Page 23 of A Soldier's Temptation
“Do you think you could give a description to a sketch artist?”
“I’m not sure, my eyesight isn’t what it was. But if it will help Ari, I’ll be happy to try.”
The doors slid open again, and it was a repeat of the last time. Ari swore she was going to have bruises from John pushing her around. She knew he was in full-blown protection mode, but it was getting out of hand. From the stink that wafted around her, even Mr. Darcy wasn’t taking it well.
“Stop right there,” one of the police officers demanded.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Ari couldn’t see who’d arrived on the scene because John’s wide shoulders were blocking her view, but she recognized that voice—Special Agent Colin Rogers. The shit was going to hit the fan now.
“Wait just a minute,” the older of the two officers held out his hand. “You need to stop right there.”
Ari peeked around John and saw the pinched expression on Colin’s face. Yup, he was super pissed off. At least this time it wasn’t her fault, right? Wait, it couldn’t be her fault, could it?
Colin flashed his badge to the officers. “I’m Special Agent Colin Rogers of the FBI. We’ll be taking over now. But thank you for the quick response.”
“I don’t know…” the other officer started to object.
“Call your captain, he’ll tell you. Oh and Mrs. Laramie, you won’t need to worry about the sketch artist. Thank you for offering.”
The officers didn’t look very happy about being dismissed, but after a call to their captain, they nodded at Colin and left the crime scene to the FBI.
The short, silver-haired woman looked him over and nodded. “If you need anything, child, let me know.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Laramie. Have a good evening.” It was the oddest thing to be happening in the middle of a crime scene, one more item to add to her list of experiences she’d never hoped to have.
“John Dillon? What are you doing here?”
“I live here, but it’s nice to see you too.” Ari was confused. Did they know each other? And why did Colin look like he swallowed a porcupine? She wished she was better at reading people. Duh, if she had been she wouldn’t be in this mess.
“You two know each other?” she asked as she stepped around John. There was no way she was in danger with all the testosterone around her. It was more likely they’d shoot each other. Men.
“Yes,” they answered in unison and exchanged glances. This was getting weirder by the minute.
“We met in college and were roommates,” John said.
“Wow. That’s a crazy coincidence to run into each other now.”
“Yes, it is. We’ll have to get together soon and catch up,” Colin answered. “But for now, I need to move Ms. Nelson to a safe house.”
“No. I told you earlier, I’m staying here.”
“But Ari it’s not safe,” Colin said exasperation coloring his words.
They were going to double-team her now? They could try, but she had other ideas.
“The apartment is trashed. All the furniture is ruined. You can’t stay there. Besides, the door is broken, and we can’t get it fixed tonight,” John said.
“I want to see it.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Ari leveled a look at John that had been known to stop lesser men in their tracks. But it didn’t seem to bother him one bit.
“Don’t. Just stop. What did I tell you about being a Neanderthal around me?
“But…” She turned in time to see Colin trying to cover the smile on his face. Like she was any happier with him.
