It reminded her of when she had first met him at law school orientation. They’d locked eyes, and she just knew she had to meet him. When he’d introduced himself and they found out they were in the same section of classes, it was like her world was falling into place. Even after everything they’d gone through and the pain he had caused her, he still affected her like no other man ever had.

“Here we are.” Hunter pulled up and found a metered parking spot on the street.

She pointed. “I see Hammond waiting outside.” She recognized him from his file.

They got out of Hunter’s SUV and started walking toward the coffee shop. As they waited for the light to change so they could cross the street, a car whizzed by them.

Layla had taken one step into the crosswalk when gunshots pierced the night.

She started running toward the coffee shop with Hunter by her side, and together they reached the horrific scene.

Keith Hammond lay on the sidewalk—his lifeless body riddled with bullets.

CHAPTER
TWELVE

The next morning, Hunter still couldn’t believe the turn of events. He and Layla were at his office, waiting for Mason to arrive. She’d been visibly shaken after witnessing the shooting, but he had been as well. One minute Keith Hammond had been standing in front of the coffee shop—unassuming, waiting for what he believed was just a routine meeting with an Agency colleague—and the next, he was violently gunned down in cold blood.

“Do you think the cartel killed him so he couldn’t speak to us?” Layla asked.

“That seems like a plausible explanation, but how could the cartel have found out about it?” Hunter asked.

Layla bit her bottom lip. “Maybe he was under surveillance, and they heard our phone conversation. I identified myself to him. That would’ve been enough for the cartel, even if I didn’t bring up the reason I wanted to meet with him.”

Hunter hadn’t slept much last night as he replayed the events in his head. “If he was dirty, why would the cartel have wanted to kill him? Wouldn’t they have wanted to keep him in play?”

“That’s a good point. Unless they thought he was about to turn on them, and they decided to take him out.”

Mason walked in a few minutes later. “How are you two doing?”

“All things considered, okay,” she answered. “Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for Keith Hammond.”

“FBI is taking the lead on the murder, but we’re being read in because of the suspicions raised about Hammond’s allegiance.”

“Any updates?” Hunter asked.