Croft started the engine. “Sure, but why?”

He sighed. “Liza has a lesson with Abigail today.”

“She’s still not answering your calls?”

I need more than that. He cleared his throat. “Something like that.”

The Sokolov house was unusually quiet. The only evidence of life was the security guard that Karl had hired to protect them when Mercy and her FBI protection detail were elsewhere.

Irina answered the door. “She’s not here. You can come in and check if you want.”

“No.” Tom sighed. “I believe you.”

Irina’s expression softened. “Good. You look tired, Tom. Come inside and have some tea.”

“I can’t now. Croft is waiting for me in the SUV. But thank you.”

“It is I who should be thanking you. Raphael told me that you are providing secure vehicles for Mercy’s birthday guests. We appreciate that, more than you know. Raphael is kicking himself for not thinking of it himself.”

Tom managed a smile. “He’s had a little bit on his mind.” He needed to try one more time. “Is Liza coming back today? Doesn’t she help with Abigail’s lessons?”

“Amos kept Abigail home today. Rafe told him to.”

Tom frowned. There was something Irina wasn’t telling him. “Where is Liza?” When she just shook her head, he glanced up, hearing a window open. Zoya looked down at him. “Care to share?” he called up.

“Nope,” she called back. “You’re walking the stalking line, Agent Hunter.”

Tom bit back a retort. Because the girl wasn’t wrong. “But she’s all right?” he asked Irina.

Irina’s smile was sad. “She’ll be fine, in time. But I do feel the need to ask why you keep bothering her. I haven’t known you long, but you don’t seem like the kind of man to push yourself on a woman who’s asked you to back off.”

Tom flinched. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, having no idea how to answer.

She patted his arm. “Think on that. Then we will talk further. Be safe.”

And then she shut the door in his face. Numbly, he walked back to the SUV, feeling Croft’s gaze with every step. He got in and closed the door.

“Don’t ask. Please,” he said, pulling his seat belt on. “Let’s go back to the office, okay? We can figure out our next steps on Kowalski.”

“Okey-dokey.” She had started to back out of the driveway when Tom’s work cell began to buzz. “You are the most popular partner I’ve ever had,” she drawled.

Tom frowned. “It’s Gideon.”

Croft stopped the SUV and put it into park. “Answer it. On speaker, please.”

Tom wasn’t sure if she thought he’d given Gideon more Eden information or not, but he didn’t argue. “I’m with Croft,” he said by way of greeting. “You’re on speaker.”

“Someone tried to lure Daisy out of the radio station,” Gideon said, a tremble in his voice.

Croft’s mouth tightened. “What happened, Gideon?”

“I drove her in to work this morning. All this DJ Belmont stuff has had me rattled. About an hour ago, a man called asking if Poppy was still in the station.”