those women,” Eric warned.
“Just like our colleagues shouldn’t underestimate me.”
“They were collecting data for someone powerful who has resources.”
Julie stopped and looked straight into his eyes. “Eric, you know that what you’re saying isn’t warning me off. You’re making it sound better and better.”
He should have considered that. If there were even a hint of danger or adventure, Julie would sign up. He had been like that once. He still was when it came to Julie. She played havoc with his senses, but he was still drawn to her. He had to be around her, even though he knew he couldn’t rely on his self-control.
Eric admitted he had to change tactics. “And just when do you expect to investigate?” he asked, his voice echoing against the concrete walls. “You work during the days and you’ll have decoy assignments at night.”
Julie stopped and placed her hands on her hips. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re going to make sure I have a decoy assignment every night of the week until I drop this matter?”
Eric couldn’t help but laugh. “Your faith in my abilities is gratifying, but I’m not a magician. If I could land some business for us, we wouldn’t do the premarital screenings.”
She bit her lower lip. “You believe there’s been a theft, and you think someone should look into it. The only reason you don’t want me to investigate is because you think the person should have expertise.”
“Yes,” he said with a sharp nod. “That’s what I’m saying.”
Julie grabbed his arm. “Then come with me.”
“Me?”
Her eyes glowed with excitement as she warmed up to the idea. “You’re an expert.”
“Not in corporate espionage.” Eric would do anything for Julie. He wanted to be at her side, especially to keep her safe, but this wasn’t his expertise. “I hunt down and retrieve stolen artifacts for the government.”
“Theft is theft,” she said with a careless shrug.
Eric rubbed his forehead as he felt a headache coming on. “That’s an oversimplification. A jewel thief has different methods and tools than someone who is committing a crime with a computer.”
“They might use different tools, but all we need is a cell phone, a cigarette lighter and a pocketknife.”
He stared at her. “Where do you get this information?”
“Books and TV. The spy always has these things with them, even if he doesn’t smoke. Everyone knows that.”
Eric stared at her. “Tell me that you’re joking.”
“I might be,” she said with a smile. “And thieves might have different methods, but they’re driven for common reasons.” She started ticking them off with her fingers. “Greed, envy, revenge, the need for attention…”
“They also can be violent,” Eric said, “which is enough reason for you to stay out of it.”
“Come on, Eric. Don’t you want to right some wrongs? Fight the good fight?” She pumped her fist up in the air like a superhero. “Save the day?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened and she lowered her hand. “Seriously?” She stared at him. “But you…you’re a…”
“Special agent. For ICE. Yeah, I know.” He speared his hand in his hair and sighed, not sure if he wanted to share his world with Julie. “Let me tell you a secret about fighting crime.”
Eagerness flashed in her eyes and she leaned in closer. “What? What is it?”
“Sometimes the bad guys win.”
Her eyes narrowed as she waited for more.
“And sometimes you have to get on their level and fight dirty to catch them,” he said slowly, his heart pumping hard. He couldn’t look at Julie. “Once you do that, you’ll never feel clean again.”
“You will do whatever it takes,” she said as she looked at him with adoration…which he didn’t deserve. “It’s worth it if it brings justice in the end.”
“Not always.” Didn’t she get it? He could be just as bad, just as dirty as the thieves he captured. “Sometimes you can put together a great case,
“Just like our colleagues shouldn’t underestimate me.”
“They were collecting data for someone powerful who has resources.”
Julie stopped and looked straight into his eyes. “Eric, you know that what you’re saying isn’t warning me off. You’re making it sound better and better.”
He should have considered that. If there were even a hint of danger or adventure, Julie would sign up. He had been like that once. He still was when it came to Julie. She played havoc with his senses, but he was still drawn to her. He had to be around her, even though he knew he couldn’t rely on his self-control.
Eric admitted he had to change tactics. “And just when do you expect to investigate?” he asked, his voice echoing against the concrete walls. “You work during the days and you’ll have decoy assignments at night.”
Julie stopped and placed her hands on her hips. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re going to make sure I have a decoy assignment every night of the week until I drop this matter?”
Eric couldn’t help but laugh. “Your faith in my abilities is gratifying, but I’m not a magician. If I could land some business for us, we wouldn’t do the premarital screenings.”
She bit her lower lip. “You believe there’s been a theft, and you think someone should look into it. The only reason you don’t want me to investigate is because you think the person should have expertise.”
“Yes,” he said with a sharp nod. “That’s what I’m saying.”
Julie grabbed his arm. “Then come with me.”
“Me?”
Her eyes glowed with excitement as she warmed up to the idea. “You’re an expert.”
“Not in corporate espionage.” Eric would do anything for Julie. He wanted to be at her side, especially to keep her safe, but this wasn’t his expertise. “I hunt down and retrieve stolen artifacts for the government.”
“Theft is theft,” she said with a careless shrug.
Eric rubbed his forehead as he felt a headache coming on. “That’s an oversimplification. A jewel thief has different methods and tools than someone who is committing a crime with a computer.”
“They might use different tools, but all we need is a cell phone, a cigarette lighter and a pocketknife.”
He stared at her. “Where do you get this information?”
“Books and TV. The spy always has these things with them, even if he doesn’t smoke. Everyone knows that.”
Eric stared at her. “Tell me that you’re joking.”
“I might be,” she said with a smile. “And thieves might have different methods, but they’re driven for common reasons.” She started ticking them off with her fingers. “Greed, envy, revenge, the need for attention…”
“They also can be violent,” Eric said, “which is enough reason for you to stay out of it.”
“Come on, Eric. Don’t you want to right some wrongs? Fight the good fight?” She pumped her fist up in the air like a superhero. “Save the day?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened and she lowered her hand. “Seriously?” She stared at him. “But you…you’re a…”
“Special agent. For ICE. Yeah, I know.” He speared his hand in his hair and sighed, not sure if he wanted to share his world with Julie. “Let me tell you a secret about fighting crime.”
Eagerness flashed in her eyes and she leaned in closer. “What? What is it?”
“Sometimes the bad guys win.”
Her eyes narrowed as she waited for more.
“And sometimes you have to get on their level and fight dirty to catch them,” he said slowly, his heart pumping hard. He couldn’t look at Julie. “Once you do that, you’ll never feel clean again.”
“You will do whatever it takes,” she said as she looked at him with adoration…which he didn’t deserve. “It’s worth it if it brings justice in the end.”
“Not always.” Didn’t she get it? He could be just as bad, just as dirty as the thieves he captured. “Sometimes you can put together a great case,
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