Dark Tide. Susan Sleeman

      “After my attack, I asked him about the log. He said he doesn’t know what it was for, but I got the feeling that he knew something about it.”

      “Did you tell the police about this?” Dani asked.

      “Yes. They seemed to blow it off, though, like everything else I told them.” Gina shook her head. “And I don’t think they questioned Quentin. If they had, he would’ve been hurt that I suspected him, and I’m sure I would’ve seen it in his or his wife, Val’s, demeanor.”

      “Sounds like we’ll need to talk to him.” Derrick looked at Dani. “We’ll also need to get police records for their investigation into Gina’s attack.”

      “If they even investigated.” Gina felt tears prick at the memory of the night. “I’d have stayed around to follow up on them, but I couldn’t risk Sophia’s life. I had to get out of town.”

      “And so you came here, but he followed you.” Derrick’s gaze softened into a tender look. She’d been on the receiving end of his concern so many times that it made her heart ache to think about all she’d given up when she’d left him. “Good thing I was nearby.”

      “I called your agency before I booked my flight here to be sure you weren’t out of town. After I arrived today, I stopped by the office, but your receptionist said you’d all left for a family event and you’d be in tomorrow. I planned to come back, but this happened tonight and so...”

      “You called my cell,” he finished for her.

      “Please don’t tell me our new receptionist gave you his cell number.” Dani crossed her arms. “I’ve trained her on the importance of information security.”

      “I got it from Zach Miller,” Gina said, mentioning their mutual college friend. “We’ve kept in contact and he’s mentioned both your names recently, so I called him and he had the number.”

      Derrick and Dani glanced at each other, and Gina worried they were upset with Zach.

      “Don’t get mad at him for telling me, or for not warning you that I was in Portland,” Gina said quickly. “I told him how afraid I was this man would kill me and made him promise not to tell you I was in town. I thought after our past you might refuse to see me. Under the circumstances, I’m sure you would’ve done the same thing Zach did.”

      Derrick didn’t speak, but a pensive expression claimed his face.

      “What I want to know,” Dani said, tilting her head, “is what does Lilly’s death have to do with this, and how would killing her help this guy?”

      “I don’t know,” Gina admitted. “At first I thought he was hoping to exchange her for me, but when he killed her...” She shrugged. “We kind of look alike and it was dark in the house, so maybe he mistook her for me. Then when he got inside he realized his mistake, but Lilly had seen him by then. He could have been worried she could identify him.”

      “What about you?” Dani asked. “Can you ID him from the attack?”

      Gina shook her head. “He wore a mask last night, but when I saw him tonight he wasn’t wearing one.”

      “Odd,” Dani said. “Were there signs of a struggle on the boat?”

      Gina nodded.

      “Then your friend could’ve tried to get away and jerked off his mask in the scuffle. Once she saw him, he had to keep her from talking.”

      “Or...” Derrick’s eyes darkened “...he wanted you to know that he’d hurt the people around you and keep on hurting them until you surrender to him.”

      “So that means he’ll keep coming after me. I need to leave town again. I...” Panic rose up her throat and choked off her words. She swallowed hard. “I’ll have to do a better job of disappearing this time. I don’t have any connections to Portland, and he still tracked me here.”

      “Did you use your credit card or phone?” Dani asked.

      “Yes. I had to call into work and needed to pay for my plane ticket and the cab fare to Lilly’s house.”

      “Plane tickets and cab fares can be tracked through credit card receipts,” Dani said absently. “Though he’d have to possess computer skills to do so. And, of course, he’d have to get the cab company to reveal the address where the driver dropped you.”

      Derrick ground his teeth together. “If he found Gina using her cards or phone, the man knows what he’s doing. We need to implement preventative measures. Starting right now, don’t use your phone or credit card again.”

      How was she going to live without any money? “I don’t have much cash left.”

      “We’ll help with that,” Dani offered. “I’m sure once our family hears about your situation, they’ll agree to take on your case. The Justice Agency often helps people who need us but can’t afford to pay.”

      “I can pay you. I put Jon’s insurance money in a college fund for Sophia, but if you can wait until the account matures, I’ll withdraw the money.”

      Derrick’s mouth turned down. “We won’t take your money.”

      “But—”

      He fisted his hands. “No buts. We once meant something to each other, and I won’t let you pay for my help.”

      With the stubborn set of his shoulders and scowl on his face, Gina knew better than to argue. But there was no way she would take charity from a man she’d hurt so badly. Once they apprehended her attacker and solved Jon’s murder, she’d find a way to reimburse Derrick before she walked out of his life for good.

      * * *

      Sophia fell asleep with her thumb in her mouth, and Gina laid her on the sofa while Derrick watched her tender care of the child. His desire for a family of his own spiked.

      What had he been thinking when he’d insisted on taking Gina’s case?

      Sure, he lived for helping people in distress. He’d even trained for it with his criminal justice degree. Losing both of his parents to a car crash when he was eleven and the driver getting off with a minor punishment gave him the ability to relate. An ability that deepened further when his adoptive parents were killed, and he and his siblings founded the Justice Agency. He’s always been passionate about preventing others from suffering his losses and feeling his pain.

      But help Gina? She was the woman he’d loved. The woman who still stirred his interest despite their rough breakup. He’d faced murderers with ease, but how did he handle this? How was he supposed to act around her and keep his interest in check?

      Especially when he saw the warmth and love on her face when she looked at Sophia. She tucked her legs up under her on the sofa and buried her chin in the collar of his old flannel shirt. He’d often found her in a similar position on cold nights in college.

      “Done,” Dani announced as she came back into the room.

      “You got a hold of all the siblings that quickly?” Derrick asked.

      She nodded.

      “Are they on board with helping?” Gina asked, hope alive in her voice.

      “Sorry.” Dani shoved her phone into her pocket. “But they insisted on coming over to talk to both of you before deciding. They’re on their way.”

      “Here?” Gina dropped her feet to the floor. “Tonight?”

      Dani arched an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

      “No...I...I guess not.”

      A knock sounded on the door, and Derrick’s hand automatically dropped to his gun. “None of them could’ve gotten here so fast.”

      Dani drew her weapon and stepped in front of Gina. “I’ve got them covered.”

      Derrick