You could have trusted me, Clayton added.
I know that now, but we didnt know it at the time. The task-force supervisor also wanted to make it look as if Jill and I were truly just workers who might be in danger because of a federal investigation. Thats why he asked the Marshals Service to provide protection for us. He took the better safe than sorry approach.
Clayton shook his head, glanced back at her, and even though she couldnt actually see his eyes behind those shades, she was certain he was glaring. That didnt work out so well, did it?
No, it hadnt. Somehow Lenora would have to learn to live with that, but she hadnt had much luck doing it so far. The nightmares were still there. Every night. Unrelenting.
So, youre an agent, Clayton said almost like a challenge.
Former agent. I resigned shortly after Jill was murdered. But before the justice department, I worked in Dallas for a man who was a world-class money launderer. And I helped him.
Lenora nearly choked on the confession, but it was true. She had indeed helped him, unknowingly, but she darn well should have known what he was up to. Shed played with fire and had gotten burned.
Now Lenora was trying to make sure that didnt happen again.
Yes, Clayton was fire, all right.
Fiery trouble in a black Stetson.
All of her experience and training told her that he was off-limits. As if on cue, the baby kicked, reminding her that the hands-off rule had been broken months ago. Still, that didnt mean she couldnt do something to stop more bad things from happening. She didnt include her baby in that bad things department. She desperately loved and wanted this child. But the babys father was a different matter entirely.
She couldnt live with another death on her hands. Especially his death.
And you were a criminal? he mumbled. He shook his head, put his back to the sidelight window and shucked off his glasses so his gaze could meet hers.
Yes, it was a glare, all right.
Lenora nodded. When the feds started investigating the money-laundering scheme I was involved in, I was taken into custody and cut a deal to help them with an investigation
to collar my boss.
Sounds dangerous, he pointed out.
She settled for a shrug. My boss and his business partners were bigger fish that they wanted. So, because the situation could have turned, well, more than dangerous, they trained me like a regular agent. But I was technically just a criminal informant assigned to the deep-cover task force. Then, after my boss was arrested and convicted, they asked me to stay on in the department and work on the Riggs case.
Clayton made a sound of displeasure. And as a dupe, my own people assigned me to two women that I was told needed protection.
Obviously, we did need it, because one of us was murdered, she reminded him, then paused. Im sorry I had to lie to you.
Not as sorry as I am. I hate being lied to, especially by people that Im supposed to trust. However, he immediately added a sound of dismissal. Old baggage rearing its head. But it still comes into play here.
She knew a little about his old childhood baggage, from the notorious Rocky Creek Childrens Facility, which was now closed. Had been for sixteen years. She also knew his mother had died giving birth to him and that his father, Melvin Larson, had literally abandoned him at the facility when he was eleven. All of that had come out when theyd talked in bed after their fast and furious bout of sex.
Too bad her memories of that were crystal clear.
She could remember every last detail of that night. The raw pain from losing a friend and fellow agent. The comfort shed found in Claytons arms. The pleasure, too. Pleasure should have been the last thing on her mind that night, but shed felt plenty of it anyway. Thanks to Clayton.
Lies like that are usually unnecessary, he tossed out to her.
You lied to the minister to find me, Lenora tossed right back at him.
He gave her that riled look again, like the one hed given her in the diner. I didnt lie to deceive. I lied to find you so I could help. Maybe nows a good time to ask if you were planning on telling me any of this?
No, it wasnt a good time to ask, but Lenora would answer it anyway. I was waiting for you to heal and for the danger to die down.
He lifted his shoulder. How the hell was the danger going to die down? You know who was responsible for putting that bullet in my head?
She couldnt deny it fast enough. No. I assumed that Riggs hired someone to do it, but I dont have any proof. Lenora stopped, met his gaze. Do you?
Clayton didnt answer her for several moments, but his stare continued to stab at her. At least it did until the baby kicked her and she winced a little. It wasnt a hard kick, but shed only been feeling movement for a few weeks and wasnt used to it.
You okay? Clayton asked.
Fine. The baby moved, thats all.
His mouth tightened. Then relaxed. He mumbled some profanity. Im having a hard time dealing with this.
Of course. She didnt dare repeat the offer shed made to him at the diner, that she expected nothing from him. No, best not to say it aloud, but the truth was, she couldnt expect anything from him. Because she needed him out of her life. Maybe just temporarily.