On the drive home, Alyssa yawned. "Thanks for driving."

"I'd rather get home in one piece."

Teagan's matter-of-fact voice made her smile. "Did I hear right? Did MaryJo say she'd have this all figured out by tomorrow?"

"If one of those blocks of memory is the pictures, then it confirms what we originally thought-- it's someone in the mayor's office."

Alyssa turned, watching as he scanned the rearview mirror. "Are we being followed?"

"Hard to tell." He checked the mirrors. "Anyone tailing us knows where you're staying. And they know where your mother lives, so it's not a huge leap to guess where we're going."

"I overheard Sean say he's got someone staking out the apartment." She wondered whether he'd fill her in on what they’d been discussing before she and MaryJo arrived.

"T-Bone?" Teagan shot her a wary glance.

Alyssa smiled. "Howard. He's a vice cop but he works side jobs with Sean."

"Check this."Teagan tossed her his phone. "Sean was going to text me if Howard has any issues. Otherwise, we'll go in through the front."

"My mother still doesn't know about the stalker thing, right?" Alyssa knew she was making it more difficult.

"You said keep it from her." His glance urged her to change her mind. "It would be more efficient if we were all on the same page."

Alyssa tried to imagine how her mother would take it. "If you think she's meddling now . . ."

"There," he pointed out, after turning down the street. "That's one of our guys."

She whipped around. "The bearded guy? Or the t-shirt guy?"

"Our guys." Teagan nodded to the corner. "Did you see? He just signaled for his partner to move from the parking space."

"He's there . . . waiting to give us his space?"

"Don't fog up the window," he teased. "You could try being a little subtle."

Startled, she sat back in her seat. "This feels like a spy movie." She glanced casually to her right. "Where's stalker guy?"

“Last night-” Backing into the tiny space, Teagan paused. "And early this morning, they were perched under the magnolia."

"You're pretty good," she conceded as he wedged the Toyota in on one try . . . without any fender tapping. "Wait-- you mean last night . . . when we were practically-"

"Stripping each other?" Teagan's expression was chagrined. "Yeah-- not my finest surveillance moment."

Alyssa paused. Sometimes it was better to say nothing. A few minutes later, she was standing on the curb, breathing in cool night air. "Are they there now?" Trying not to look at the magnolia down the street, she lowered her voice.

"Probably not. With Howard loitering in the street, they’ll go to ground.” He scanned the street. “But they're somewhere around here. If that was Little Guy in the basement today, they'll expect us to be cautious."

"We scared them off?" Hope leaped in her chest.

"No." Teagan took in his surroundings as though there was no darkness. His body blocking hers, his senses on a hyper alert wavelength she'd never experienced. He tugged her into his side.

"How do you-"

"Not now, sweet." Radiating intensity, he suddenly seemed capable of seeing into the shadows. "Once we're upstairs," he added softly.

Heart in her throat, she was grateful for his presence as they closed the distance between the car and the safety of the old brownstone. She caught a glimpse of T-Bone, gold chains flashing under the streetlamp as he leaned into the window of Mullaney's twice rebuilt, ninety-four conversion van. Alyssa stifled a laugh.

"What?" Teagan kept his gaze on the street.

"That's Sean's van," she whispered.

"What the hell does he use that thing for?"

"He's got a pimpmobile in storage, too. An old Caddie he bought at the Fourth Precinct Vice Squad auction." Despite their worrying circumstances, she cracked up. "Any guesses how Maddie feels about them?"

"They don't appeal to her particular taste?" His grip on her hand tightened.

"I swear he keeps them just to annoy her." For that reason, she could kiss Sean.

Safely inside the building, Teagan's demeanor loosened one notch, to merely cautious. "What does T-Bone do for Sean?"

"Anything." Mullaney’s motley crew was a mixture of off-duty or retired cops, drug agents and former military, each specializing in his own niche.

"His clients tend to be opposite extremes. At one end of the spectrum-- he's got this super secret list of clients. State and federal agencies . . . corporations worried about espionage- MaryJo calls them his shadow clients."

Teagan raised an eyebrow. "Jeez-- he must be pretty good."

After a decade as a marine sergeant and another twenty years on the police force, Mullaney was sought after for cases that fell into gray areas-- when normal investigative procedure inevitably hit a wall. Cases requiring the finesse of a junkyard dog.

"Your mom helps with those?" His expression turned dubious.

