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be picking up on the tense vibe between her and Noah.
    â€œI’m perfectly safe with Noah,” she said, meaning her physical safety, of course. Mental and emotional were another story. “Call me if Pilar or Isabel need anything.”
    She stepped outside and stopped to prepare herself to spend time with Noah in the confines of a car where she couldn’t simply walk away if the tension escalated between them. She looked up at the late winter sun shining through gray skies. Weak rays filtered down to the frosty grass, making it sparkle.
    â€œNo dallying.” Noah took her arm and urged her to his car.
    He opened the passenger door and she eyed him.
    â€œDon’t fight me on this, Darcie,” he said with determination. “You’re on a hit list. If they found you on your way to Pilar and Isabel’s house, they can find you here, too.”
    The thought sent a tremor through her body and she felt for the weight of her gun in her purse. As she slid into the car, she wished she’d taken her target practice with the team more seriously.
    Noah settled behind the wheel and without a word merged into traffic. They’d driven for thirty minutes when he glanced at her. “Can you set up an appointment for me to talk to Winnie Kerr?”
    â€œYou mean for us,” Darcie added. “I want to talk to her, too.”
    â€œFor us, then. This afternoon if possible. I need to get her take on how your attack could be related to her will or her competency hearing.”
    Darcie grabbed her phone and made the call, but it turned out that Winnie was out of town. Darcie arranged a meeting time for when Winnie returned on Friday. Winnie rattled on about her niece and Darcie was glad to talk to her friend. Plus, it alleviated Darcie’s need to make small talk with Noah on the drive. When she hung up, she was pleased to find Noah turning into the central precinct’s parking garage.
    Noah shifted into Park and met her gaze with a direct stare. “We’ll have to walk a few blocks to get to the office. I really don’t expect your assailant is stupid enough to attack you this close to the precinct, but stay close to me and keep alert. Just in case.”
    â€œDon’t worry, I have no intention of wandering off.” They got out of the vehicle and she was grateful when he didn’t try to touch her.
    They made their way up the ramp from the secured lower level assigned to police vehicles.
    At street level, Noah held up his hand. “Wait here while I do a quick sweep.”
    He stepped onto the sidewalk and closely inspected the area around the garage before signaling for her to join him. He gestured at the garage wall. “I’ll take the curb side. You, the interior.”
    She moved to the wall and he took off at a quick clip. She matched him stride for stride. Automobile and foot traffic were both heavy with workers trying to get to work on time. They had to wait at the stop light at the corner, and she felt vulnerable standing out in the open. She took a step closer to Noah before realizing what she’d done. He glanced at her, his surprise at her action written in his expression. She opened her mouth to make a smart-aleck comment to deflect the moment, but the light changed and they hurried across the street and down the sidewalk.
    At the next corner, Noah held up his hand. “We’ll turn right here. Let me check it out first.”
    He ran his gaze over the street, his focus intense. This was the Noah she’d seen at standoffs. Tough. Rock-solid and determined to resolve a situation without the loss of life.
    â€œOkay, we’re clear.” He stepped aside, allowing her to join him.
    Another hundred feet to go. Noah must be right. Her attacker was never going to show up there. With each step closer to their destination, relief hovered on the edge of her emotions, waiting to release fully once they were safely inside the precinct’s secured