LITMIR.BIZ

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job is that?”

      She sighed, already not enjoying this line of questioning. “I’m a private investigator.”

      “You’re not plugged into our FBI investigation, though. I would’ve known it.”

      “I have no idea what investigation you’re working on.” She let out a deep breath and figured she needed to provide an explanation. Maybe it would help her get away from him sooner. “I was in the woods searching for a missing girl. You may have even seen a local news story about her. Her mother recently hired me. I’ve been looking everywhere. I didn’t see or hear anything until I felt the first bullet whiz by my ear.” She was telling the truth. She had to make sure Megan wasn’t in those woods tonight. It appeared that her leads had been correct. Something was going on with the Vladimir crew. And the FBI was involved. She said another silent prayer for Megan.

      “Wow,” he said. “You were in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ms. P.I. lady. I’m going to need to bring you in, though. Gotta take your statement. Make it official.” His Southern drawl was unmistakable.

      “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

      “I promise it’ll be quick. You are carrying a weapon. I assume you have a permit for that and all.”

      No way she’d allow him to take her in, but she didn’t have to tell him that. Her past struggles with the FBI were her own. Better to have the element of surprise.

      “Uh-oh,” he said. He jerked the wheel hard to the right sending her into his right arm. “We’ve got company. Hold on.”

      “I thought you said we were good.”

      “They came out of nowhere.”

      She turned around and saw a large dark SUV that was gaining on them. But FBI guy had some moves and was taking the curves on the dark country road with finesse as he drove toward the more populated area of town.

      “Who are these people?” she asked as she clenched her fists. Were they connected to Vladimir?

      “The less you know the better.”

      “Why don’t you let me take a shot? I could probably blow out their tire.”

      “You’re that good of a shot?” he asked with disbelief dripping from his deep voice.

      “You better believe it,” she said without hesitation.

      He paused for a second and glanced over at her. “If you think you can, then go for it.”

      She was going to show this FBI guy that she was no slouch. In fact, she could probably outshoot him. All the time she’d spent at the range over the past few years had paid off. She turned around and was glad they were in a Jeep. Granted it didn’t provide them with much, if any, protection, but it also meant she’d have an easier time getting off an unobstructed shot.

      Steadying herself she took a deep breath, aimed and pulled the trigger. It only took one shot, and the right front tire of the car chasing them was done for. The pursuit ended abruptly as they began to skid, the car circling in on the blown tire. “Got ’em.”

      “Well, Ms. P.I. lady, I’m impressed.”

      “You should be.” Then she turned the gun toward him.

      “Whoa.” He lifted up his right hand at her while keeping his left on the wheel. “Just put that thing away.”

      Her hand was steady. “I have no reason to use this on you. But I’m not being taken in for questioning. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

      “I never accused you of anything,” he said with a raised voice. She watched as his hands tightened on the wheel.

      “Take me downtown. Let me out and drive away. It’s that simple.”

      “You’re crazy, ma’am.”

      “No. But I’m the one with the gun right now, so I hope you don’t try anything crazy.”

      “You’re hiding something.”

      “It’s none of your concern. Just act like you never saw me tonight.”

      “You know that’s not possible. I’ll have to write up this whole thing.”

      “Be creative,” she countered. “Now let’s get downtown. And don’t try anything because I’d really hate to shoot you.”

      He let out a deep breath but started driving toward town as she directed. Good, she thought. She doubted that he’d let her go indefinitely. But she needed to get away and deal with this problem on her own terms. That meant not being taken in for questioning by the FBI tonight. She needed time.

      When they reached the more crowded streets of downtown El Paso, she was ready to get away from him. “Slow down. Let me out. And keep on driving. Do you hear me?”

      “Yes,” he said in an even voice.

      “Good.”

      He did as she asked and slowed down. She never took the gun off of him as she opened the door slowly. With the light from the streets flooding in, she could see his eyes were light blue. And questioning. “Just pretend I was never here. For your own good and mine too, okay?”

      She couldn’t shake the thought that she’d seen him before. She backed out of the Jeep, and he didn’t say anything in response. She slammed the door shut, and he pulled away. She didn’t waste any time weaving her way through the Saturday night crowd.

      She was safe for now, but she had no doubt. The FBI guy would find her, and when he did, she’d be in a ton of trouble.

      * * *

      Kip Moore had a job to do. He actually had several. In addition to bringing down the branch of the Vladimir network that had popped up in Texas, he had to find the infuriating P.I. who had the nerve to draw a gun on him.

      He didn’t know whether to be impressed or insulted. She might have been small, but someone had taught her how to shoot—and to shoot well. There were only so many P.I.’s in El Paso, so tracking her down wasn’t difficult. His P.I. lady was in truth, Sadie Lane of The Lane Group.

      He needed to figure out her connection to the Vladimir network and his investigation. He was going to offer to bring her in as a consultant on the case. It would be the perfect way to find out what she was up to. He was currently on his way to pay her a visit. Turned out her office was on the outskirts of downtown not too far from where he’d let her out on Saturday night. It was part of a larger row of nondescript offices, and he read the sign outside her door confirming he was in the right place.

      He was prepared for just about anything when he walked through the door, but he wasn’t expecting to stare down the barrel of her gun yet again. He couldn’t help but smile. “We can’t keep meeting like this.”

      “Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone?”

      “Yes, ma’am, you did. But it wasn’t very polite of you to draw your gun on me the other night after I helped get you out of that mess in the woods.”

      “I told you I wasn’t planning on using it. And I was more than capable of getting out of ‘that mess’ as you call it, all on my own. If you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty good with my gun.”

      He laughed and looked at her closely. In broad daylight, she was even prettier than he’d noticed Saturday night. She wore dark jeans and a simple navy T-shirt. Her long brown hair hung loose down past her shoulders. Unlike so many women, she didn’t have makeup caked on her face. That was a plus. But it wasn’t like he had any time to date. Even more so, he didn’t have any business dating. Not right now, maybe not ever again. He quickly pushed those thoughts away.

      “Why don’t you just lower the gun so we can talk without threats?”

      “And why would I do that? You’d have yours pulled on me in less than a second.”

      “You

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