“I’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it, but I do have some confidence in their plan to protect me. It’s like an insurance policy. If I’m innocent and they do nothing, they could lose someone they’ve put a lot of time and energy into. And, of course, as you described, I’m unique. There aren’t many people with my skill set.”

Hunter smiled.

“What?”

“You’re more than unique, Layla.” He grabbed her hand. “You’re very special. Especially to me.”

Her breath caught as she looked into his ocean-blue eyes, and she wanted to block out the rest of the world and focus only on him. She remembered what it was like to kiss him, and she wondered if it would be different the second time around. She wanted nothing more than to lean into him and press her lips to his.

But the downside was too great. She didn’t want to be interrupted by Sawyer and the others. It was a nice moment, but it would just have to wait. She squeezed Hunter’s hand and hoped that he could still read her as well as he used to.

A knock on the window confirmed that she’d made the right move. The question was, What would her next move be?

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Izzy dreaded having this conversation, but it was one she had to have.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Aiden put the car in park.

“I think it’s important to talk to my former colleagues. We can’t talk to the detectives working the case at Arlington PD, but this is a concrete step we can take to look further into the sergeant’s history. Alicia Thatcher used to work there. So she knew the sergeant pretty well. When I called her, she seemed open to talking to me, but I have no idea whether her relationship with him was good, bad, or indifferent.”

Aiden nodded. “Do you know why she left Arlington PD?”

“No. But that’s one of the things I want to find out. It looks like her condo is up there on the right.” She pointed toward one of the buildings in the Alexandria neighborhood.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” Aiden asked.

“No. I don’t want to scare her off. She might think it’s weird if you’re there too.”

“I completely understand. Just take your time. I’m in no rush. I brought plenty of work with me, so stay as long as you need to.”

Izzy squeezed his arm. “Thank you again for everything.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and hopped out of the car. Then she made her way to the second floor of Alicia’s building and rang the doorbell.