“You don’t know that, Harper.” He waved his hand in the air, signaling an end to the discussion. “It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s done. You’re in the safe house. We’ll have two units posted along the street. It’s an older neighborhood, quiet. Not much traffic.”

“And what am I supposed to tell her?”

“What is there to tell her? We’re trying to keep her safe, that’s all.”

Chapter Seventeen

Dani blinked stupidly at her. “A safe house?”

“Yes.”

She was a little surprised that Harper didn’t seem thrilled by it. “But that’s good, right? I’ll be safe?”

“I’ll stay with you, of course.”

Ah. That’s why she wasn’t thrilled. She’d still be on babysitting duty. “I’m sorry, Harper.”

Harper frowned. “Why are you sorry?”

Dani waved a hand at her. “Well, obviously you have more important things to do than to babysit me.”

Harper smiled and shook her head. “That’s not it at all.”

“Then what is it?” At Harper’s hesitation, she tilted her head questioningly. “What is it you’re not telling me?”

Harper glanced over her shoulder, toward Lieutenant Mize’s office. “We’ll go over it later,” she said quietly. “We’ll go ahead and take all of your things this time. It looks like we’ll be there for the duration.”

Dani frowned slightly. “The duration of what?”

Harper met her gaze for a second, then looked away quickly. “Of your stay. The duration of your stay.”

“I see.” And of course she did. That’s what had Harper looking so miffed. Not the fact that she’d be babysitting…but the fact that they were keeping her safe—until they weren’t. “The duration of my stay…until I leave town.”

Harper sighed. “Yes.”

“Well, I don’t know what I expected. I know you’ve already gone above and beyond the call of duty.” She folded her arms around herself in a false sense of security. “You’re involved in this by default only. I’m sorry.”

Harper closed her desk drawer a bit more forcefully than necessary. “Quit saying that. I’m a cop. It’s my job.” She walked over and picked up two of Dani’s bags. “Let’s get out of here.”

Dani grabbed the remaining two bags and followed her. “What about Detective Springer?”

“He’s doing a second interview with the victim from yesterday.”

* * *