night.”
Startled by his admission that if she had been a man he would be treating her differently, she accompanied him in silence. Once inside the car, she said in a more level voice, “That’s a very chauvinistic attitude.”
“I was brought up to protect the members of the female sex. It’s ingrained in me. It’s the way I am.”
Lisa forced her mind back to the present, but the words It’s the way I am continued to echo in her head. She should have taken those words to heart, but she hadn’t. She’d thought she could change him. Foolish, foolish girl . Closing her eyes, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
Chapter Seven
I t was a little after noon when they arrived back in Seattle.
In the parking garage, Lisa fought to keep her mind focused on the people loading and unloading their cars. She’d dreamed about Slade during the night and was forced to admit that the physical attraction she’d felt for him in the past was as strong as ever. Reaching her mother’s car, he ordered her to squat down out of view while he opened the door. Reluctantly obeying, her gaze was caught by his boots then began traveling up the sturdy columns of his jeans-clad legs. Fires of passion flamed to life. Furious with herself, she jerked her gaze to the concrete floor of the parking lot.
Once seated inside the car, something nagged at her…something she’d noticed on the floor just under her door. As Slade slid into the driver’s seat, she suddenly realized what it was.
“Stop!” Lisa grabbed his wrist before he could put the key in the ignition. “I saw a thin piece of wire undermy door.” She paused then added, “It was the kind of wire used in the car bombing we were sure Lane had ordered.”
“If you’re right, there’s no telling what will trigger it. Just sit still and call the police,” Slade ordered.
Lisa hesitated. “If I’m wrong we’re going to look really stupid.”
“Better safe than sorry,” he returned.
Taking her cell phone out of her purse, she dialed 9-1-1.
The bomb squad responded immediately and it didn’t take them long to find the explosive. It was under the hood, wired to blow when the ignition was turned on.
“Amateurish but effective,” the captain of the bomb squad told them as his men removed it. “The kind of thing a person can find out how to construct on the Internet these days.”
Detective Overson arrived on the scene at that moment. “Looks like someone is after you,” he said as the bomb was put into a container and taken away.
“I’d say that’s pretty evident,” Lisa returned dryly.
Overson gave her an indulgent look. “I still think Tommy Cross was the intended victim when you were shot. Whoever fired at him was a pro. This bomb was amateurish and so was the hit-and-run. Whoever is after you is no pro. With any luck we’ll be able to track down the components of the bomb and get a description of the buyer.” His tone became authoritative. “I think it’s time you turned those files over to me.”
With her life on the line, Lisa decided she’d rather stay in charge. “Not yet.”
Overson scowled. “I don’t like this. That bomb was no joke.” He turned to Slade. “It could have taken out both of you.”
Slade’s gaze leveled on Lisa. Whomever this killer was, he was getting more and more dangerous. He wanted Lisa out of the line of fire. “He’s right. Do you want Andy to be minus two parents?”
Tears of frustration brimmed in her eyes. “I can’t go near my child until this lunatic is caught.” Her gaze turned to Detective Overson. “If I give you the files we have left, when will you get to them?”
“I have to be in court all day tomorrow and maybe early next week, but I’ll start looking into your case as soon as I’m finished testifying,” he promised.
“What about another detective looking into it sooner?” Slade asked.
“Everyone is doing double and triple duty. Take Miss Gray someplace safe. I promise you,
Startled by his admission that if she had been a man he would be treating her differently, she accompanied him in silence. Once inside the car, she said in a more level voice, “That’s a very chauvinistic attitude.”
“I was brought up to protect the members of the female sex. It’s ingrained in me. It’s the way I am.”
Lisa forced her mind back to the present, but the words It’s the way I am continued to echo in her head. She should have taken those words to heart, but she hadn’t. She’d thought she could change him. Foolish, foolish girl . Closing her eyes, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
Chapter Seven
I t was a little after noon when they arrived back in Seattle.
In the parking garage, Lisa fought to keep her mind focused on the people loading and unloading their cars. She’d dreamed about Slade during the night and was forced to admit that the physical attraction she’d felt for him in the past was as strong as ever. Reaching her mother’s car, he ordered her to squat down out of view while he opened the door. Reluctantly obeying, her gaze was caught by his boots then began traveling up the sturdy columns of his jeans-clad legs. Fires of passion flamed to life. Furious with herself, she jerked her gaze to the concrete floor of the parking lot.
Once seated inside the car, something nagged at her…something she’d noticed on the floor just under her door. As Slade slid into the driver’s seat, she suddenly realized what it was.
“Stop!” Lisa grabbed his wrist before he could put the key in the ignition. “I saw a thin piece of wire undermy door.” She paused then added, “It was the kind of wire used in the car bombing we were sure Lane had ordered.”
“If you’re right, there’s no telling what will trigger it. Just sit still and call the police,” Slade ordered.
Lisa hesitated. “If I’m wrong we’re going to look really stupid.”
“Better safe than sorry,” he returned.
Taking her cell phone out of her purse, she dialed 9-1-1.
The bomb squad responded immediately and it didn’t take them long to find the explosive. It was under the hood, wired to blow when the ignition was turned on.
“Amateurish but effective,” the captain of the bomb squad told them as his men removed it. “The kind of thing a person can find out how to construct on the Internet these days.”
Detective Overson arrived on the scene at that moment. “Looks like someone is after you,” he said as the bomb was put into a container and taken away.
“I’d say that’s pretty evident,” Lisa returned dryly.
Overson gave her an indulgent look. “I still think Tommy Cross was the intended victim when you were shot. Whoever fired at him was a pro. This bomb was amateurish and so was the hit-and-run. Whoever is after you is no pro. With any luck we’ll be able to track down the components of the bomb and get a description of the buyer.” His tone became authoritative. “I think it’s time you turned those files over to me.”
With her life on the line, Lisa decided she’d rather stay in charge. “Not yet.”
Overson scowled. “I don’t like this. That bomb was no joke.” He turned to Slade. “It could have taken out both of you.”
Slade’s gaze leveled on Lisa. Whomever this killer was, he was getting more and more dangerous. He wanted Lisa out of the line of fire. “He’s right. Do you want Andy to be minus two parents?”
Tears of frustration brimmed in her eyes. “I can’t go near my child until this lunatic is caught.” Her gaze turned to Detective Overson. “If I give you the files we have left, when will you get to them?”
“I have to be in court all day tomorrow and maybe early next week, but I’ll start looking into your case as soon as I’m finished testifying,” he promised.
“What about another detective looking into it sooner?” Slade asked.
“Everyone is doing double and triple duty. Take Miss Gray someplace safe. I promise you,
Similar Books
