LITMIR.BIZ

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to the office, her brother and you.”

      Liam turned that comment over in his mind. That couldn’t be right. How could a vibrant, beautiful young woman not have an active social life? He knew from Dan that Maura didn’t date much. Dan chalked it up to a stressful and demanding job. Liam wasn’t so sure.

      “I’m close to Dan, not Maura.”

      “I’m trying to handle this before the FBI steps in.” Spanner started moving again.

      Liam didn’t know he held his breath until it rushed out in relief at seeing the detective step away from Maura’s hiding place. “Why would it?”

      “An explosion in a government lab and a missing highprofile scientist? I know you’re not a cop anymore, but you should be able to reason it out. Way I figure it, by tomorrow morning agents will be crawling all over this thing.”

      “And you don’t want to lose your jurisdiction over the case to the feds.”

      The detective wandered around the driveway. “Something like that.”

      “I’m not interested in your turf war.”

      The detective leaned with his back to the driver’s-side door. “Unless you want a whole bunch of law enforcement crawling all over your house tomorrow, I suggest we go inside and you answer some questions.”

      The man wasn’t leaving without a fight. Liam weighed his options and decided to at least give Maura a chance to escape. He had to hope she’d run back to him once the detective left. “Fine. Let’s go in.”

      “I knew you’d understand and come around.”

      Liam spared a quick glance at the trunk then conducted a visual scan of the area. He hung back and followed the detective to the front door. As soon as Spanner stepped onto the front porch, Liam aimed the key chain behind his back and hit the trunk button. Jangled his keys to hide the click, and hoped like hell she was okay in there.

      PANIC SCREAMED THROUGH Maura’s nerve endings. The only thing that kept her from banging on the lid and begging for release was the sweet sound of the lock disengaging. She waited for Liam to give her a signal, but he didn’t pop up in front of her.

      She slipped her fingers into the open space and peered out. The light at the front of the car cast the back end in shadows. The dark night kept her guessing as to who or what was out there, but she couldn’t sit in the trunk one more minute. The carpet scratched her skin and the tight space had her lungs grasping for air.

      Opening the trunk as little as possible, she reached her arm out and balanced her hand on the bumper. Lifting her weight up on her wrists, she slid her stomach over the edge. The rough metal edges poked her skin as she gulped in cool fresh air.

      The second her feet hit the driveway she wanted to bolt. Let Liam fight this battle and slink off somewhere. Mentally regroup and develop a new plan. Tempting, but she had to clear the stain on her work. She had to rescue the findings and get them into the hands of people who would announce the discovery and give hope to truly ill people everywhere.

      She hadn’t sacrificed her childhood and headed off to college at fifteen, pushed herself so hard while she ignored the social aspects of her life, just to have Dr. Hammer ruin it all with his warped agenda. Whatever it was.

      She crouched down behind the back fender of the car and tried to figure out what was happening inside Liam’s house. She could make out figures in the front window but was too far away to hear or see anything. After a quick look around for nosy neighbors, she stayed in her bent-over position and approached the house.

      Her concentration on her task broke long enough for her to pick up a mimicking sound. She took a step, and then heard another shoe crunch against the pavement off to her right somewhere. To test her theory, she tried the move again and a thud mirrored hers. Someone was out there. Someone close and quiet. The way her heartbeat pounded in her ears, she guessed the person was dangerous.

      Weighing her options, she went with police over death. After a mental count to three, she took off, darting across the front lawn to the gate on the far left side. Getting the detective and Liam to notice her and come out with guns ready was the goal. She made noise, even let the gate slam shut behind her. When she heard it open again a second later, she picked up speed and rounded the back corner of the house, her sneakers sliding in the grass as her harsh breathing burned her throat.

      The mad dash took her up on the patio. She body-smacked against the back glass door at a dead run. She fumbled to slide it open. When that didn’t work, she pounded on it with her fist. The loud thunks grabbed the attention of both men inside.

      Liam’s stunned expression gave way to a fierce determination when he glanced over her head. Whatever he saw—and Maura was afraid to look around and see—made Liam shove the detective aside. He sprinted across his family room just as a beefy hand landed on her arm from behind.

      She saw the stubby fingers and Liam’s face. Then she saw a blur of jeans and madness as Liam threw open the door and flew over her shoulder. He smacked into her, pushing her to the side. Off balance and thrumming with energy, the move sent her to her knees on the deck. Blinding pain flooded through her but she ignored it. She was focused on the men next to her.

      Liam and the intruder rolled across the grass, each trying to gain the upper hand. They came to a stop with the other man sitting on Liam’s chest. A hand reached out and wrapped around his throat. Liam hit out as he coughed, bucked his hips and kicked out his legs as if attempting to shrug off the other man.

      The scene registered in her brain. She had to save Liam. She struggled to stand up over the screaming aches in her legs and thumping around her temples.

      “Break it up.” The detective out-yelled her from his position at the back door.

      Maura froze at the sound of his commanding voice. She looked at the police officer and followed his furious frown to Liam’s red face. This man could arrest her later but right now she needed him. Liam needed him.

      “Do something!” She yelled the plea.

      Metal flashed in the intruder’s other hand. He grunted as he deflected Liam’s blows. He had the size and position advantage. Pinned and choking, Liam didn’t stand a chance. The man lifted his arm, bringing the knife down in an arc toward Liam’s throat.

      Maura opened her mouth to scream when the loud boom cracked through the night. Dog barks filled the neighborhood. She waited for lights to switch on and people to come running, but it didn’t happen.

      Nothing stopped the mix of horror and anguish pumping through her. “Liam!”

      She rushed over just in time to see the intruder slump over Liam. Gagging and wheezing, Liam shoved at the other man’s shoulders. With a lot of effort, Liam pushed the man off him then rolled to his side. He lifted up on all fours and gulped in huge swallows of air.

      “Are you okay?” She rubbed his back. She wanted to comfort him, but really needed to convince herself Liam was fine. Her brain refused to believe it.

      Liam nodded but didn’t stop coughing.

      The detective reached over the unmoving man and checked for a pulse. “Dead.”

      Relief flooded through her. “Good.”

      “Dr. Lindsey?”

      At the sound of the detective’s voice, the memory of where she was and why she was there came rushing back. She glanced up. “Yes?”

      “I’ve been looking for you.”

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