Susan Sleeman - Thread of Suspicion

Now he got it. He still let his father’s criticisms linger and he wasn’t fit for a relationship. Not fit for duty. End of story.

He jerked his gaze away. The light changed and Dani eased the car forward. An awkward silence descended on them, the air thick with tension. He’d probably offended her with his kissing comment.

He looked at her and waited for her to glance his way. “I’m sorry, Dani. My comment about kissing you was inappropriate.”

“It was nothing,” she said, but quickly darted her focus back to the front. “I could never have worked in law enforcement for as long as I did if something like that bothered me.”

Glad he hadn’t stepped on her toes, he turned to watch the scenery on the Sunset Highway fly past. Traffic was heavy this time of morning, but they soon swooped down the Sylvan Hill and into the tunnel before exiting into downtown Portland.

“So the guy we’re going to see is Freddy Eggleston.” Dani glanced over her shoulder and changed lanes. “Ring any bells?”

“None.”

“He has a long rap sheet. Served time for breaking and entering and once for assault. Nothing that would make me think he has the brains to sabotage your software.”

“I’m hoping he’ll at least be able to tell us where he got this computer.”

“Me, too, but don’t hold your breath. Criminals like Eggleston rarely offer to cooperate unless there’s something in it for them.”

A vision of Dani as an FBI agent sitting across the interrogation table from known felons flashed into Luke’s head, and he didn’t like the picture. Not one bit. “Maybe we should have the police talk to him instead of doing it ourselves.”

She cast him an as-if look. “So did you have a chance last night to think about who’d want to sabotage your software?”

Wishing she hadn’t so deftly changed the subject, he nodded. “Only thing I can come up with is our competitor, Security-Watchdog, wanting us to tank so they can get the contract.”

She clicked on her blinker, then turned the corner into a residential area. “Since we’re talking about a multimillion-dollar contract, I think that’s a good possibility. But it could also be someone holding a grudge against you.”

He hadn’t considered that this might be a personal attack. Was there someone who’d want to set him up to take the fall for treason?

He ran though his life and couldn’t come up with a single suspect. “I’m not a Boy Scout by any means, but I doubt anyone hates me enough to risk going to jail for treason.”

“Still,” she said. “You should spend some time thinking about it.”

“I will, but I think we should look into corporate espionage right away. Though I don’t know anything about the owners of Security-Watchdog,” he quickly added as he hated to cast suspicion on anyone without reason.

“Already started. Two of the three named partners are IT professionals who’ve worked in a few big firms here in Portland, and they seem credible.”

“And the other partner?” Luke asked. “Anything unusual jump out at you?”

“Before we talk about him, remember IT professionals know how software is sabotaged or they wouldn’t be able to protect their own investments. That doesn’t mean they have the desire to act on it, though. The other guy’s former military like you. That could mean he’s more likely to engage in subversive tactics, so I’ll keep digging into the company.”

So that’s how she saw him. Military through and through. But he was so much more than that. He was kind of hurt that she didn’t see beyond the SEAL, but most people didn’t after they learned about his military career. Not that he’d let her know it stung. Better to make light of it. “You don’t think I’d do something subversive, do you?”

She shot him a quick look of horror, and he couldn’t contain his smile.

She smirked. “Oh, I get it. You’re teasing me.”

“Kind of slow on the draw this morning, aren’t you, Justice?”

“If we find Eggleston at home, you better hope not.” She chuckled, and he couldn’t help but be impressed with how she maintained an even-keel temperament most of the time.

He’d been like that once. Before he’d gotten old enough for his father to bully and belittle while trying to control Luke’s future. Long before his father had lost it when his mother had threatened to leave him and he’d set the house on fire, killing himself along with Luke’s mother and older sister. Not a thought he’d linger on when he’d just managed to lighten his mood. He needed to be more like Dani. Upbeat. Cheerful.

“It’s showtime.” Enthusiasm bubbled through her voice as she turned into an older neighborhood.

He caught her mood. “You’re as excited as a rookie on her first case.”

“Actually this is the first investigation I’ve taken lead on since starting our agency.” She shot out a hand. “And before you get worried because you don’t think I can handle your case, I’ve been lead agent on many cyber crime investigations for the FBI and had no complaints.”

“I’m not worried in the least,” he said and meant it. But when he spotted the homes in disrepair and unkempt yards surrounding them, concern nagged at him.

Not Dani. Her eyes alight with anticipation, she eased slowly down the street and pulled up to a home with peeling white paint and a sagging front porch. A lawn covered in knee-high weeds surrounded the small bungalow. Just the kind of place a criminal might live. She turned the engine off, and he reached for his door handle.

“Wait.” She punched numbers on a safe bolted between the seats, then pulled out a Glock 45 and seated an ammo clip.

His mouth dropped open when she easily chambered a round like one of his SEAL team members. He didn’t know why seeing her handle a gun like a pro surprised him, but it did. “I didn’t expect you to carry.”

“You never know what might be waiting for us behind that door.” Her focus turned deadly serious, and for the first time, he saw Dani Justice, former federal agent, and his respect for her doubled.

“I feel a little naked,” he said, hoping she might have another gun for him.

“Just stay behind me and I’ll protect you from the big bad man.” She winked at him and her lips curled up in a grin.

He imagined this slender woman gracefully strolling up the walkway, his big, hulking body following. Seemed like something he’d see in a cartoon and he couldn’t stem a burst of laughter.

“Care to share the joke?”

“Just that you’re so...I don’t know, fragile-looking that it’s hard to picture you as my protector.”

She holstered her gun with a firm snap of her wrist and met his gaze, her eyes filled with disappointment. “I’m tougher than I look, Luke. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me.” She clipped her holster on her belt. “Stay behind me, and at the door stay away from the peephole while I work my girlish charms on Eggleston to see if we can get him to come out.”

He still didn’t like letting a woman put herself at risk for him, but he followed her up the stairs and stood to the side of the door as she directed. A quick stab at the doorbell and she stood back. The soft breeze carried her fresh coconut scent his way, making the home seem not quite as dismal.

“Hello,” she called out in a sweet tone. “Is anyone home?”

Luke watched the transformation from a gun-toting, tough investigator to this very feminine woman. He suspected she’d taken down a suspect or two using her femininity over the years. He’d gladly fall for it, and he wasn’t an overly trusting guy.

She smiled at him, and that now familiar zing of interest kept his eyes fixed on her. She really was something else. He couldn’t help but think dating her would never get boring and wished that he was up for the challenge.