Twilight Warrior. Aimee Thurlo
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met his boss’s gaze. “We were friends once, but I haven’t seen her since high school. Our lives haven’t intersected since—not until she showed up at my home this morning.”
Wright leaned back, his expression revealing nothing. “All right. I’m going to do some more checking on Ms. Perry, then we’ll talk.”
Travis met Laura in the bullpen and saw that she’d struck up a conversation with their computer tech, Lester Crosley. The man came in periodically to update their security and backup systems. Despite the heat outside, the guy was impeccably dressed in a white shirt and tie and his company’s bright yellow jacket.
Travis walked over and joined them. “What’s up, guys?”
“Ms. Perry speaks my language,” Lester said.
“I love computers, and I’m always interested in security features. These days a good firewall is an absolute necessity. The problem is finding the best one for each system,” she said.
Travis glanced at Crosley. His head was shaved bald, a tough-guy look Travis had seen a lot in the marines, and he looked fit, as if he worked out. Only the paleness of his skin marked him as the proverbial computer geek.
Although Lester had been servicing the city’s computer networks for months, this was the first time Travis had seen him do more than grunt when spoken to. Laura had worked her usual magic. The woman had a way about her, not to mention a smile that could melt an iceberg.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around here,” Crosley said, giving Laura a wide smile.
“I’m new in town,” she answered. “I’m here on business.”
“Computer related? IT consultant, maybe?”
“No, don’t worry. I’m not competition,” she said, chuckling.
“I can hold my own when it comes to computers but I’m no programmer.”
“If you’re going to be here for a few days, how about letting me show you around, and maybe take you to dinner?” he asked.
Laura smiled. “Thanks for the offer, but my schedule’s pretty tight. I’ll be putting in long hours before I head back home.”
“Maybe on your next trip then,” he said, rolling his shoulder and bending his neck to the left then to the right, as if working out the cricks. “Just in case you find a break in your schedule,” he added, handing her his business card.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the card and putting it in her pocket.
Travis gave her a nudge. “Come on. It’s time for us to put our heads together and get some work done on this case.”
As they moved over to his desk, she glanced around. “Where’s Crusher?”
“My guess is that he’s in the break room with Sergeant Miller. She buys him tortilla chips—baked, not fried. He loves those—and her.”
As Travis finished speaking, Laura saw the big dog walking down the hall in their direction. Next to him was a sturdy-looking uniformed officer with a touch of gray in her cropped hair.
“I borrowed your dog, Detective Blacksheep. I needed him to help me track down some missing chips.”
Travis laughed as the sergeant walked away. “Crusher, down,” he ordered, pointing beneath the desk. The dog, still licking his chops, lay down with a contented sigh.
Laura waited for Travis to tell her what aspect of the case he wanted to discuss, but Travis didn’t say anything.
“I thought you wanted to compare notes,” she said. Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, “Or were you just jealous?”
Travis looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “I think you’re having a high-school flashback. Did somebody slip a note into your locker after homeroom?”
“Nice deflection, but you didn’t answer the question, did you?” she challenged with a tiny smile.
“Chief Wright’s instincts are right on target. You’re trouble,” he grumbled.
“Let’s focus on our suspect,” she said, growing somber. “When it comes to bad guys, he’s one of the worst I’ve ever seen.”
“Just between you and me,” he asked in quiet voice, “how sure are you that you weren’t followed to my place?”
“From Albuquerque, a hundred percent. Think about it. The guy would have had to follow me to the airport, get a ticket on my flight at the last minute, deplane, rent a car and keep up—all without me knowing about it.”
“Maybe he found out when you were arriving, then followed you from the airport, or your motel, over to my place. Think hard. Did anyone know you were coming to see me?” Travis asked. Then, eyes narrowing, he added, “Come to think about it, how did you know where I live?”
“I confess,” she answered with a tiny smile, “I used NSI’s assets. That type of information is out there if you know where to look.”
He nodded, lost in thought. “Okay, let’s get back to the problem. The suspect knew your whereabouts, but you’re pretty sure he didn’t tail you. Maybe he planted a tracking device in your vehicle.”
“Unlikely. My car was a rental, remember? He would have had to have known which car I’d be given, and considering I waited till the last second to rent, that would have been nearly impossible,” she answered. “But once he knew I was in Three Rivers, following me to your place wouldn’t have been that hard. He could have tailed me with his lights off after I turned off the main highway. There’s only one route from town to your place. Right?”
He nodded slowly. “Unless you’re on foot or take a helicopter. We’ll just have to wait and see what the crime-scene team finds in the wreckage before we go any further.”
“Of course, there could be other possibilities we haven’t thought of yet,” she said slowly.
He nodded, considering it silently. At long last he looked up and met her gaze.
She felt the impact of that one look all through her. She’d never met anyone who could spark her senses to life like Travis could. She looked away, knowing this wasn’t the time or place for romantic notions. Yet something inside warned her that some temptations weren’t easily dismissed or ignored.
“Blacksheep!” Wright called from down the hall. “My office.”
Laura stood, too, but Chief Wright shook his head. “I need a word with my detective first.”
Laura sat back down and gave Travis a smile of encouragement. “Looks like you’re up. Remember, don’t lead with your chin,” she said, remembering Nick’s advice to his little brother one afternoon long ago when she’d watched him teach Travis how to fight. Funny how some images from the past popped so easily into her head now that she was back.
Travis laughed, also remembering the incident. “I’ve learned a few things since then.”
She watched him walk away confidently, each stride filled with purpose. He wasn’t a kid anymore. He was his own man now, and a very appealing one at that. Those shoulders—not to mention those world-class buns—could add a real spark to anyone’s daydreams.
Laura looked down at Crusher, who was watching her curiously. “Okay, busted. You caught me checking out your owner. So let me bribe you into staying silent,” she said, petting the dog, who gave her a panting grin. “Want to go outside for some fresh air?”
His ears perked up and he stood.
“Mister C., you and I need to get to know each other a little better,” she said, reaching for the leash on Travis’s desk. “I have a feeling we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Chapter Three
Wright