Dangerous Secrets Read Free

They are going to try to get it, and according to what
you’ve said, you’re their best lead.”
    Nodding, Mallory rubbed her palm over her leg and
held onto Robyn’s hand tighter with her other hand. “What does that mean?”
    “That means we need to protect you. The police have
limited resources, which is why Granger insisted you come see us as quickly as
he did. They will have to pull the police presence from your building and
neighborhood soon, which leaves you unprotected. We’re going to assign one of
our guys to stay with you. To keep them from realizing you’re under our
protection, we’ll use a little subterfuge. The guy I’m sending will be your boyfriend.
He was out of town during the attack, just got back, and will be rushing over
to see you as soon as he can because he just found out.”
    “Uh, okay,” she said with a frown. “But won’t they
know I came to see you?” she asked.
    “Doubtful, we had a few of our guys tailing you on your
taxi ride here to ensure you hadn’t picked up any watchers,” Robyn said. “And
we’ll have them do the same thing when you return home. I’d recommend, though,
that you get your taxi to stop at a market near your place if you can and go
in, pick up a few things and then walk. I say close because you’re not in any
condition for a long hike.”
    “I can do that,” Mallory told her. “Why?”
    “Extra level of precaution,” Robyn explained. “We
want to see if you do have any watchers. And a guy walking up the street
listening to tunes is a lot less obvious than a car parked across from your
building for days on end.”
    Mallory thought it made sense, but she knew nothing
about this sort of thing. She was a chef. What she knew about covert tactics and
sneakiness came from watching Bond films or cop shows. Which
all boiled down to not a hell of a lot.
    “ I’m trusting you on that
one since I’ve got no opinion one way or another,” she finally said.
    Robyn grinned and shook her head. “It’s all good.
Now, let me find a photo of your soon to be “boyfriend” so you don’t wig out
when he shows up at your door.”
    She gave Mallory’s hand another squeeze before
getting up and moving over to her desk. When she came back Mallory took the
iPad from her and blinked in surprise at the photo on display. Short, dark
hair, deep tan, blue eyes, slightly crooked nose all in a face that screamed
masculinity.
    “His name is Trent McDonald, he’s a former Marine so he can occasionally come off a little gruff and
grumbly. Just smack him with a rolled-up paper and
you’ll be fine,” Robyn told her. “He’ll keep you safe. Now, I’d recommend you
don’t return to work for a while.”
    “Not a problem,” Mallory said. “My boss insisted I
take as much time as needed. He knows I’ll need rehab for the shoulder. Likely
a lot before I’ll be able to fling around pans and lift the slabs of stone he
calls plates.”
    “Good. But I need to ask, just for my own piece of
mind, that won’t strain you financially will it?” Robyn asked.
    Chuckling, she shook her head slightly. “No. My
parents left me a reasonable amount of money when they passed away. It sat in
some sort of fancy account gaining interest. I’m comfortably off between that
and the obscene amount of money that I get paid for my cooking. So yes, I’m
good and I can pay the bill for whatever this,” she waved a hand around, “costs
me.”
    Robyn just waved her away. “Don’t even worry about
it. I talked my partner into taking your case pro-bono. The only thing you may
have to fork any dough out for would be supplies, should it be necessary. That
and whatever Trent eats in a day. Trust me, that could
well bankrupt you right there. He can really pack a meal away.”
    Right, she might just have to pick up something at
the market then.
    “Well, I think that’s it,” Robyn said, standing up.
She went to her desk and came back with a clipboard of papers. “If you’d like
to review this