Chapter 10
This woman is going to be the death of me. Her and that baby-pink dress. I’ve considered tossing my jacket over her no less than twelve times so I will stop looking at her curves instead of focusing on this case.
Does she really expect me to believe that Liam Hawthorne is only here in Phoenix to test out the dating scene?
No way.
Why was she really with him? Doesn’t she know how dangerous he is? Or maybe she does and is purposely throwing me off-track because she’s working with him. Why else would she try to convince me he’s innocent?
“Can you tell me anything about him?” I say again and clench the small counter I’m leaning against trying to rein in my frustration. “Anything out of the ordinary at all?”
She folds her arms across her chest. “You mean did he mention that he was secretly into illegal activities? Nope. Can’t say it came up.”
I force back a groan. She has no idea what he’s done.
She tilts her head to the side and looks up at me. “You seem extra frustrated tonight. Well, every night. One might consider childhood to be the reason for this kind of prolonged behavior. What kind of daddy issues do you have that make you uncomfortable to be arou—“
“Don’t,” I warn her. I’m not about to spill my guts to her. That’s not what we are doing here. “I need you to focus,” I say, again. “Can you tell me anything?”
This time she actually closes her mouth and thinks. It doesn’t last long.
“He did mention he liked the outdoors. I thought that was strange.”
“Why?”
She tilts her head to the side. “Because it’s the outdoors.”
“Enjoying nature is a normal pastime.”
“Now who’s not being helpful?”
“Fine. That’s something, I guess. Does he own a cabin? A favorite hiking spot near his home?”
She stares at me like I’ve grown an extra head, then her eyes light up. “Ooh! He has a yacht. And a house in Turks and Caicos.”
Of course, she’d be impressed by that. Any woman would. I make a mental note to look into anything connecting him to Turks and Caicos.
“He said he went to boarding school. Maybe one of his old classmates there is framing him for all these so-called crimes.” She practically bounces in her seat as if coming up with these ideas is the most thrilling part of the night for her.
She clearly knows nothing.
I roll out my bad shoulder. What was I thinking by pulling her in here? At first, when Liam disappeared, we figured he was getting ready to steal something, but nothing happened, and he returned to his hotel two days ago. After that, I managed to convince myself Amelia had nothing to do with this. But then I saw her walk into the restaurant to meet him. And I knew she must be in on his thieving. I figured it would be easy to convince her to turn on him. I thought wrong. Because she was only on a date with him.
I can’t tell if that makes the situation better or worse. Why would a world-class thief fly across the ocean to date some random woman? No, there has to be something more. Something about this woman sitting right in front of me…who doesn’t know a stinking thing. That or she’s excellent at playing me.
Amelia leans forward, propping an elbow on her very tan and very smooth legs. “Okay fine, I’ll admit, a man that attractive can’t be all he says he is. He’s definitely hiding something, but maybe he’s just a player.”
“What makes you say that?”
She shrugs. “Call it a hunch. Though I can tell you something.”
“What?” I practically leap forward, my face mere inches from hers.
Her blue eyes dance with mischief. This is it, this is going to be the key I need to finally fit all these endless puzzle pieces together.
“He didn’t push me out a fire exit, tie me to a pole, or kidnap me.”
I clench my jaw so hard I’m afraid it’s going to crack something. She was the one who walked into dangerous situations. “Believe it or not, I was—I am—protecting you.”
She pulls back, a tempting grin on her face. “I’m going to stick with or not.”
She is the most infuriating woman I have ever met. Also the most beautiful, which makes her even more infuriating. It’s a vicious cycle.
The door of the van opens and Cruz steps in, holding a cup. “I got something.”
I nod. If he left any DNA, we can potentially match it to future crimes he commits on U.S. soil. Unfortunately, past crimes have all been wiped clean, so I don’t hold much hope for this either.
“Oh great, a cup.” Amelia claps her hands. “And here I was worried about the safety of our nation.”
Cruz’s scowl is so icy it lowers the temperature in the van. “And what are you doing for our great nation?”
Amelia folds her arms and lifts her chin. “Saving the world one head of hair at a time.”
“Wow. Should I call the president and get you on the payroll?”
“That would be great, could you?”
Cruz grunts.
“You know.” Amelia stands. I’m not sure if she’s attempting to intimidate Cruz or not. If she is, she”ll never accomplish it. “You remind me of a certain crotchety TV detective; can I call you Lassie?”
“Can I throw you out of the van?” Cruz snaps.
“Ladies.” I step between them before one of them throws a punch. I’m not sure who looks closer at this point. But I know for a fact Cruz has a mean right hook. “We need to figure this out.”
Amelia pushes past me. “Good luck with that, Special Agents.”
“Not so fast.” Cruz blocks her exit. “You’re going on another date with him, and we are going to listen in.”
Amelia rears back. “Wait, what?”
“You’re going to help us nail this guy,” Cruz says.
Amelia pauses on this. Something lights up in her blue irises and her whole demeanor shifts to one of childlike excitement, but she reins it in, playing with the choker around her neck. “You want my help?”
“You don’t have to help us—” I start but Cruz is faster.
“It’s an order from the U.S. government.”
I’m not technically sure we have that kind of power.
There’s a grin the size of a watermelon growing on Amelia’s face. “You’re saying I’d be working for the FBI?”
“As an asset,” Cruz clarifies.
“An asset?” Amelia muses.
A lot of people are scared to help out the government, but this woman falls into a category all her own. She looks absolutely thrilled. Frighteningly so. I step in front of Amelia to block her view of Cruz. She needs to think this through before agreeing to anything.
“You don’t have to do this,” I say to her. “It’s not necessary. And it could be dangerous.”
“Please,” Amelia scoffs. “I’m not worried about a little danger.”
That’swhat’s worrying me.
“You can walk out of here and pretend this never happened,” I try again.
“Oh, but it did.” She beams. “And it happened to me.” She steps closer and tiptoes her fingers up my chest. “What would you like me to do, Agent Harris?” Her eyes dart between mine, searching for something.
My heart hammers in my chest, right beneath her fingertip. “It’s up to you,” I say, as nonchalantly as possible. If it were up to me, I’d advise her to leave. Get as far away from Liam Hawthorne as possible. But something tells me she wants to do the exact opposite and nothing I say will change that.
“I’ll help you with your case,” she says. “On one condition.”
And there goes my ever-mounting stress around this woman. I clear my throat. “What’s that?”
“Can I get a badge?”
“No.” Cruz and I say at the same time.
Amelia doesn’t seem disappointed in the slightest. “It was worth a shot.”