"God-- no. But she wants to," Alyssa admitted. "At the other end are his wealthy, high-profile clients," she explained as they entered the elevator. "Mom works those assignments."

Teagan shook his head.

"I thought that too," she admitted. "But she knows everyone. She's a master manipulator," she pointed out. "She has access to social circles Mullaney couldn't fight his way into." Teagan smiled at the visual. "Now, he waltzes in on her arm."

"It's hard for me to picture your mother in the back of a van with a headset on." He held her arm when the elevator door opened. "Wait." He scanned the hallway before allowing her to step out. "Let's go."

After unlocking the four locks, he made her wait in the foyer while he searched the apartment. "Okay, come in."

Fatigue weighting her, Alyssa dropped onto the couch. "Maddie has some skills."

Teagan disappeared into the kitchen. He returned, handing her a glass of wine. "Like what?"

"Her brain is like a filing cabinet. She never forgets a thing. Like today-" Alyssa sat up as she remembered. "By lunchtime, she'd already honed in on most of the guys in Theo's photo."

He plopped into the chair across from her. "Sean assigned those to keep her busy."

"Well, she's taking it seriously." Alyssa rattled off the details Madeline had scored on each of them. "She's so good I gave her the grad student I'm researching."

"Grad student?"

Teagan leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. He'd loosened his tie and tossed it on the chair. His shirt unbuttoned . . . half tucked in. Alyssa swallowed around the dryness in her throat. How could he look so sexy just sitting there . . . deep in thought about work?

"This is what you went to the basement for?"

She sipped the fruity wine before settling into the couch. "Eight days before I was attacked, a kid called-- wanting to interview Theo about his time with the Ready Brigade." She met his gaze. "All that talk of SCUDS must have triggered my memory."

"What happened?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I was out the next two months."

Teagan released a ragged breath. When she glanced up, he was staring at her, a strange expression on his face.

"That's why I went to get the phone logs and the appointment book. I wanted to see if George ever got his appointment with Theo."

"George?"

"Before I went to the basement, I scanned my old emails from around that time. I found where I'd mentioned the kid to Paul-"

"Why?"

"You know-- exploring the PR angles." How had so much changed in only two years? "Back then-- I was better at my job than I am now."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I was eager. I was-" She glanced away, the truth making her embarrassed. "I was willing to exploit pretty much any issue-- if it provided an angle for Theo."

"Lyss-- that's what you're paid to do." His smile held understanding. "You're not the first person to be disillusioned by their job."

His unexpected kindness startled her. "I think that's why . . ." She lifted the glass to her lips.

"You don't want to do it anymore." Teagan joined her on the couch, the cushion shifting under his weight. "Lyss-- I'm sorry for cutting you off last night."

She traced her memory, but so much had happened in the last two days, she had trouble grasping his meaning. "About what?"

"On the way to Theo's last night. You were explaining what you really want to do." He rested his hand on hers. "And I cut you off. Hell . . . I said it was crazy. That you could make more of an impact working with Theo."

Speechless for a moment, Alyssa experienced a strange sense of lightness. He may not understand what she wanted . . . but somehow now-- he was willing to listen. "Most people wouldn't understand why I'd contemplate giving up a job like mine."

Earnest eyes shimmered with regret. "I’m starting to."

Shifting to face her, his gaze seemed faraway . . . the tiny frown between his eyes suggested an internal battle he likely wasn't inclined to reveal. "T? What’s wrong?"

"I was jealous." He glanced up. "I am jealous."

Floored by the admission, she stroked his hand. “Why?” A secret thrill shivered down her spine. He was confiding in her?

“You know what you want.” His quiet voice reverberated. “And you're willing to walk away from a sure thing."

She closed her eyes. "Some people would call that crazy."

"You work so hard for Theo-" He leaned forward. "I’m sure there are a hundred other jobs you could do that would require less effort. But, you do it anyway. I admire that about you."

"Is that what you want?" Alyssa dipped a cautious toe into the still, deep waters of Teagan O’Brien. Afraid, even as the words left her mouth. She didn't want him to stop talking. Didn't want this closeness to end. "To maybe try something different?"

He stared at her for endless seconds. She was afraid to move. Afraid to breathe. He finally stood, moving back to his chair. "Maybe." His tone now non-committal.

She eased back against the couch. Despite knowing the moment was gone, she wished he'd keep talking—about anything. Heart in her throat, she tested the waters she knew had gone cold. "You're so talented. I bet there are lots of other options."

