Beginning: A PAVAD Prequel Novella (PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense) Read Free Page B

library we can get set up in. I can access all of my files from the computer in there. And it’s as secure as it can be. Agent Tompkins set up the system for Ed several months ago.”
    He nodded. “JT is good at what he does.”
    “Yes, he is.” Len lead the way to the library. Ed was upstairs with his grandson, getting the boy resettled for the night. Rosa was in the kitchen, drinking what Len suspected was some laced coffee. The poor woman was not used to these kinds of things, but she had real nerves of steel. And she loved Matthew immensely. Thank God the bastards had left Rosa and Matthew alone. “In here.”
    Len settled behind the desk chair and booted up the computer, conscious of his presence behind her. Why was she so aware of Dakon Royal all of the sudden? Was it because of the adrenaline associated with nearly being killed still coursing through her system, making her senses heightened?
    Or was it the slight hint of male aftershave she could smell?
    She shook those thoughts off and entered her Bureau passwords into the system. Now wasn’t the time, and this wasn’t the man to have those feelings for. But damn, he smelled good.
    “Why don’t you grab that chair? I’ll print out copies of the possible traitors so you can have some as well.”
    “No. I’m good reading here. Let’s just get through them as fast as possible to see if anything stands out. You can print them later.” His fingers were on the back of the chair, brushing against her shoulder.
    “Here’s the short list. These five agents here.”
    “We need to face the possibility that it’s not one of these five. And with over two hundred agents in the building, plus auxiliary staff, we need to be careful not to limit the options. It can be anyone.”
    “Except the females. And I’m one hundred percent certain the man was close in age to Ed. Once we get ballistics back on the gun we may have a better chance of determining who, as well.”
    “And we’re getting that from Indianapolis.”
    “Ed’s set to go to Indianapolis tomorrow, anyway. He has an interview with a possible team leader. Fin McLaughlin. I was to accompany him.”
    “And now we both will. What about Mattie?”
    “Ed’s arranged for a friend of his from the CIA to join Rosa and Mattie for a few days.”
    “And he trusts this guy that much?”
    “Yes. The man has a thing for Rosa, as well. And Mattie knows him.” So it wouldn’t disrupt the little boy’s routine; she knew that was important to Ed. “And I’ve also assigned a few agents to keep an extra eye on the place. Women I went through the Academy with and can trust. He’ll be safe.”
    “Good. I suggest we shut down for the night. Tomorrow will come pretty early if we’re flying to Indy.”
    Len looked up into dark brown eyes. Eyes that were staring at his hand where it rested on her shoulder. The shoulder left bare by the spaghetti strap of that damned red dress.
    He pulled his hand back. Stared at her for a long moment. “Well, uh… Goodnight. If you want, I’ll take the first watch. And I’ll wake you in a few hours.”
    “That will work. We can both catch some sleep on the plane if we need to. Goodnight.”
    Len nearly ran from the room. She knew where the guest rooms were in Ed’s home and she entered the first one she passed and closed the door firmly behind her. Ed’s room was right next door. She’d be able to hear anything that might need her attention.
    And the guest rooms were clear across the house from the library where she’d just left Agent Royal.
    Good. She needed the space to think.
     

Chapter Five
    DAKON had never been an easy flier, and he probably never would. Not so, the woman beside him. Len slept peacefully, her little body folded into the seat almost perfectly.
    Her entire body was perfect. Did she realize that?
    He must have been staring at her for far too long—Ed Dennis was watching him watch her.
    “She’s exhausted, but she’ll