get too comfortable he needed to make sure that she was still all right, that everything was status quo since he’d left her.
    He called her and held his cell to his ear, the house in full view from where he sat.
    â€œJesse?” she answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œDoes there have to be something wrong for me to call you?” Definitely on edge. He