“I didn’t read Lee’s case notes, so I wouldn’t be able to help you.” That, at least, was the truth.

“All I want is the names of any sensitive cases or clients.” His gaze dropped to her hands.

She was picking at her thumbnail. Ellie interlaced her fingers and clenched them in her lap. “I already told you I can’t give you that information.”

“Look, Ellie. You can trust me. I’m not out to cause any trouble. I assure you I deal with classified information on a daily basis. I have high-level security clearance with the military.”

“In that case, you should understand why I can’t discuss cases with you. You wouldn’t tell me government secrets just because I seemed trustworthy.”

“It’s hardly comparable.” His face hardened. He wasn’t going to give up the file. “OK. If that’s the way you want to play it. I’ll find out another way.”

Just as Ellie would have to find another way to search this house. Though the police and an intruder had already searched it.

She stood. Their knees bumped, but she didn’t fall back, even as his much, much larger body loomed over her.

“I don’t understand why you’re being so difficult,” he said.

So much for playing it cool. She would make a terrible spy.

“My job might not seem like much to you, but I’ve had too many lean years to risk losing a steady paycheck and medical benefits. I have a daughter and grandmother to look after. I’m glad to help you in any way that doesn’t compromise my position.” She clamped her lips together to keep them from trembling, but they both knew she was lying. It didn’t matter. Her daughter and grandmother were too vulnerable. Her family’s lives depended on her doing exactly as instructed.

Grant frowned down at her. The anger in his expression made her regret their conflict on more than a professional level. Maybe it was for the best. But she liked him. Really liked him. He was kind and brave and solid. If it weren’t for the situation driving them apart, she’d be tempted to break her no casual sex rule. Just thinking the word sex with Grant this close brought images to mind. Hot images. Scorching images.

Images that had no part in her life, especially in its current state of crisis.

Warm, she tugged at the neck of her sweatshirt. Nan was right, as usual. Ellie had been celibate too long. Maybe if she found that file and no one got hurt, she and Grant could just . . .

There was no way he’d be interested in her after she acted like such an uptight bitch.

“Are you going to tell your boss I have Lee’s files?” he asked.

No way. If those files were somewhere in the house, she wanted them to stay right here for her to steal.

“If he asks, I’m going to say I didn’t see any of Lee’s files in the house.” She raised her chin. “Which is the truth, though I hate relying on a technicality. I trust that if you should come across some of the firm’s files, you won’t keep them from me too long. Can you live with that?”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” His mouth tightened and guilt threatened to break her resolve. “I will get that information.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

The baby’s cries penetrated the office door.

“I should probably get back to my renovations.” She leaned to the side and gave the door beyond his big body a pointed look. Maybe he’d run to the baby, and she’d have a few seconds to linger in Lee’s office.

He opened the door and stepped back to allow her to exit first. Damn.

“Do you do all the work yourself?” he asked.

“As much as I can. There are some jobs that require more than one person. I have a couple of small contractors I use when I run across something I can’t handle.” Though tonight, she’d like nothing better than to take out her frustrations with a sledgehammer.

“I bet there isn’t much you can’t handle.” The corner of his mouth tilted in a wry almost-smile.

“You’d be surprised.” Ellie’s mind went to the night before, the gun in her back, and the threat to her family.

The baby’s cries drew Grant down the hall. Ellie let him pass. As she walked out, she made notes of all the places the file could be hidden. It was a long list. A frighteningly long list. The old Victorian house had lots of nooks and crannies. Were there five or six bedrooms? How would she ever get full access to the house?

“Don’t hesitate to call if you need a sitter,” she offered as she followed him.

“Julia and your grandmother already made that clear,” he called over his shoulder.

Ahead of her, his broad shoulders filled the narrow hall, and she was tempted to drag him back into the office and tell him all about last night. But she couldn’t risk it.

She was being watched.