"We'll see." A brief flash of regret crossed his features. "The kid's paper was about the Ready Brigade?"

She hid her disappointment, accepting the change in subject. "What you and Theo talked about.” What choice did she have? He's not yours to help. Or worry about. He wasn't hers to take care of. He wasn't hers to love. "The missiles and tanks and stuff that went missing after the war."

“Stuff? That’s the technical term?”

“Uh-huh.” Suddenly eager to move, she set her empty glass on the table and moved behind his chair. Settling her hands on his shoulders, Alyssa bit back a smile as she stroked down his back. At least she had this-- for twenty-three more days. Maybe less if he solved her problems sooner. He might leave. Take his vacation. Analyze his life. Leave her behind because she asked difficult questions. When all he wanted was sex. Fun. Escape.

Blinking back the wetness threatening her eyes, she forced her gnawing worry into a box. Why ruin what little time they had left? She'd have plenty of time for crying once he was gone. "This would be a lot more satisfying with your shirt off."

In one swift movement, he pulled her into his lap. "I agree. We've had our clothes on for entirely too long today." As his mouth captured hers, Alyssa gazed up into heated, velvety eyes. The wild, wanton feeling of joyous abandon soon followed. Only twenty-three more days. But tonight, the tiny pang of regret had already begun to grow. Please let the days go slow.

* * *

Three days later, Alyssa acknowledged if she were forced to listen to one more inane comment about Teagan’s ass-- she would seriously lose it. The women in the mayor's office were out of control. She resisted the urge to lay her head on her desk.

“He should’ve been done by now.” The last three days had been the longest of her life. The women in the mayor’s office felt differently—and had been assigning him projects solely designed to stall his progress. Teagan had taken to wearing an earpiece so he could funnel questions to MaryJo about whatever idiotic computer complaint the ladies came up with. Instead of being annoyed, T was amused. Guilelessly playing along-- as though he didn't recognize desperate women hitting on him.

Who could believe one man could be so damned disruptive? Hell, the women hadn’t gone this wild since the Red Sox had visited the previous fall. Thankfully, Theo had been out of the office on meet n’ greet fundraisers the past two days. Had he been around to witness the distraction, the poor man would have felt like second banana in his own office.

Glancing at her watch, she sighed. Another hour and they might be able to call it a night. Except-- not. Maddie had called earlier, flush with excitement. Insisting on dinner again-- to relay her news.

She dialed Teagan's phone. "Where are you? The mayor wants an update on your progress before he leaves tonight." She made a face. Or lack of it.

Maggie Robbins had shown up in the suite the previous day, cornering her in her office. Wanting details. Who was the blackmailer? Why hadn't she heard anything? What was taking so long? She'd been seriously annoyed when Alyssa had been unable to provide any answers. Some days, she swore it should be Maggie running the mayor's office instead of Theo.

She swung out of her office, nearly colliding with Teagan in the hallway. He caught her by her shoulders and steadied her.

"Slow down, Sweet," he muttered in her ear. "Where’s the fire?"

Awareness sizzled through her. She’d begun avoiding him in the halls, trying to avoid sending her pulse into overdrive. Working in close quarters all day, followed by dinner and recon sessions at her mother's house. Her breath caught, memories of the previous evening flooding her brain. Barely making it through the apartment door before she was in his arms. At his mercy when he took her against the living room wall. Her hands framing his face, his eyes locked with hers. Even now, her pulse quickened.

"We're-- late." The prickling awareness only intensified when Teagan leaned down to whisper in her ear and she inhaled a stomach clenching whiff of his deal-closer cologne. How could this feel so dangerously good when everything else in her life was spiraling?

"You okay?"

Unable to raise her gaze, she stared at his starched shirt. And remembered peeling it from him when they finally made it to the kitchen the previous evening. She would never be able to look at that farm table in the same way again. "Uh-huh."

His hands remained planted on her upper arms. "I think the danger’s passed. You can release me now."

"I don’t know, Lyss. You could have a relapse."

Hearing the humor in his voice, she couldn’t help glancing up. A quirky smile lifted the corners of his incredible mouth. But there was a curious expression in his moody gray eyes, one she had trouble deciphering. She forced her gaze from his well-planed face and peeked down the corridor of well-lit offices. Even at this hour, the mayor’s office still hummed with activity. Any moment, they risked being seen.

She stepped back gracefully. "How’s your progress, Mr. O’Brien?"

His expression shuttered instantly, his features safely masked by a neutral facade that wasn’t nearly as interesting as the original.

