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Authors: Julie Miller
Tags: Suspense
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anyone and everyone in need. “I don’t like you, Montgomery.”
“Well, I won’t lose any sleep over that. And it won’t keep me from doing my job.” Nick Fensom came back to the conference room area and gave his partner a high sign, indicating the time. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a press briefing to get to downstairs. The sooner we ID Kemp in his current alias and get him off the streets, the sooner my witness will be safe.”
His witness.
As if Josie belonged to him.
Josie and the baby belonged to…well… They sure as hell didn’t belong to Spencer Montgomery. And they weren’t pawns Rafe was willing to risk, even if it meant catching a killer. Rafe inhaled a deep breath, then ran a palmful of water from the fountain and splashed it against his cheeks and the back of his neck, needing to cool his jets and think this thing through.
Aaron would be rolling over in his grave if he knew about the potential danger an unlucky meeting in a prison visitation room had put Josie in. Rafe ran his damp fingers over the top of his hair, smoothing the mess he’d made earlier. He had to do something.
Fensom and Montgomery were long gone, and the conference room nearly cleared out, by the time Rafe had reached his decision. Josie would hate him for what he was going to propose. He made a wry sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. Like he wasn’t on her hit list already.
“Sarge?”
He heard Captain Cutler’s voice behind him, along with several congratulatory comments from coworkers welcoming Trip back after his medical leave. With just a nod, Rafe turned and joined the rest of the five-man team as they crossed past the detectives’ stations and sergeant’s desk on their way to the bank of elevators that would take them down to the garage level where the SWAT teams were based.
Keep her identity secret. He couldn’t even tell his team that Josie Nichols was Montgomery’s star witness—the one person who’d seen the RGK’s current face. He couldn’t risk her name slipping out in connection to the case, even accidentally.
But silence and a scowl couldn’t go undetected by a man as observant as Michael Cutler for long. He pushed the elevator’s call button, crossed his arms in front of him and asked, “So what’s eating you this morning?” While the others gathered out of earshot behind them, Cutler angled his dark blue eyes toward Rafe. “Anything I can help with?”
Michael was too good a friend to lie to him outright. And he was too smart to believe any denial Rafe could come up with. So a half truth would have to suffice. Something was bothering him. Big time. “Josie’s pregnant.”
He turned his head to face him, although any initial surprise or pleasure at the news quickly slipped behind an objective mask. “I take it you’re not pleased. Between school and all the jobs she holds down, I didn’t know she had time for a relationship.”
“She doesn’t.”
“So this wasn’t planned.”
“No.”
“Is the father in the picture?” Rafe stared straight ahead. “I’m guessing she’s having to practically hog-tie you to keep you from coming down hard on the guy.”
Rafe glanced his way for a moment, sending a mute distress message.
The captain could be counted on to be perceptive. This time, he didn’t hide his surprise. “I didn’t know you and… Well, it’s about time. I mean, you and Josie were the only two people who never seemed to see the sparks between—”
“We’re not a couple.”
Right. This isn’t good news. The message registered clear on Cutler’s expression. “But you are the father?”
“I don’t do relationships. We’re just…friends. That’s all we’ve ever been.” Rafe wheeled around to face his captain straight-on. “Can you see me as a dad? Don’t answer that.”
Captain Cutler’s eyes narrowed. Ah, hell. He was the team’s negotiator, trained to read the slightest nuances about people—and Rafe had just revealed a lot more than a
“Well, I won’t lose any sleep over that. And it won’t keep me from doing my job.” Nick Fensom came back to the conference room area and gave his partner a high sign, indicating the time. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a press briefing to get to downstairs. The sooner we ID Kemp in his current alias and get him off the streets, the sooner my witness will be safe.”
His witness.
As if Josie belonged to him.
Josie and the baby belonged to…well… They sure as hell didn’t belong to Spencer Montgomery. And they weren’t pawns Rafe was willing to risk, even if it meant catching a killer. Rafe inhaled a deep breath, then ran a palmful of water from the fountain and splashed it against his cheeks and the back of his neck, needing to cool his jets and think this thing through.
Aaron would be rolling over in his grave if he knew about the potential danger an unlucky meeting in a prison visitation room had put Josie in. Rafe ran his damp fingers over the top of his hair, smoothing the mess he’d made earlier. He had to do something.
Fensom and Montgomery were long gone, and the conference room nearly cleared out, by the time Rafe had reached his decision. Josie would hate him for what he was going to propose. He made a wry sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. Like he wasn’t on her hit list already.
“Sarge?”
He heard Captain Cutler’s voice behind him, along with several congratulatory comments from coworkers welcoming Trip back after his medical leave. With just a nod, Rafe turned and joined the rest of the five-man team as they crossed past the detectives’ stations and sergeant’s desk on their way to the bank of elevators that would take them down to the garage level where the SWAT teams were based.
Keep her identity secret. He couldn’t even tell his team that Josie Nichols was Montgomery’s star witness—the one person who’d seen the RGK’s current face. He couldn’t risk her name slipping out in connection to the case, even accidentally.
But silence and a scowl couldn’t go undetected by a man as observant as Michael Cutler for long. He pushed the elevator’s call button, crossed his arms in front of him and asked, “So what’s eating you this morning?” While the others gathered out of earshot behind them, Cutler angled his dark blue eyes toward Rafe. “Anything I can help with?”
Michael was too good a friend to lie to him outright. And he was too smart to believe any denial Rafe could come up with. So a half truth would have to suffice. Something was bothering him. Big time. “Josie’s pregnant.”
He turned his head to face him, although any initial surprise or pleasure at the news quickly slipped behind an objective mask. “I take it you’re not pleased. Between school and all the jobs she holds down, I didn’t know she had time for a relationship.”
“She doesn’t.”
“So this wasn’t planned.”
“No.”
“Is the father in the picture?” Rafe stared straight ahead. “I’m guessing she’s having to practically hog-tie you to keep you from coming down hard on the guy.”
Rafe glanced his way for a moment, sending a mute distress message.
The captain could be counted on to be perceptive. This time, he didn’t hide his surprise. “I didn’t know you and… Well, it’s about time. I mean, you and Josie were the only two people who never seemed to see the sparks between—”
“We’re not a couple.”
Right. This isn’t good news. The message registered clear on Cutler’s expression. “But you are the father?”
“I don’t do relationships. We’re just…friends. That’s all we’ve ever been.” Rafe wheeled around to face his captain straight-on. “Can you see me as a dad? Don’t answer that.”
Captain Cutler’s eyes narrowed. Ah, hell. He was the team’s negotiator, trained to read the slightest nuances about people—and Rafe had just revealed a lot more than a
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