“Agent Ortega, you’ll stick with Meyers until we can mute these threats. Her safety is your first priority as we work this case.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Emiliano closed the laptop he’d brought along and stowed it in his computer bag, no happier than Finn with the new orders.
Smart and gorgeous, all signs pointed to Marie Meyers being a difficult woman for him to keep an eye on. He’d done his best to clear drama and difficulty from his life. Guarding a suspect or potential victim was the least favorite part of his job description.
He hurried down the hall to Marie’s office. She was already gone.
“Hang on, Ortega,” Dashwood said, catching him at the elevator.
“So she is a suspect?” Emiliano kept his voice low.
“I didn’t say that.”
He waited for her to clarify.
“We both know this isn’t typical Cohort strategy,” she said. Only her narrowed gaze revealed her frustration. “I want to stop this before it becomes a trend. We’ll work it from this side while you keep working it off-site. With or without the CDO’s cooperation.”
He understood what she wouldn’t say outright in this building. They had to protect Miss Meyers based on the credible threats. In doing so, he would be close enough to catch her if she was cooperating with the hacktivists.
“When did you put her in the suspect category?” He knew some cyberattacks were assisted by insiders, but this felt like a big leap in judgment against Miss Meyers.
Selene spread her hands wide. “We’re just getting started. I’m not ready to rule out anything.”
“Let’s move fast. I’m not looking forward to spending Christmas in my truck.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
“If it does, you can explain it to Scrabble.” His beloved corgi would be grumpy if he wasn’t home soon and she could hold a grudge. “I’ll keep you posted,” he said.
With a brisk nod, she strode back down the hallway to the conference room.
Alone in the elevator, Emiliano smiled as he thought of his dog patiently waiting for him back at his family ranch in Shadow Creek, several hours away. She had plenty of care and company out there; he didn’t worry about that. It was the idea of being stuck in the city for the holidays that put a pinch between his shoulder blades. There was a fresh sincerity in small-town life he’d never found in the major cities he’d worked in. Only gone half a day, he already missed the rhythm and routine of the ranch that kept him grounded.
Dallas, in particular, set his teeth on edge. Despite the gloss and polish that impressed so many residents and tourists, he saw the unsavory elements lurking just under that pretty surface. And whose fault was that? he wondered with a sigh.
He stepped out of the elevator into the lobby and walked right into the unwelcome glare of Miss Meyers.
* * *
Marie could hardly contain her frustration. The FBI had ordered security to hold her here until an agent arrived to escort her. She had been taking care of herself, and doing a fine job of it, since turning eighteen.
She wished she could take back her promise not to argue this decision. Who would they send? Not the woman in charge, and probably not the rumpled-looking Mr. Staller. The idea of Agent Townsend hovering over her life turned her palms damp with nerves.
Agent Ortega stepped off the elevator and relief flooded her system. There was a kindness in his gaze, a compassion that she wanted to trust.
“Thanks for your patience,” he said.
“They said I didn’t have a choice.” She gripped the handle of her purse with both hands, her computer bag over her shoulder. “How exactly will this work?”
He gave her a hesitant smile. “With your patience and cooperation you won’t notice me at all.” She almost laughed. Overlooking this handsome agent in any environment was unimaginable.
“The goal is your protection, not inconvenience,” he said, holding the door for her. “We work quickly and should have your life back to normal by the holidays.”
He couldn’t know how little comfort that was—the holidays were always a study in loneliness for her—but she thanked him anyway.
“We’ll take my truck to your car, and then we’ll head to your place and make a plan.”
Her heels clicked sharply on the pavement and she noticed he slowed his pace just enough that she didn’t feel rushed. The heels put her at nearly eye level with him and she appreciated the sense of equality.
“A plan?” she echoed after a moment. “The FBI considers house arrest a plan?”
“You think you should be under house arrest?”
“No.” Exasperated with the entire day, she puffed her long bangs up off her forehead.
He unlocked the truck and let her settle into the seat before he closed her door. After stashing his computer bag behind the driver’s seat, he climbed in and started the engine. “Where are you parked?”
She gave him directions and then closed her eyes, silently counting to ten. There was a logical way out of this nightmare. When the truck didn’t move, she opened her eyes and found him watching her intently, his lips tilted up at the corner.
“My mother used to do that when she got fed up with my brother and me.” He pulled away from the parking space, his gaze on the road.
The man had a striking profile. “You have a brother?”
He nodded without volunteering any information. She got the impression he didn’t make a habit of sharing personal details. A tactic she could respect. What people didn’t know about, they couldn’t judge.
“I could help this investigation, you know,” she said as he pulled up behind her car.
The full weight of that dark, enigmatic gaze landed on her and she resisted the urge to fidget or plead. Would nothing convince his team or her bosses that she could be an asset? Didn’t the FBI have safe houses or something outside the Cohort’s reach where she could help?
“Right now the best way to help is to stay safe and give us room to work,” he replied.
“This is outrageous.” She pulled her car key from her purse and shoved out of his truck before her temper snapped and she said something she might regret.
* * *
Emiliano noticed there had been no searching or rooting around for her key. The woman was organized. He appreciated efficiency, focused on that trait rather than her lush feminine curves and lovely legs.
Both ranch life and FBI experience had taught him that calm was the best option when tempers turned hot. He braced for the slamming door. It would be easier to get a read on her once she relaxed.
Suddenly she turned back, her eyes flashing.
“I’ve never jeopardized or abused customer information the way the Cohort does.”
He listened to her words and studied her body language. Hard to believe she’d willingly let in a hacktivist group.
“We do not share or sell personal information,” she continued, in that staccato pattern that reminded him of her high heels on the pavement.
“Good.”
“I knew programmers with hacktivist ideologies and skills. In school.” Those dark eyes met his, held. “I didn’t agree with them then and I don’t support their criminal behavior now.”
“All right,” he said.
She sucked in a breath as if his acceptance