"We've hit a few snags, but the upgrade is nearly complete." He glanced casually down the darkened hallway, confirming they were still alone. "What gives? For a second, I thought there was someone behind me."

"You’re nearly done." She patted his arm wearily. "Let’s not blow your cover over something stupid."

"Next time, I should let you fall on your ass?"

She smiled over his disgruntled comment. "Come on, Theo’s expecting us." Passing him in the hallway, she squeezed his fingers-- an apology for her words. Teagan allowed her to pull him along the darkened corridor. All the while, he stroked her palm.

Nearly to his office, she tried to tug her hand free. "Let go," she whispered, colliding with his chest for the second time that evening. She glanced over her shoulder. "T-- people are still here. If someone catches us-"

"They’ll think I’m incredibly lucky," TJ muttered. He released her hand, using the freedom to yank her closer. Working side by side with her was a special brand of torture he'd never imagined. When he’d been commandeered into this operation, he’d figured it would be easy enough to keep his distance during the day. Especially when they were barely sleeping at night. It should have been easy.

Instead, watching her in her element had proved both fascinating and dangerous. Having her so near, but being unable to touch her. Talk to her. Kiss the hell out of her . . . was driving him crazy. If anything, he’d become more attuned-- her addictive scent, the rustle of her sexy skirt when she passed-- which only reminded him he'd zipped her into it that morning. The flicker of hesitation in her eyes when she pretended not to know him. After moaning his name only hours earlier.

All of it-- fueled the dangerous attraction. Only sheer determination would keep it contained. Increasingly-- he didn't want to contain it. His leaving would stop it in its tracks. But every night—holding her-- he imagined more. More time with her. He imagined dates. Dinner in a quiet bistro, staring into her flashing eyes, his hand stretched across the table to capture hers. Tugging her through the hallowed halls at Fenway, her fingers locked in his as they debated hotdog or pretzel. He’d started envisioning her beside him. With him. Which was pretty friggin’ dangerous for a man accustomed to being alone.

He tugged her into the shadows where he’d have a clear view of anyone coming toward them. Despite the confusion clouding his brain, she felt amazingly good in his arms.

"Someone will see us."

Her eyes had widened to saucers, but the berry flush in her cheeks told him she wasn’t afraid enough of getting caught. The knowledge gave him a rush. Lovers by night acting as strangers by day. "I’m on point tonight," he whispered against her lips.

"Point?"

He swallowed her soft, little sigh, drawing it into his lungs like oxygen. "It means-"

Her arms slid up, wrapping around his neck. "I don't care."

Alyssa kissed him as though he was the last guy on the planet, her mouth sweet and demanding. When her tongue flicked into his mouth, he felt the doors blow off.

"Lyss-- Jesus." If they didn’t stop, he’d end up dragging her down to the darkened conference room.

She smiled up at him, her expression hazy with passion. "You said you were on point-"

He nearly growled with frustration. "Promise me you’ll hold that thought until later?"

They both froze at the sound of a polite cough just beyond his shoulder. From the exaggerated sound, TJ knew it hadn’t been the first attempt. He turned around, awash in light from Theo’s open office door.

"If you kids were waiting for me, I’m free now." The mayor’s voice held barely restrained laughter. "And if you weren’t, then you need to get a room."

* * *

Alyssa was deeply grateful for Teagan’s amazing ability to morph into Major Neutral. She glanced across the mayor’s sitting room, her face flaming with mortification. No doubt, her mother would receive another phone call from Maggie tonight.

When Teagan's phone buzzed, he frowned. Glancing at the number, he excused himself. "This might be information we're waiting for."

When he left the room, Alyssa launched into a review of Theo's schedule for the following day. When Teagan slipped back into the office, his expression revealed nothing.

"So-- where are we?" Theo's blunt voice took over.

"MaryJo and I are nearly done." Seated in the chair across from Theo’s desk, his posture was ramrod straight. "I've checked every workstation in this suite. I didn't find anything suspicious." He shot her a glance. "In fact, everyone on staff has been very helpful. I ended up fixing a few things they were complaining about."

The mayor raised an eyebrow. "What the hell were they complaining about?"

Teagan shrugged. "Not enough memory. Slow mouse-- that sort of stuff."

Theo's mouth lifted in a smile. "And you knew how to fix those things?"

"I patched it through to MaryJo. Whatever she couldn't fix, she told me to suggest they contact IT."

