Put investment pieces front and center in a room. You want visitors to notice the room’s best assets.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
Two ice packs swaddled Ellie’s swollen ankle, and she sat nestled on the sofa in a bright-red throw Grayson had found in the hotel room closet. Cooler air had blown in with a storm tonight, and it was pleasant with the window open. The FBI had stationed several agents in the hallway, but he was still on high alert.
The Robbs’ callous conversation had convinced him dangerous forces were swirling closer to them. Who would have asked him to make sure the flotilla didn’t get canceled? The FBI? Maybe they thought if it got canceled, the terrorists would escape them and set off the bomb in a more highly populated area. This might have been their best shot at catching a big cell.
She yawned. “I’m pretty tired. I’d better get to bed. The agents are still out there?”
“Yeah, I checked when I locked the door. I’ll be here, though.”
“Why, Mr. Bradshaw, are you trying to get rumors started by staying here alone with me all night?” The teasing light in her eyes faded, and she shook her head. “On second thought, I doubt that would happen. People would take one look at you and know I’m not your type.”
He grinned and leaned over to capture a curl grazing her cheek. “What’s my type?”
“You know, tall, willowy blondes with some kind of fashion sense. A gorgeous woman who looks good on your arm.” Her voice shook and went husky.
That rankled. “I think you need to get to know me better. I like someone real and fresh with glowing skin that doesn’t need makeup. Someone who knows her way around a hammer and crowbar.” With every word, he moved closer until he could run his fingers down the side of her face. “Someone with skin as soft as silk and amber eyes that show her soul.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes were luminous. “I-I think you’re teasing me.”
“I might be, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.” He tipped her chin up, then brushed her lips with his. Her lips were incredibly soft, and she stirred all his senses.
He dropped his hand. “And you’re way too tempting. I’d better help you to bed before I lose my morals.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the living area into the bedroom and laid her on the bed and tucked the covers around her.
He kissed her on the forehead, his lips lingering for a moment, backed away and shut the door behind him, then headed for the sofa where he pulled out his phone and called Lance.
“Bradshaw, you have a death wish? It’s after midnight.”
“And you don’t even sound sleepy.”
Lance gave a low chuckle. “Caught me. I’m up binge-watching war movies.” The man studied war games like some people studied poker moves.
“I had an interesting conversation with Terrance Robb tonight. He claims he was told to make sure the tall ships flotilla went off as planned this weekend. Who would have ordered that?”
“Strange. You have a theory?”
“I wondered if it was the FBI. Could he be working with them? Maybe they didn’t want to scare off the cell and thought it was better to try to catch them here in a lower-population area.”
“I haven’t heard any rumors like that.” There was a distant ding on the other end of the phone. “Oh, hey, that query on Robb came back already. He’s not working with the FBI, but we’ve suspected him of selling information to the North Koreans.”
“So if we didn’t tell him to make sure the flotilla exhibition took place, it might have been the North Koreans. Maybe he’s part of the plot.”
“He’s on a watch list. I’m going to report this.”
“Thanks, Lance.” He ended the call.
The door to the bedroom opened, and a tousled-haired beauty peered out. “Who were you talking to?”
“Lance.” He told her what he’d found out. “Think about who might be good friends with Terrance. You’d know that better than I do.”
“I will. Good night.” She closed the door again.
Just in the nick of time. He’d been about to cross the room and take her in his arms again.
Ellie’s ankle was much better by morning, but she still limped a bit as she held on to Gray’s arm while walking to a table at the Rainshadow Brewhouse. The aroma of espresso and pastries made her mouth water. She hadn’t eaten much at the party last night, and her stomach was protesting.
“I’ll get us coffee and bagels,” Gray said.
She watched him head for the long line at the counter. He stood a full head above most of the other people waiting, and several women turned toward him and smiled. Since last night she’d felt shy and uncomfortable. She wished she could believe the sweet words he’d said to her.
The door opened, and she caught sight of a familiar uniform. Sheriff Burchell scanned the crowd, then nodded when he saw her. He must have come inside looking for her because he headed straight for their table.
He pulled out a chair and joined her.
Her pulse surged. “Have you found anything?”
“Sorry, no, but Gray left me a message saying he had some things to talk over. I was about to call him back when I saw you guys in here.”
Grayson balanced the coffee and bagels on a tray as he joined them at the table. “I saw you come in, Sheriff, so I got you a black coffee. That okay?”
“Great.” Everett took the cup and set it down. “What’s going on?”
Gray put down the tray and lowered himself onto a chair, then launched into what they’d found out last night. The sheriff’s expression stayed impassive, though he nodded several times.
He took a sip of coffee and huffed out a breath. “So why am I just now hearing that terrorists may be targeting my town? The FBI should have told me about this weeks ago.”
Ellie paused as she reached for her breakfast. “You didn’t know?”
“Nope. I only knew about the missing cocaine. Now you’re telling me we might be dealing with an EMP bomb. Tomorrow?”
“You’ve lived here your whole life. How well do you know Terrance Robb?”
The sheriff took a sip of his coffee. “Pretty well, actually. Candace is my cousin. Might as well tell you that right up front. She’s a hard woman to please—likes the best of everything. Terrance has been a saint dealing with her. He’s a good guy. I wouldn’t want you to suspect him.”
“Do you know who his good friends are?”
“He’s got lots of friends. I couldn’t even begin to count all the committees he’s been on through the years. Anyone needs a little help with something and Terrance has always been right there. I always thought he had political aspirations, but he’s never run for office.” He chuckled. “Maybe he thought the power would go to Candace’s head.”
Everett snagged a spare bagel. “Have you seen the tall ships? They’re still out in the straits, but man, they’re beautiful. White sails billowing in the sun and hulls gleaming.”
A kernel of a thought rolled around in Ellie’s head. “I haven’t gone that way. We’ll take a look.”
The sheriff, his cheeks bulging with bagel, took his coffee and rose. “Later,” he mumbled past the food in his mouth.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Ellie leaned closer to Gray. “What if we took a skiff out and asked to look around the ships? You think they’d let us? I could pretend to be Mac. They’d all know her name. Maybe it would work.”
“They’re not going to let you into any cabin with a bomb in it.”
“We could split up. I could keep them distracted while you looked around.”
“Ellie, those boats carry quite a few sailors. I’d be caught the minute I went belowdeck.”
He was right, and she knew it. “So we’re back to working with the FBI.”
Gray’s gaze held hers. “I’d like you to leave the area until Monday when this is over.”
“You know I can’t do that, Gray. The people I care about are all here. And why haven’t the authorities ordered an evacuation? Why hasn’t anyone told the sheriff what’s going on?”
“The threat is too nebulous. We don’t know any specifics, not even where this is supposed to happen.”
“Mac was convinced the ships were a threat. That has to mean something.”
Without realizing it, she’d reached for his hand, and his fingers curled around hers. “I don’t want to lose you, Hammer Girl. Not when I’ve just found you.”
“I-I don’t want to lose you either.” She couldn’t look away from the intensity of his gaze. His blue eyes held more warmth than she’d ever imagined to find.
“Tell you what—let’s get a tandem kayak and paddle out to the tall ships. Maybe we’ll hear something. I’d like to take a look at Elyssa Marie.”
She gulped the last of her coffee. “That’s a great idea. What time do we have to be back to meet the FBI?”
He grimaced. “Four. I’ve ordered some drone pictures of the cabin on Gandy Lane. That should tell us a lot about what we’re up against.”