Page 171 of Valor

Shoot

She paused. Unpacking her paranoid mind to a virtual stranger would most likely warn him off.

Would you know where the closest car rental company is?

That was lame; she could have googled it.

Would you like me to take you there?

I need to call them and ask if they have an automatic.

Mom made sure Meghan understood that most Europeans drove a standard, and that required a bit of skill.

Okay

A link popped up on her screen. He was efficient, if nothing else. Meghan smiled. Not willing to end the conversation, she risked being a total nuisance.

One more thing. Could you drive me to a grocery store tomorrow?

Did she sound too needy?

I’m glad you asked; I was planning to make a run.

She tapped a happy face emoji.

What time should I pick you up?

Do you have to work at the school?

I don’t work on Saturdays, and it’s summer break.

Of course.Now he is going to think I’m a total dunce.

8?

See you then.

Setting the phone down,she stretched onto the sofa. The luggage could wait. There would be plenty of time to unpack later. Meghan reached for the soft blanket draped over the armrest. But before she wrapped herself in it, she glanced at the door. She got up and pulled the key out of her pocket. Pushing it into the lock, she ensured the door was secure and turned the key half-way. Another one of Mom’s tricks. This way, no one could unlock the door from the outside, even if they had the right key.

Back on the sofa, Meghan pulled the blanket to her chin and closed her eyes.

* * *

He readher message with a twinge of guilt. She was starting to trust him. Wasn’t that the plan? Oliver tapped the surveillance camera icon on his phone and reviewed the footage from the time he left the apartment building. There he was again. He must have followed them to the Airbnb, although Oliver hadn’t spotted someone trailing his car. So now Robert knew where Meghan was staying. Oliver chewed on his cheek. How would he tell Meghan she was in danger without showing his hand?

Be professional.

She was cute. But he could handle himself. Oliver thought of the way Meghan fiddled with her phone, trying to evade his attention, most likely texting her mom. He chuckled at the memory. Then his mood soured. She was alone, unaware of Robert, who was trying to put an end to a story she had no idea existed.

People like Robert kindled a fire deep in his gut. They thought they were above the law. Oliver had been chasing after individuals just like Robert for the past ten years. A decade of his life was gone. After his thirtieth birthday, he had promised himself that this would be his last assignment. He would hand in his resignation once he had solved this case of missing assets and documents. Documents that listed the stolen art and other valuables of several Jewish families from this area, including the Weiss family gold. He had been working on this case for the past two years without blowing his cover. Fred’s death threw a wrench into the operation. But Meghan seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.

Iwould keep her safe no matter what.

When she had accepted his offered hand, as she exited his car, and he felt her fingers gently rest against his palm, something had shifted inside him.

You have a job. Besides, she lives across the ocean.

Meghan didn’t strike him as a woman looking for a fling. He had been reading people for a decade. It was his job to assess a suspect or the trustworthiness of a witness. This woman was pretty but also strong and independent. A timid girl would not get into a stranger’s car, even in a small village.

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