Chapter Thirteen

Fully dressed under the duvet, Julia waited. The house had been quiet for an hour. Her mom hadn’t even worked on the house the last two nights. She seemed anxious and exhausted in a way that sent guilt washing over Julia. They were all still sad about what happened to the Barretts.

Now that Mrs. Barrett was gone, Julia wasn’t even sure she still wanted to be part of the figure skating team. It was fun, but Julia had no illusions about her skills. She was novice material, which was fine. School took up so much time, she didn’t need one more serious activity. Mrs. Barrett had made the lessons and occasional competition fun. But the club hadn’t decided which coach was going to take over her students. Some of the instructors were downright scary-intense.

She suppressed her guilt with a hot dose of anger. She’d asked about going to a concert the following weekend, and Mom had refused. So the band was total screamo and their last live concert video showed some pretty wild fan behavior. They’d put out the fire in the mosh pit, and no one had gotten seriously hurt. But Mom didn’t want to hear any of that. She’d never change. If Julia had to hear her lecture one more time . . . It isn’t you I don’t trust. It’s everyone else. You’re only fifteen. She’d heard those words so often, they echoed in her brain. Well, tonight was going to be different. Julia was going out with Taylor. She was going to have fun like all her friends.

The Barretts’ deaths were totally random. A senseless and bizarre event that illustrated life wasn’t something to be wasted. Julia wasn’t going to sit at home until she went to college. Who knew what could happen tomorrow? She was going to live a little.

Her phone vibrated. She read the text from Taylor: outside.

But first she had to get out of the house without waking her mother or grandmother. Nan’s hearing wasn’t great, and Mom was a sound sleeper. But Julia wouldn’t take a deep breath until she was in Taylor’s car driving far away from her house.

Later, she’d have to sneak back inside. No. She wasn’t going to ruin her night by worrying. Live in the moment, Taylor said. He’d been sneaking out of his parents’ house for years.

Julia peeled back the comforter and slipped out of bed. She tucked pillows under the blanket and shaped them as much like a person as possible. Standing back, she checked the effect and tugged the comforter a little higher. She propped her hands on her hips and surveyed her work. Good enough for a cursory inspection in the dark. Time to go. Nerves and excitement flapped together. She pressed a hand to her stomach, willing it to chill out. She’d been waiting all year to be alone with Taylor. Tonight it was going to happen.

Carrying her boots and purse, she tiptoed down the hallway. Stepping over the creaky step, she crept downstairs and lifted her jacket from the coat tree in the foyer.

She turned the deadbolt slowly to minimize the click as she opened the door. Stepping outside, she pulled the door closed with equal care. The house behind her sat silent and dark as she slid her arms into her jacket, zipped it to her chin, and stepped into her boots.

Where was Taylor? Still within an arm’s reach of her front door, she scanned the street and spotted his old Camry parked at the curb halfway down the block. The windshield reflected the black night sky. She edged closer. Her foot hit the first step.

Something crunched in the half-frozen snow. The hair on the back of her neck tickled. Ridiculous. Only she would sneak out to meet a boy and then get scared when he showed up. Hunching against the cold, she walked down the driveway and into the shadow of a tree. The umbrella of branches overhead blocked the overcast sky.

“Psst.”

Julia froze and whispered into the darkness. “Taylor?”

He should go. He’d been sitting down the street from the Barretts’ house all fucking evening, looking for any opportunity to get back in. But no one was coming out tonight. In fact, more people seemed to be gathering in there, and that damned dog was back. If he was getting back into that house, he’d have to take the stupid dog out.

Movement caught his attention at the front of the neighbor’s house. He dropped his hand.

Interesting. Good thing he hadn’t left.

Donnie ducked below the dashboard of the stolen sedan and watched the girl step off her porch. He couldn’t risk using his van after yesterday’s shit-acular break-in.

Parked a block away, he couldn’t see her features. He reached for the binoculars on the passenger seat and held them to his face. Still hard to be 100 percent certain in the dark, but that looked like the girl who’d been walking home from the school bus stop while he’d been breaking into the Barretts’ house.