Pregnant Protector. Anne Duquette Marie

we’ll be able to trace the weapon through the military,” Nick stated. Among civilians, handgun registration was only recently mandatory in California. Rifles and shotguns did not have to be registered.

      “It’s a starting point,” Girard agreed. “We’re running a cross-check on employed veterans and those still serving in the reserves.”

      “You think it’s one of us?” Nick asked.

      “Well, our own staff is the place to start. All we have to go on is Julio’s conversation with his wife. My thinking is, computer files are a dead end.”

      Nick caught the expression on Girard’s face at the word dead. It came and went so quickly that only a trained observer could have seen it. Like himself. I’m not the only one torn up about this, he thought. Maybe an outsider’s a good idea.

      He glanced at Lara, and for a moment she didn’t feel like such an outsider, after all, until Girard said, “There’s one more thing. As I told Lara earlier this morning on the phone, we’ve recovered your car and your partner.”

      “You knew this morning and didn’t tell me, Lara?” Nick flew to his feet. “I’m going to see Julio.”

      “No,” Girard said. Lara quickly blocked the door, dog at her side, and placed her hand on Nick’s arm.

      “Your partner took an antitank round, Detective,” Girard said. “The M.E. says he died on impact of the round, long before the car submerged. Officer Nelson just came from the morgue.”

      “You should have told me!” he said angrily, shaking off her grasp.

      “Trust me, Detective, you don’t want to see his body. I wish I hadn’t,” Lara said bluntly.

      An uneasy silence filled the office until Girard said, “You’ve got work to do. Best get going.”

      Lara stayed in front of the door, still shadowed by her dog. “Captain, if you could have your assistant e-mail those ballistics reports to me? Here’s my card.”

      Nick was grateful for the interruption as Lara passed his boss the business card with her official cell phone and office number, e-mail address, title and K-9 Department unit number. It wasn’t until they were outside in the parking lot that she spoke again.

      “Well, we’ve made some progress today,” she said matter-of-factly.

      “I still would have liked finding out earlier. Next time you get a call from the station, let me know. I want information about Julio when it comes in, got it?”

      She didn’t argue nor make excuses. “Agreed.”

      Using the remote on her key chain, Lara unlocked the Mercedes door as they approached. Sadie shoved her nose under the back door handle, lifted it and opened the door, standard training for police dogs. Next she grabbed the rubber ring attached to the inside door handle and closed it herself, just as she did in Lara’s squad car. Lara took the driver’s seat like before, and Nick climbed in. He couldn’t drop the subject.

      “You should have told me they’d recovered the body. And that the autopsy had been performed. I had every right to know. Every right to see Julio’s body.”

      Lara faced his accusation head-on. “If I were you, I’d be furious.”

      “I’m way past furious. It was my call, my partner.”

      “Not today, Detective.” She closed her eyes, then opened them. “For God’s sake, don’t let his wife and kids see what I saw.” Her voice was calm, but it took her two tries to get the key into the ignition. Nick didn’t miss it.

      “You okay?” he asked, his anger gone.

      She actually smiled. “I should be asking you that.”

      “Want me to drive?”

      “Nope. I’m fine.” Lara took a breath and turned the key. “Besides, I’ve taken the bodyguard-driving course. I can drive like a Hollywood stunt driver. Sadie might get bored with you at the wheel.” She attempted a lighter mood that failed, but impressed him just the same. “Which reminds me, I arranged to have Julio’s motorcycle temporarily stored in Impound. As your bodyguard, I don’t want you exposed. I could have told you that earlier, too.”

      “Oh, the bike. I need to take care of it. I have a storage unit near Julio’s place. I was always there…” His voice trailed off.

      “Later. For now, let’s head for your apartment so you can pick up your things.” They fastened their seat belts and Lara automatically locked all the doors. “Hope you’re not a fresh-air fiend like Sadie,” she said, turning the air-conditioning on high. “She likes to hang out the window. It’s bad for eyes and ears.”

      “No problem,” he said, appreciating the comfort of the leather seats.

      Lara pulled through the parking lot and to the stop-light-regulated exit onto the main drag. She stopped at the red light. “What’s the quickest way to your place?”

      “I’d take—”

      He never finished his sentence. Gunfire slammed into the driver’s-side door of the Mercedes. The door collapsed, glass cracked, then a second and third shot hit the back of the car as Lara cut the steering wheel hard and jammed the car into reverse, gunning it backward and away from the source of gunfire. Nick drew his gun and frantically searched for the shooter, but could see nothing through the mottled glass of his section of the car.

      In seconds the attack was over. Police officials ran to the Mercedes, Sadie barking furiously at them. As Lara brought the car to a complete stop, Nick slowly reholstered his gun to stare at the windows—cracked but still in one piece. His gaze met Lara’s.

      “Whoever this rock star is…I have got to start buying his albums.”

      CHAPTER THREE

      “I’LL HAVE TO REPLACE two windows. And the armored body. My insurance better cover this,” Lara stated as the Mercedes was towed to the police impound yard to join Julio’s motorcycle. Sadie sat behind them in Lara’s squad car, which a fellow officer had retrieved for her, her nose pointed toward Lara, ears perked and alert for any command. A crowd of police officers, including Captain Girard, buzzed about.

      “Insurance?” Nick said. “Someone fired three shots at us, no suspect is found and all you worry about is insurance?”

      “Do you know how much bulletproof glass costs?”

      “Done venting?”

      “Yeah, I guess.” Lara sighed. “I don’t care about the car, anyway. I’m just upset. We were shot at with rounds that would stop a dinosaur!”

      Captain Girard interjected. “Lara, calm down. We’ll get him.”

      “Him? Her? We didn’t see a thing!”

      Nick laid a casual hand on her shoulder as Girard spoke, his voice confident. “I’m going with a man. Statistically, most women kill in self-defense on domestic turf. Men are much more liable to kill in public, and this—” he gestured toward the expansive downtown police parking lot “—is about as public as it gets.”

      Lara nodded.

      “Cantello,” Girard ordered, “you and Nelson get out of here—and out of your houses. Nelson, call for a safe house. It’s moving day for both of you. We’ll touch base later.”

      “I’ve sent a squad car ahead with a couple of my buddies,” Nick said to Lara.

      “When did you do that?”

      “A few minutes ago. We’ll meet them at my place first, then yours.”

      “I’m in charge of your safety. You shouldn’t be giving the orders,” Lara immediately said.

      “You shouldn’t be in morgues or doing detective work,” Girard insisted. “You’re as white