"What's the bottom line? Maggie gave me an earful last night." Rolling a letter-opener between his fingers, he sighed. "Off the record-" He glanced to Alyssa. "I don't know how much longer I can contain her. She's talking about me backing out of the governor's race."

"Sir, we're nearly there," she interrupted, worry crashing down on her. She couldn't be responsible for Theo making his career decision based on those damned pictures.

"She thinks if I announce I'm not running, the blackmailer will back off." He shook his head. "I've never seen her like this."

"It won't come to that," Teagan interrupted, piercing the cobweb of panicked thoughts.

"Do we have a suspect?"

"We've pretty much ruled out anyone in your office."

Stunned, Alyssa shot him a look. He hadn't told her that.

"In fact, we've isolated the pictures. Sean's daughter confirmed it this afternoon."

"Where?" She’d spent the last fifteen minutes with him. Why was she just learning this now?

"It was here-- the mayor’s server," Teagan explained, not looking at her. "It took MaryJo most of the day to break the password. There were two levels of protection." He paused, thinking about his words-- as though he might reveal something. "According to MaryJo, there was an attempt to hide the file, but it was so large, the person ran into trouble."

"So, you’re saying it wasn’t a hacker-type event?" The mayor frowned. "I would have expected it to be someone gifted in this sort of thing?"

"No sir. The blackmailer was very familiar with digital photos and how to doctor them to achieve certain results, but when it came to hiding the finished product, the person’s skill level was only average."

A flicker of . . . something crossed Teagan's face and her pulse quickened. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Something wasn’t right.

Theo was now on the edge of his seat. Alyssa felt tension radiating from him. Until this very moment, her boss had done a superb job of hiding his fear-- that Teagan would fail-- that the dreaded pictures would somehow be made public. "Have you destroyed them?"

T nodded, his eyes strangely bleak. "MaryJo opened the file, confirmed the contents and then destroyed them."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Alyssa chewed her lower lip. She’d waited nearly a week to hear this news. Why didn’t she feel better? "What about copies?"

"There are no other copies here or anywhere else on the city’s network," he reported. "That much we’re sure of."

"But outside?" The mayor's eyes questioned him.

TJ shrugged. "I can’t be sure of that. If the photos originated elsewhere, there could be other copies."

"But it was your assumption at the start, Major, this was an act of an insider, correct?"

"Yes, sir." TJ leveled his gaze at the mayor. "Based on the evidence. But there’s no guarantee I’m right," he cautioned. "MaryJo has a way to trace the pictures back to their source."

"Even if they were found here?"

"I'm not sure how she does it," he admitted, "but she’s working on it now."

Theo rose from his chair, smiling. Rounding the desk, he shook Teagan's hand. "With all due respect, son, I’ll rely on the educated guess of a Delta any day of the week and twice on Sunday."

"But, Sir-"

"I can tell you, Mags will be thrilled. She’s been so damned worried.” Theo paced to the window, his relief palpable.

Alyssa was reminded how much had been at stake. For her, the release of the photos would be humiliating . . . devastating. But for Theo, they would be career-ending. Destroying everything he’d worked so hard to build. Along with him, his family would bear the brunt as well.

The mayor stood for several minutes, his reflection in the glass revealing profound relief. She glanced at Teagan, sensing his gaze on her-- a jarring expression in his eyes. Uncomfortably aware that something was still wrong, she questioned him with her eyes.

"Tell me, TJ, what's left to be done before we can put this damned thing to bed?"

TJ stood behind the chair. "MaryJo will need one more day in your system. She wants to make sure she covers her tracks. So, I'll lurk around here tomorrow, pretending to do some work while she takes care of that. Once she finishes, no one will be able to tell she was ever in your system. Your IT people will never know she breached the network."

Sinking down on the arm of his worn leather chair, Theo ran a hand down his face. "While I’m eternally grateful for your assistance, I'm not sure how well I’ll sleep tonight. You make it sound appallingly easy to disable the city’s ability to defend itself."

"Sir, I won’t lie." Teagan hesitated. "Your system can be penetrated. We’ve proven that. But, Sean’s daughter-- has a skill level that can’t be achieved by just anyone. Your system is pretty tight."

"Not tight enough."

"No, sir. But as we wrap things up, I've asked MaryJo for a list of her security recommendations."

Theo grabbed his suit jacket, a clear indication their meeting was done. "When this is over, remind me to ask your friend whether she’d care to work on our side."

