Page 8 of Counter Attack

He hesitated. “What makes you say that?”

While she didn’t roll her eyes at him, she might as well have. “Those two, for one thing.” Kayla nodded toward Parker and Watkins. “And it was obvious to me that she didn’t belong at the bar—she ordered a Tom Collins mocktail, and I know people come to bars and don’t drink alcoholic beverages, but she kept trying to make her skirt longer. I just had a feeling.”

He’d noticed that about the skirt, and Nathan had ordered a gin-free Tom Collins more than once when he’d needed to fit in to the bar scene. “Do you think anyone else came to the same conclusion?”

She shook her head. “I only noticed because I study people, and she didn’t fit the profile of what I call a ‘regular.’ That’s what Lexi was passing herself off as, but I didn’t suspect she was a cop until she pulled the gun hidden in her waistband.”

“What were you doing here?”

“My low-tire light came on when I turned the corner, and I pulled over.” She rubbed her fingers on her black pants. “Then I saw Lexi and that man, and I just had the feeling that something was wrong.”

“Why not just call the police?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I thought he’d hurt her before thepolice got here. Then she called me Houdini, and I knew she was in trouble.”

“Why did she call you that?”

“It was an inside joke. Once I realized therewastrouble, I had to help her. I’m fairly proficient in karate and caught the guy by surprise with a dropkick.”

Nathan figured she was more than fairly proficient.

Footsteps drew close and Nathan looked around as Parker approached, a notepad in his hand. He was eyeing Kayla.

“You’ve given me your statement, so you’re free to leave whenever you’d like.”

“Thank you, Detective Parker. I believe I’ll do just that.” She turned to Nathan. “Would you let me know how she is tomorrow?”

“Sure. Give me your number, and I’ll call you.” He put the number she gave him into his contacts along with her name. Then he walked her to the car.

“Thank you,” she said.

As Kayla pulled away from the curb, his gut said there was more to her story than she’d told him. He turned as Parker approached.

“How did you happen to show up here tonight?”

Nathan pulled his attention back to the detective. “I ran into Alexis at the Lemon Tree. Figured she was working a case from the way she was dressed, and when I saw you two, it confirmed it. When I concluded my business at the bar, I decided to swing by her house, see if she made it home okay.”

The detective raised an eyebrow. “You two an item?”

Nathan laughed. “Not in this lifetime. Sheriff Stone in Russell County is her grandfather. He would expect me to make sure she made it home okay.”

“Stone’s a good man. Didn’t know he was Alex’s grandfather, though.” His heavy eyebrows raised expectantly.

What could he say? Alexis was a very private person, and if she hadn’t told Parker that Stone was her grandfather, Nathan had already said too much. “I don’t think she broadcasts it.”

“Stone’s getting up there in years. You used to be his deputy—you gonna run for sheriff when he retires?”

It seemed a hundred years ago that he was Carson Stone’s deputy, even though it’d only been four years. “Stone retire? That’ll be the day.”

“Yeah, but what is he, eighty?”

“He’s not that old.” Seventy-five, maybe. Running for the office did cross Nathan’s mind every now and then. “Not sure I want to go from managing nine officers to twenty-nineandthe corrections facility.”

Parker laughed with Nathan. “So whatwereyou doing in this part of town? The Lemon Tree doesn’t strike me as your normal hangout.”

“It’s not. Had a meeting with someone.”

“Care to give me a name?”

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