The Baby Assignment. Christy Barritt
held her breath, only releasing it when the door opened and...Tanner stood there.
Just as had happened earlier, excitement buzzed up her spine. He was still so handsome and so sure of himself, from his dimples all the way down to those dusty cowboy boots. His outer attributes had only been part of the reason why she’d been so attracted to him.
Though he was as tough as nails on the outside, he also had a soft heart for those he cared about, and he would have bent over backward for her. And that had been part of their problem.
His eyes locked on her, and he sauntered across the room. He paused in front of her and knelt until they were eye to eye.
“I’m sorry, Macy.” He kept his voice low as he glanced at Addie.
She pulled her gaze up to meet Tanner’s. Looking at Addie was safer.
He still looked as strong and sure as ever, but worry had crept into his gaze. She also saw it in the tautness of his shoulders and in the grim lines at his forehead.
For a moment—and just a moment—Macy wished she could do something to relieve his worry. No words would do it, but the man needed someone to give him a hug or make him some coffee. But nurturer was no longer her role.
“Sorry for what?” She cleared her throat and tried to forget the image of wrapping her arms around him. Of feeling his strong, protective embrace.
“I didn’t mean to involve you further than coming to your office today to ask if you would help identify Addie or her mother. But now, whoever is behind this has already seen you and probably thinks you’re involved.”
Her throat constricted. “What’s that mean?”
Apology stretched through his gaze. “It means now you’re part of this, whether you wanted to be or not.”
“Are you serious?” Certainly he wasn’t. In her mind, the FBI would question her. She’d look through her files, sharing any pertinent information with them. And then she’d go home and return to her normal life.
“Unfortunately, I am. These guys know who you are, where you work. I’m afraid you’re also a target now.”
Macy leaned back into the couch cushion, the steady sound of Addie’s breathing and the warmth of the baby’s body soothing her a moment. “What is going on here? This is bigger than a custody dispute, which was my first assumption when you came to me.”
“We honestly have no idea at this point. Based on what happened at the therapy center today, we know without a doubt that the stakes are high.” He drew in a deep breath. “The choices you have at this point are: you stay in protective custody alone, or you stay in protective custody with Addie. I know what I hope you’ll do, but it’s your choice.”
Macy glanced down at the sweet sleeping baby, and her stomach lurched with protectiveness for the child.
Leave Addie? Macy couldn’t fathom doing that at this point. She and the baby had bonded quickly. But, on the other hand, this was her one chance to get away from Tanner and distance herself from him. But she had other questions first.
“Why me, Tanner? Why did Addie’s mom scribble my name on that piece of paper?”
He stood and lowered himself beside her on the couch, stretching his legs out. “We’re trying to figure that out.”
Macy tried not to get distracted by his closeness, by the warmth exuding from his body. “But you think I could be connected to this case somehow.”
He nodded slowly. “It’s a possibility.”
The thought of that made her head spin.
She made a quick decision. “Of course I’ll stay here and help. Addie needs as many advocates as she can get.” She shivered. “This all just seems so horrible.”
“I agree. We all do. We’re going to track down the person behind this. But, until then, it’s like you said—we have to watch out for the best interests of the child.”
“It’s good to have people who are worried about you,” she finally said. “Who will stand beside you no matter what.”
Tanner’s gaze studied hers another moment before he nodded, a flash of something painful in his gaze. “It does.”
She didn’t bother to expend the mental energy to figure out what he was thinking. Instead, she did what she did best. She planned. Thought everything through. Developed a plan of action. “I have no clothes except what I have on.”
“We’ll get you some. Toiletries, as well. Just make a list.”
She swallowed hard. “And we’ll stay here until this...this...blows over?”
She made it sound like a misunderstanding when it was so much more. And she knew that but didn’t know how to follow up on her words without making things even more awkward.
“That’s correct.”
His grim tone only drove home how serious this situation was. “I’m scared, Tanner.”
“I’m not going to let anyone get to you, Macy. I promise.”
She believed him. It may have been the most unwise decision Macy could have made, but deep inside she knew Tanner would die rather than let her be harmed.
She cleared her throat, unable to handle her thoughts. “I should call my assistant. She’ll need to cancel all my appointments—”
“Macy—”
She couldn’t stop now. All she had were her thoughts to contend with, all that she could truly control in this rapidly deteriorating situation. She wanted to believe she wasn’t totally helpless. “Of course, she won’t be able to get to the calendar until the office opens back up again.” The words caught in her throat.
The office would never be the same. Not after the violence that had taken place there today. A therapy center was supposed to be a place for peace and healing. All of that had been shattered, though.
“It will all get taken care of,” Tanner assured her. “If you do call her, you’ll have to use the phone we give you.”
She froze. “You think my cell is being tracked?”
“It’s a risk we can’t take.”
She took the phone Tanner handed her and nodded.
“You can’t tell anyone where we are, either,” Tanner said. “You understand that, right? One wrong move, and there will be more people hurt.”
Her blood chilled. No more trauma. No more people suffering at the hands of evil men.
Just then, Tanner’s phone rang. He put it to his ear and muttered something into the mouth piece. When he hung up, he turned to her.
Something else was wrong, Macy realized.
“Tanner?”
He pulled his gaze to meet hers. “My partner—the one who was at Third Day with me—just died. This is no longer about stopping people from getting hurt. It’s about stopping anyone else from dying.”
* * *
Tanner paced the safe house’s living room, trying to sort out his thoughts. Mourning the loss of his friend. Wondering how the man’s family was taking the news.
He’d call later and show his respects. He still couldn’t believe that Frank was gone, though. It only fueled his desire to get to the bottom of this. Addie needed protection. Frank and his family needed justice.
As nighttime fell and some of the shock wore off, the residents of the house had nibbled on some food that one of the agents had brought. It was just some fresh fruit and bagels, but it would do. No one seemed to be especially hungry right now.
Tanner continued to pace and mentally reviewed all the precautions that