* * *

Alyssa’s mind was still jumbled with questions as they walked to the car in silence, their footsteps echoing eerily in the nearly empty garage. "What went on back there?" Despite Teagan’s odd mood, she was grateful for his company in the murky shadows. In the nearly empty garage, their car seemed miles away.

His gaze vigilant, he scanned the perimeter before them, occasionally glancing over his shoulder to confirm they were alone. "I don't suppose you'd give me one more day to work out all the questions-- then explain it?"

"Would you like being treating that way?" When he didn't answer, she sighed. Communication with him was of the one-step-forward, two-steps-back variety.

He shifted his attention to her for a moment. "No."

"Then why-"

"It's complicated." He stilled at the clatter of footsteps. Tugging her to their left, he backed her into the shadows, blocking her body with his. "Wait."

Several seconds passed as a group of people approached. Alyssa felt the rigid tension in his body as he crowded her. While her heart began beating erratically, Teagan's breathing seemed to settle. Her pulse racing, she sensed him getting quieter. Poised. Ready . . . for something. Ready to strike. When the group dispersed to their vehicles, the conversation grew louder as they separated, the echo of female laughter as they shouted promises-- let's have lunch. Only then did Teagan relax. "We're clear."

He tugged her from the shadows. "Sorry about your dress."

"I'm good." Brushing herself off, she noticed him smiling. "What?"

"You always say that."

She shrugged. "Usually-- I'm good." They started out again, pausing for the occasional vehicle to pass. Each time, T would scrutinize the car, as though taking notes on the Ford's dented quarter panel or the eco-friendly stickers on the Honda's bumper. Was it living in a warzone that made him so observant? Or was he just a methodical guy? A sudden thought hit her. "So-- who did it?"

When he didn’t answer, she skidded to a stop, her heart pounding fiercely. He was hiding something. Something big. "Tell me what's wrong."

The expression in his eyes sent a frisson of warning down her spine. "MaryJo was able to isolate the user. Not just where the file was stored, but who logged on. The date," he ticked off on his fingers. "We know the times she logged in and out."

"She?" Alyssa swallowed a sudden, illogical rush of panic. "You're sure it's a woman?"

In the shadows, his face revealed nothing. "Yeah."

"Because of the work station," she guessed. "You told Theo it wasn’t anyone in his office." No one she knew would do such a thing. "People work there for a reason, T. They love the mayor."

"Clearly, someone doesn't."

"Maybe it was a visitor?" She caught up to him. "What if an employee was out-- and someone used her workstation? It would appear as though that employee did it, right?"

His reluctance wasn't encouraging. "It's possible."

"Of course it's possible." Alyssa paused, sensing his frustration. "What am I missing? Why are you settling on the obvious answer?" A sudden thought hit her. "Is this-- are you just sick of dealing with me? I get it if you are," she admitted. "It’s supposed to be your vacation-- and you've already wasted a week-"

"Wasted?" Teagan turned. "I'm not wasting anything. I gave you my word."

His heated denial did mysterious things to her fluttering stomach. "Okay-- I didn't mean-"

"Being with you-" he cut her off, feathering a kiss against her temple. "You're the best part."

She rested her head on his chest. Just when she was sure he didn't feel anything-- he said something wonderful. Getting her hopes up-- when she knew better. His mood had been so strange the last hour-- since he'd returned to Theo's office.

Searching for solid footing on suddenly shaky ground, she stepped back. "Tomorrow, I'll check the attendance records."

"Lyss-- sometimes the obvious answer-"

"No one in that office would hurt Theo." She slipped her hand in his. "What was the date? I can check the visitor’s log."

"Does everyone sign in?" He tugged her in the direction of the car.

"Most everyone." She swung his hand with hers, enjoying the frivolous feeling, in the least frivolous situation she could imagine. "Security doesn't." She frowned. "High level visitors don't-- like if the governor showed up. Or a celebrity. Family doesn't sign in."

"What happens when a celebrity shows up?"

"The receptionist notes it on Theo's calendar-- an event rather than a visitor." Waiting to unlock the car, she watched him over the roof. "You never told Theo-- who is it?"

"He didn't ask . . . that buys me time to think."

"You haven't told me."

"You'll probably understand why I didn't want to announce it to the mayor."

He stared at her, doing that annoying thing with his brain. Analyzing her, as though he could synthesize all her thoughts and spit them out in a neat little report. "I'm waiting."

"Lyss-- it was you."