THE DEFENDER by Adrienne Giordano Page B

was chasing. I’m sending it to the lab. See if we hit on anything. Prints, DNA, anything we can identify him with. Chances are we won’t get a good print. Not with the hat’s material. Maybe from the plastic on the back. DNA is more likely.”
    “So, you lost him?”
    A murderous glare came her way and Penny stepped back. “I’m just asking.”
    “Yes. I lost him. He got a good jump on me. There were two of them and they split off. I went with the guy on the phone, thinking he was the one talking to you. I didn’t get a look at his face. I think it was Heath.”
    “Who was the other guy?”
    “I don’t know. Now, what gasket am I about to blow?”
    Penny stepped back another inch and readied herself for Russ’s rage. The only way to approach this was head-on. Just lay it out there. “I’m calling in one of the firm’s investigators.”
    “Uh, negative on that.”
    She tilted her head. “Excuse me?”
    “No investigators. They’ll screw up my case.”
    “Well, that’s too bad, Russell. I can’t have Heath taking over my life.” She jabbed her finger toward the bathroom. “The man was in my house. And the FBI can’t find him.”
    The door opened again and Brent, booties on his giant feet, stepped in. If the raised voices caused alarm, he didn’t show it. Just another day in paradise. He held open a clear plastic evidence bag and Russ dropped the hat into it and sealed it. “Thanks. I’ll take care of it.”
    Brent glanced at Penny. “You okay?”
    He might be pushy, but he was a good guy. “I’m fine. Be out in a minute.”
    He nodded in a way that let her know he’d be close if she needed him. Maybe he and Russ were on the government’s side, but Brent was one of those ultra-alphas who made taking care of women an art form. She’d sensed it from the second he’d stepped into her chaotic world. Personality traits such as that were always good to know. He moved out the door again. Penny glanced at Zac leaning against her bookcase with his arms folded. Another alpha she’d pegged long ago. If he thought she was in trouble, he’d jump in. No matter how they fought or disagreed, they always backed each other up.
    “Russ,” Brent said, “the investigator might not be a bad idea. Maybe a fresh set of eyes would help.”
    Thank you.
    Russ sucked in his cheeks. Thought about it. Or at least pretended to think about it. This man puzzled her. She didn’t know him well enough yet to figure out his mannerisms and right now, he had her stumped. Anything could be cooking in that brain of his.
    He gave Penny a hard stare and her stomach pitched. “I don’t necessarily disagree. But I’m not willing to risk my case. No investigator. Am I clear?”
    Is he clear? He did not just say that to her. They were in her apartment, her trashed apartment, and he thought he could treat her like an imbecile. Like a hysterical female who needed him to control a situation for her. Ha. “Oh, you’ve made yourself clear, Special Agent Voight. No doubt about that.”
    Again, he propped his hands on his hips and tapped his fingers. “I take it from the sarcasm you won’t listen.”
    “I don’t like your tone. I’m an attorney, Russell. A damned good one and I don’t appreciate you treating me like I’m some vapid woman.
    “Oh, come on!”
    Penny stayed silent. Why argue with someone just as stubborn and bullheaded as herself? No point. Besides, she hadn’t agreed to anything. Dirty pool? Maybe. But as long as she didn’t agree that she wouldn’t put an investigator on this, he couldn’t accuse her of going back on her word.
    Zac boosted himself off the bookcase. “You two arguing isn’t accomplishing much and I need to get back to the office. Everyone cool down and we’ll revisit this investigator thing later.”
    “No revisiting,” Russ said, his gaze still on Penny.
    Penny turned to her brother. “Go back to work. I’m fine.”
    She watched her only ally walk out the door, took a breath and