Page 35 of Saltwater Sweets
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Gina didn’t see as they had much choice but to explain everything to Sam. She’d already seen Hugh, and they didn’t want her running around town, talking about some scruffy guy holed up at the motel. They needed to explain the situation so she would keep quiet.
“I’ve seen so many similar stories in my line of work.” Sam patted Gina’s arm in sympathy and shot Hugh an angry glare. “I hate it when the husbands take advantage.”
“Yeah, me too.” Ellie glared at Hugh also.
“I think your plan is a good one. Too bad we couldn’t get that document sooner and get rid of him,” Sam said.
“Hey, what do you mean by ‘get rid of him’?” Hugh asked.
“Well, you can’t stay in the storeroom forever,” Jules said. “The sooner you surrender to Ellie’s contact, the better.”
“And the sooner Gina gets her money, the sooner she can put you in the past,” Sam said.
“So, what now? We just wait until the bank opens tomorrow?” Sam asked.
“I guess so—”
Crash!
Everyone spun toward the door, which had just been kicked open. Cole was standing there with a gun pointing into the room.
“No one move! You’re under arrest for harboring a fugitive!”
CHAPTER28
Before Sam was even finished processing the situation, Ellie jumped in between them and Cole. Her own gun was drawn, and her expression was one of anger and suspicion.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
“Apprehending fugitives.” Cole flipped out his badge. “I’m with the FBI. What do you thinkyou’redoing?”
“I’m a private investigator, as you know. And I’m in contact with the FBI about this situation. Which makes me a little suspicious of you busting in here.” They both still had guns drawn as Ellie regarded Cole. “And by the way, we aren’t harboring a fugitive. Well, technically, maybe we are, but the FBI is apprised of the situation.”
“Iamthe FBI!” Cole said.
“Then why don’t you know what’s going on?” Ellie demanded.
Cole’s phone pinged, and he wrestled it out of his pocket.
As Sam watched Cole read the message on his phone, her brain caught up with the situation.
Cole was in town on an assignment from the FBI to find a fugitive? He’d never mentioned that to them. He’d been lying and sneaking around about that the whole time. Apparently, that ran in the family.
Cole cleared his throat. “I see. The office has just notified me of your involvement in the situation. You can put your gun away.”
Cole holstered his gun, and Ellie did the same.
“So, wait… you busted in here on some kind of a misunderstanding without having the whole story?” Gina gestured toward Cole’s phone.
She looked worried, and Sam couldn’t blame her. If Cole took Hugh into custody right now, he might not be able to transfer the money to Gina.
Cole ignored the question and scanned the room. “What are you all doing in here? Are you all involved in this?”
“What areyoudoing in here?” Sam blurted out. “How did you know we were in the storage room? Were you spying on us?”
Cole turned his gaze on her. His green eyes, normally so friendly, were dark and cold. “Spying? I think that’s your department. And what is your association with this fugitive, anyway? Are you working together?”
