Page 24 of A Soldier's Temptation
“I’m going in unless there’s some other reason I can’t?” She directed the question to Colin.
“If you promise not to touch anything I’ll take you through it. I want to take a look.”
John started to object, but Colin gave him a sharp look and stopped whatever he was going to say. She was ready to tell them to all get lost, it was her apartment, she was a grown woman.
“Can you hold onto Mr. Darcy?”
“Of course.”
“You stay here with John. He’ll take care of you. Be a good boy.” Mr. Darcy didn’t look very happy about her leaving him and let out a low growl, but she knew Colin wouldn’t want the dog muddying up his crime scene. “It’s okay. I promise I’ll be right back,” Ari said as she handed the leash to John.
“Baby, you have to remember it’s just stuff. It can all be replaced. Right?”
“Okay.” She caught Colin’s raised eyebrow at the endearment but it was the last thing she wanted to deal with. The apartment was her main focus, she wasn’t even sure if she could stay there tonight or anytime soon. But she needed to see it, then she’d figure out her next steps.
Colin went in first, and after what John had said she tried to prepare herself for the worst. But there was no way in hell she could have been ready for the disaster that used to be her home. A loud gasp escaped as she gazed at the total destruction.
“Why would someone do this? I don’t understand. I don’t have anything valuable.”
“Unfortunately it’s how the world is. You’re a good person and haven’t been exposed to this type of thing. And if I had to guess, I’d say these are the same people who sent that email earlier. It’s all part of trying to keep you from testifying.”
“But you don’t know for sure.”
“No, not yet. But if it is them, they won’t stop until they get what they want.”
“And they thought destroying my home would do that?”
“With the trial approaching, they’re probably getting desperate. It’s going to continue to escalate. I wish you’d reconsider Witness Protection.”
“We’ve been over this, and unless you can tell me my life is in danger and by whom, I’m not going into WITSEC. I told you that before. I don’t want to give up my life, my friends, my job.”
“I understand, but is it more important than staying alive? I’m not sure you’ll be safe after the trial.”
“We’re working on it. But it would make sense that it’s the people Chen worked with. He was low down in the chain but can identify all of them and they probably think you can too. If they want to hurt you, they won’t stop until they succeed.”
“I don’t know anything. Paul never involved me in any of it.”
“But they don’t know that, and until we can connect the dots you need to be in a safe house. I think they were looking for something. There’s just too much destruction for it to be anything else.”
“I don’t have anything of value to anyone but me.”
“Are you sure Paul didn’t give you something? A flash drive, a memory card? Anything like that?”
“No, I already told you. He didn’t give me anything.”
Colin was right about one thing. She couldn’t stay there. Everything was trashed. But she’d be damned if she was going to let him put her in a safe house. She wished she could go to Shira’s, but that would put her in even more danger.
“Can I pack a small bag, toiletries, some clothing? I know I can’t stay here. I’ll get a hotel room.”
“No…” This time the reply was in stereo. She turned around and John stood in the doorway with Mr. Darcy.
“I don’t know what you were going to say, Colin, but no way. Besides, most of them won’t let her bring a dog. I think she should stay with me. I have a spare bedroom.”
“I would prefer she come with us to the safe house.”
“Really? I think I can do a better job of protecting her. Your guys couldn’t stop this. What makes you think you can stop what’s coming next?”
“Because it’s what we do. Protect our witnesses. Agent Charles was following his orders and watching the witness.” Ahh, so Shadow Four’s name was Agent Charles. She liked calling him Shadow Four better. The agent in question was talking into his earpiece and looked mighty uncomfortable.
