LITMIR.BIZ

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mind had wandered somewhere else.

      “Excuse me?”

      “Never mind and probably not.”

      Not the most comforting response, but helpful. A quick risk assessment led her to one conclusion. “I need to run. I can find a place with computer access and hack into my work account.”

      “Wrong.”

      The plan unspooled in her brain. “You can talk to the police, get a sense of what they’re thinking and relay it back to me.”

      “Actually, I’m going to the house and you’re staying here.”

      The words screeched to a halt on her tongue. “What?”

      “You heard me.”

      “No way. Someone could see me. Turn me in.”

      He glanced at the houses around them. “It’s two in the morning. Every normal human being is asleep.”

      It was obvious he had no intention of backing down. Fine, she’d adjust. “I’ll ride in the trunk. You can pull into the driveway and I’ll listen in. The conversation will probably be a bit garbled, but I should be able to follow along.”

      “Are you kidding?”

      “If there’s a chance to do it, I’ll slip into the house and hide out there until you make the police go away.”

      Liam’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been watching too much television. Bad television, I might add.”

      She walked around to the driver’s side and hit the button to pop the trunk. “This will work.”

      She stared into the dark, stale-smelling spot. She wasn’t a fan of cramped spaces. Intellectually, she knew she’d have enough air. Common sense told her she’d be fine. Still, her heartbeat kicked up to Big Band proportions at the thought of being trapped and vulnerable. Her instincts told her to stay out and free. Ignoring that voice bellowing inside her took all of her strength.

      Liam put his hand on the top of the trunk. “That is not going to happen.”

      As he pushed down, she pushed up. “It’s the only choice.”

      “No, it’s not. There are three hundred other ways to play this. I know you’re blessed with a big brain—”

      “There’s some debate, but overall brain size does seem to correlate with I.Q.”

      “But you stink at everyday stuff. Tactics and strategies? Not where you excel.”

      She refused to let that insult slide. “I managed to survive a fire and save evidence.”

      “And along the way did something that had a guy attempt shooting his way into your condo.”

      Her energy spurt crashed. “That’s not fair.”

      “I’m in charge.”

      She lifted her leg and scurried into the trunk as fast as possible without hurting herself. “Then start driving.”

      LIAM CUT THE ENGINE and swore under his breath. His unwanted guest stood at the top of the driveway, just under the sensor light. Seeing the police arrive wasn’t a hardship, or even a surprise, but getting rid of this detective might be.

      This was all Maura’s fault. She had him driving in circles, stuffing her into his trunk and otherwise acting like a man without a drop of common sense. The more she talked, the more confused he got. And the more he wanted her.

      The officer met Liam as he stepped out of the car. “It’s a bit early for a visit, isn’t it?”

      “Where have you been?” Detective Spanner asked.

      Liam knew the man. With three hundred or so people in the Alexandria Police Department, Liam had never worked with Rick Spanner, but he was the detective who showed up at Dan’s house the day before. While Spanner’s partner had dropped disturbing hints about Maura’s part in the explosion, Spanner had played good cop. Liam wondered which role he’d try this morning.

      “I’ve been out,” Liam said.

      “With anyone in particular?”

      He tried not to think about Maura curled up in his car. “Do we have a problem here?”

      “Why don’t we move this discussion off the street and into your house?”

      From the reasonable tone and calming hand gestures, Liam guessed the detective was aiming for friendly. Didn’t matter to Liam since he didn’t plan on talking with or trusting the guy. If he were going to tell someone about Maura, it would be Dan.

      “I think we can talk just fine right here,” Liam said.

      “You have something to hide, Officer Anderson?”

      “It’s Mr. Anderson, but I think you know that.” Hell, everyone knew that. It wasn’t as if that part of his life stayed private. Liam had the six-inch scar on his leg to remind him every single day.

      “I have some questions,” Spanner said.

      “At this time of the morning?”

      The detective nodded as he glanced around the front of the property. “I’d like to handle this in the least disruptive manner for you.”

      Yeah, sure he would. “What is the this again?”

      “Maura Lindsey.”

      “What about her?”

      The detective picked that moment to break off and walk around the car. “She’s missing. Her boss is missing. I think you can see the problem.”

      “You told Dan both Hammer and Maura died in the lab.”

      “She is very much alive.” The detective leaned with his palms flat against the hood. “There’s no body, but I’m guessing that’s not news to you.”

      “Why?”

      “Not even a flicker of surprise at the idea of Maura being safe somewhere.” The detective smiled. “Your lack of reaction gives you away.”

      Liam’s mind rushed to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Your partner all but blamed Maura at Dan’s apartment. False accusations seem to be the sum total of your investigation so far.”

      The detective slipped around the vehicle, stopped at the trunk. “I’m trying to track her down. She could be a victim, but I can’t know that until I find her.”

      “Ask her friends where she hangs out.”

      Liam sweated out every minute of the detective’s casual stroll, but tried not to show any outward reaction. If the other man sensed panic, he’d be all over Liam. There was no reason for the detective to open the car or think Maura hid in there. But the man had descended on the house at this hour for a reason. Didn’t take Maura’s I.Q. for Liam to figure out the connection.

      “She’s not the social type. Her circle appears limited 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

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