Page 21 of The District

Her heart pounded in her chest and her breath came out in short spurts. “That’s crazy. We’re the FBI for God’s sake.”

“Do you think that exempts us from people taking potshots at us? We just lost an agent in South America. Someone blew his cover and the cartel executed him, beheaded him.”

She shivered and hugged her waist. “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

“Me either.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s get back to the car. We don’t want to give him a second chance.”

“Do you think it’s our killer? Do you think he plans to strike again in San Francisco?”

“I hope he tries and we’re there to stop him this time.”

“We need to report this to Rich.”

“We have no proof that the guy driving that car has anything to do with this case.”

“There’s the symbol on my rental car. Someone’s following us, someone who’s aware we’re here to investigate these murders.”

“I’ll put it in my report to Rich and the P.D.” He held out his hand. “Do you want me to drive? Your hands are trembling.”

She dropped the keys into his palm without a word. If he wanted to play the big strong protector, who was she to argue?

When she slid into the passenger seat, she leaned back to get a view of the side mirror. “I’m going to make sure we’re not being followed.”

“Why? That would be great. Let him come to us.”

“Easy for you to say. Those weren’t your toes he almost ran over with a two-ton car.”

Drawing his brows together, he adjusted the rearview mirror. “Did you feel like he was aiming the car toward you? We were both in that crosswalk.”

“I don’t know. Maybe just because I was in front of you. Scary stuff.” She wriggled deeper into her seat and stuffed her hands beneath her thighs. Tonight had been a roller coaster ride. Maybe she should try to call Vivi and see what she had to say about the matter. Of course, every time she talked to her sister, Vivi tried to recruit her to the dark side.

“Are you okay?” Eric reached over and squeezed her shoulder.

“I’d be better if I thought the hot tub at the hotel would be open when we got back.” He removed his hand too soon and steered into the hotel parking lot.

Despite being outed as a witch and almost getting run over, this night had exceeded all her expectations. Eric had forgiven her for taking secret notes on his family tragedy and didn’t believe she’d been in league with Ray Lopez to write a book. He’d softened toward her, and it felt so good she’d almost forgotten that she had a bigger secret—one that would torpedo their tentative truce.

But she had to tell him.

He parked the car, and she scrambled out before she could blurt out the truth. This needed careful planning. He was already suspicious about her move to San Miguel with her mother. Mom was hardly old or sickly.

She blinked as they walked into the glare of the lobby.

Eric called across the room to the hotel clerk. “Is the hot tub still open?”

She responded. “Midnight.”

“Perfect.” Eric took her arm. “The witching hour.”

“Would you stop with that?” She shook off his hand. “I already told you. Midnight is not the witching hour.”

“Like I said, you should know.” He punched the elevator button. “Are you really going to the hot tub? Did you even bring a suit?”

“I always do.”

They reached their adjoining rooms, and she slid her card in the slot and turned, but he already had his own door open.

“I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow morning at eight?”

“Sure.”

The stab of disappointment almost took her breath away. Not that she was expecting a good-night kiss or anything, but something more than a door in the face would’ve been nice after their breakthrough tonight.

She let her own door slam behind her. Maybe Eric didn’t consider what had happened tonight a breakthrough.

And it wasn’t. The breakthrough would come when she told him about Kendall. Or not.

After she tugged on her one-piece suit, she crouched in front of the minibar and grabbed a mini bottle of chilled white wine. She didn’t have to drive anywhere now.

She slipped the white terry cloth robe from the hanger in the closet and wrapped it around her body. She dropped the wine in her pocket, followed by a plastic cup. She padded barefoot down the carpeted hallway to the elevator. She stabbed the button for the basement floor a couple of times.

She slid her key card into the slot next to the glass door leading to the pool. She nodded at the couple dog-paddling around the shallow end. Probably thrilled to see her.

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