Page 54 of Eva's Shelter
“We could swing by the topiary gardens on the way to the range.”
“Why?”
“My grandmother would let you have a few minutes with her computer. The FBI isn’t tied into that one.”
While she wouldn’t put it past Nichols to anticipate that kind of move, it was highly unlikely. “That can work. I’m more surprised we’re still going to the range.”
“I want you familiar with that revolver.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining, it’s just the security factor I guess.”
“Sheriff Cochran says the perimeter team will keep things secure here. No one else knows we’re going, so we should be safe. And obviously no one knows about the extra stop to see my grandma.”
“You’re not afraid my presence will be a safety concern for your grandmother or the rest of your family?”
“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “Let me clean up the dishes and then we’ll head out.”
“Okay. I’ll shut things down.” Just as she moved the mouse, a signal sounded.
“What’s that?”
Forgetting her hormones, she motioned Carson over. “Facial recognition. Hot damn! Meet Bakr Morcos.”
“Not a friendly looking guy.”
Another window chimed, even as she was bringing up the location on the first one. “Well look at that. The ghost is actually helpful.”
“What did he do?”
“He’s got a second hit. Oh.” She reached out, clutched Carson’s arm. “The address is Queens. I— Oh.” Her stomach pitched, threatened to toss back her breakfast. “They shop there. My family.” Panic gripped her heart in an icy vise, her composure splintered. All of her positive affirmations about standing tall, about not playing Bakr’s game, were beyond her reach now. “He’s been to my house.”
“Ross has it covered, remember?”
“Does he?” She lurched to her feet before she let herself collapse on the comfort of his strong shoulder. “If he had someone on my family, wouldn’t whoever Ross assigned have seen him?” She flung a hand at the monitor. “Wouldn’t they have picked him up?”
“When was this taken? From what I understand, this kind of software and search takes time.”
“Yes. But it can’t be a coincidence. Itoldthem Bakr was already in the states.”
She ranted, all of the emotion and worry, no matter how useless, pouring out of her in a mad rush of various languages. As she wound down, she found herself in Carson’s warm embrace, his shirt damp from her angry tears. He didn’t shush her, just held her steady until she ran out of words in every language she knew.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. She wasn’t ready for him to let go. Sliding her arms around his waist she held tight. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Do you trust Ross?”
“Yes.”
“But that’s not enough?”
“No.” It only added to her misery. “It should be, but it’s not.”
“So call them. Call your family.”
“I can’t use that thing Nichols gave me.”
“Use my phone or Ruth’s phone. You won’t feel better until you call and I’m not dumb enough to take you shooting when you’re this upset.”
She looked up at him, blinked the tears away. “I want to go shooting. I need to get out of here for a while.”