LITMIR.BIZ

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sweeping over her. She suddenly realized she had been clenching her hands. Her nails had left marks on her palms. She rubbed her hands against her jeans, trying to help the marks disappear. She thought back on her latest video project, hoping their conversation would erase some of the fear she was feeling. “Tallahassee has been experiencing a huge increase in homelessness lately, but it isn’t just adults that are sleeping on the streets. Due to the recent foreclosure crisis, families are losing their homes in record numbers, and there’s also a runaway component that is a big problem. A large part of the struggling population is teenagers, and I wanted to shine a light on that social issue. I’m hoping that if I ruffle enough feathers, the legislature and the Department of Children and Families will aim more of their resources into helping teens. A lot of the young adults I interviewed were foster kids who aged out of the system and didn’t have a job or home to go to.”

      Jake turned a corner. “Who paid for that project?”

      “A nonprofit charity named the Safe Harbor Group.”

      “I’ve heard of them. They’re a pretty powerful advocacy group, from what I understand.”

      Mackenzie nodded. “Yes, they’re a Florida-based organization with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami. Last year they sank a heap of money into lobbyists to get a bill passed through the Florida legislature to combat homelessness. It didn’t pass, so they hired me to make a video to highlight the problem, and they are gearing up to try again next year. They want to show my documentary on the local cable channels to garner support from the public, who they hope will pressure their representatives to vote for the legislation the next time around. It’s scheduled to air in about a month. I’ve got a small amount of editing to finish, and then I’ll be sending the final versions to their home office.”

      “Is there any major opposition to the bill that you’re aware of?”

      “Only the normal issues surrounding the cost of the legislation. Everybody seems to think helping the homeless is a good idea, but nobody wants to pay the tab. In the past, this type of legislation has been full of unfunded mandates, but this time around, the bill calls for some serious money to be spent on mental health services and child welfare programs.” Mackenzie suddenly sat up straighter and took a look at their location. “Instead of heading to the hotel, would you mind dropping me by my assistant’s house? It’s actually just around the corner from where we are now. I need to stop by and pick up my video camera and lighting equipment, and if she’s home, she can probably take me back to the hotel so you won’t have to. I want to take some live action shots of your team at work, starting tomorrow.”

      Jake frowned, and his distaste for her idea was almost palpable. She was discouraged by his attitude and thought it was time to confront him. Being shot at two days in a row had also reduced her inhibitions. She just didn’t understand his hesitance. “Okay, Jake. It’s obvious you don’t want me to film you. What’s the problem?”

      Jake shrugged, and Mackenzie could tell he was trying to decide how much to say. He had been ordered by his chief to help her, but the chief couldn’t make him like the idea or participate in the shots she needed for her storyboard to come to reality. She could probably make the film without his help, but it wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t be as good. Mackenzie hoped that if he shared his concerns, maybe she could address them. The silence stretched between them, but finally he spoke.

      “I have two reasons why I don’t want to make this movie. Like I told you before, you’ll get in our way. That puts you in danger, and it puts our officers in danger since we have to be thinking about your safety at the same time we’re trying to do our job. Second, you’ll make it impossible for any of us to go undercover in the future. Once our names and faces are publicized, we’ll never get that back.”

      Mackenzie waited, hoping for more, but Jake seemed to have become a man of very few words. She wondered fleetingly if she had ever really known him at all. “I can’t solve the undercover problem short of keeping your names out of the movie and pixelating your faces anytime you’re on the screen. That’s not my first choice because seeing the real you would have a larger impact on the viewers, but I certainly don’t want to put your lives at risk. You already do a dangerous job, and I don’t want to make it worse. I can also assure you that I’ll do my best to stay out of the way. Once you really look at the script and storyboard, I think you’ll feel better about the project. I’m open to changes if you have some ideas. I’d really like to sit down with you tomorrow and go over my plans.”

      Jake shook his head. “Don’t count on it.”

      Mackenzie pursed her lips. It was too bad that she had to have such an unwilling partner in this, but she was committed to the project and would see it through, with or without Jake’s help. She surveyed him closely as he drove. His short, military-style dark brown hair framed his face perfectly, and his clean-cut features and Southern gentleman manners made him seem professional yet also approachable. If anything, he had gotten more handsome over the years. How was that possible? He was perfect for her movie and would do an excellent job of representing the US Marshals, if she could just get him to cooperate.

      She snuck another look at his profile. Over the years, he had honed his muscular physique, and he probably worked out on a regular basis to keep his strong, athletic body fit. She had always thought he was good-looking, and a new whisper of attraction swept over her now as she admired the man he had become. She shook her head and tried to push it away. How ridiculous. Back in school, Jake had never returned her sentiment, and she had made a fool of herself around him on more than one occasion. She certainly didn’t want to do so again. She forced her eyes to look out the window and watch the passing scenery. A few moments later, though, she returned to her perusal, almost without realizing it. His eyes. Those had always been his best feature. Jake Riley didn’t say very much, but his intense green eyes took in everything around him, and his mind was sharp, always catching the little details that others probably overlooked. A quiet observer of all he surveyed—that was an apt description of the deputy. There was a sadness in those eyes, though—as if he had seen the worst humanity had to offer and never really recovered. She wondered what he did for fun outside the workplace or if he even had any hobbies away from the job that brought joy to his life. He’d never been a “life of the party” kind of guy, but she remembered him enjoying sports and going to movies. Now his job seemed to define him. Was there more beneath the surface?

      “What about your laptop?” Jake asked, suddenly breaking her train of thought. “Did you want to stop somewhere to buy a new one? We can do that now, too, if you’d like.”

      The question startled her, and she abandoned her musings. “I have a Costco membership and can probably find something there. I don’t need anything fancy—just something with enough speed to support my video software. I would appreciate it if we could stop, but I don’t want to keep you away from the office if you need to get back.”

      Jake was quiet for a moment. “Actually, I’d rather take you on your errands. Until we have a better handle on the folks threatening you and what they’re after, I want to make sure you’re safe. That’s my priority.”

      Mackenzie’s immediate reaction was surprise, which was quickly replaced with doubt. “But I know you’re really busy, and like you said, I don’t want to be in your way...” His opposition to her project was already a mountain she needed to climb, and she didn’t want to make it worse by interrupting even more of his work.

      Jake stopped at a streetlight and turned to look her in the eye. “It’s a done deal, Mackenzie. And you don’t need to worry. You’re a victim in the Beckett case, and I’ve been assigned to work with you on this film project, so either way, spending time with you is appropriate.” He leaned a bit closer. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe, movie or no movie.” The Southern twang of his accent softened the forcefulness of his statement, but friction still sizzled in the air. She was still uncomfortable with having him serve as her escort. A moment passed as their eyes locked, but then the stoplight changed and he turned his attention back to his driving.

      * * *

      Jake drove the rest of the way to the warehouse store in virtual silence,

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