Secret Agent Under Fire. Geri Krotow

long-term imprisonment. The FBI is handling it at the national level, to facilitate the exchange of intel between New York and Pennsylvania.”

      “I am impressed with Silver Valley PD. They don’t leave anything to chance.”

      Claudia nodded. “Which is why so many of them are also Trail Hiker agents. We can’t call on them as often as someone like you, who is able to work for us almost exclusively, but when we do, I never have to concern myself with bringing them up to speed on local ops, as I do the other agents.”

      “Understood.” Abi knew that the vast majority of secret operations didn’t occur in Silver Valley, where the TH headquarters was located, but rather wherever they were needed around the globe.

      Claudia’s pencil stopped. “You didn’t mention the Silver Valley Fire Department, Abi. You’ve been around them enough the past couple of months since you’ve started. Haven’t they impressed you?”

      “I haven’t had much to do with them, except for my run-in, I mean—”

      Claudia laughed. “It’s okay to call your unexpected introduction to Keith Paruso what it was. A cluster-frapple.”

      “That’s the cleanest version of that I’ve ever heard.” Abi used the f-bomb frequently in her more difficult cases, and was almost relieved to know that Claudia wouldn’t be offended if she were to let one slide out of her mouth during a stressful op.

      “It means the same. As for Keith, I think you know what I’m going to have to ask of you.”

      Abi really wanted to drop the f-bomb now. “Claudia, I don’t need his help on this.”

      “Yes, you do. True, you are the expert at investigating and profiling the arsonist, but Keith has the field practice you don’t. He has years, thousands of cases, behind him, Abi.”

      “That’s impossible. He can’t be more than two or three years older than me.”

      “He’s two years younger.” Claudia’s statement made Abi blush. So she was getting turned on by a younger dude? So what? “But he went to firefighting school right out of high school and worked as a volunteer through college. He got an associate’s degree in fire science, then went on to get his bachelor’s in criminology. After he got his bachelor’s degree he took on a paid position with the department. He’s been offered state-level positions in law enforcement but turned them down immediately. Keith is a local man who’s happiest putting out Silver Valley fires.”

      “Leonard Wise and his cult aren’t just focused on local fires, though, Claudia. Has anyone looked into where these fires are leading? What they’re supposed to be accomplishing?”

      “That’s why I want you to work with Keith, Abi. With your global and his local experiences, you’ll be unbeatable. Silver Valley’s arson prevention dream team. But keep in mind that he isn’t a Trail Hiker and has no need to know about us. Yet.”

      “You don’t think he’ll need to know what we’re about before this is over?”

      “I’m prepared to read him in for informational purposes, but Keith Paruso is a firefighter at heart. His calling is to rescue people, not take out hardened criminals.”

      “It’s just so difficult, working side by side, without being able to totally trust one another.” Keith shouldn’t trust her, as she wasn’t even who she’d said she was.

      “I know Keith’s an attractive man, Abi, but you’ve worked through sexual attraction before and not let it disrupt a case, I’m sure.”

      Abi knew Claudia was trying to lighten the mood but she found nothing casual about working with Keith Paruso. After meeting him only two times she knew that his still waters ran deep. And by her primal reaction to him, she knew that any involvement on her part was going to lead to emotional disaster. Because, unlike Fred, Keith wouldn’t break her heart. He’d shatter it.

      “This is against my better judgment, Claudia, but you’re the boss.”

      “Thank you, Abi. I knew you’d figure it out.”

      Abi left, marveling at how getting in and out of the Trail Hiker “corporate” office was more complicated than any FBI facility she’d worked in.

      As she sat in her car, contemplating how to contact Keith, she wondered if she had time to run home and freshen up before facing the sexy fire chief. And then she immediately started the car and headed for the fire department. She wasn’t in the business of appearing attractive to a man she was about to spend countless work hours with. The sooner she drew the line on her personal boundaries for herself, the better.

      Abi didn’t date work colleagues. She’d learned the hardest way that it never worked out well.

      * * *

      The next morning Abi parked her car in the small but incredibly functional Silver Valley parking garage. Two stories high, it sat behind the original façade of a general mercantile. According to the historical plaque, the town general store had burned down in the nineteenth century but the façade had remained as a testament to the origins of the town. The parking garage had been erected ten years ago, to keep up with the again bustling nature of the historic downtown.

      Walking down the sidewalk it wasn’t hard to imagine the concrete under her feet as wooden planks, the sound of horses’s hooves and the smell of fresh manure all around. As much as Abi loved nature and the outdoors, she was very happy that she’d been born to enjoy the modern conveniences of the twenty-first century.

      Reimer’s Real Estate’s display of dozens of photos caught her eye and she paused under their green-and-white-striped awning. Several properties were for sale or rent, most in the town itself. An apartment or small house in Silver Valley proper would be nice, and much quieter compared to DC. But if she wanted to live in more of a city atmosphere she’d live in Harrisburg, only fifteen minutes and one quick ride over the Susquehanna River away.

      Abi wanted something more rural.

      She squared her shoulders and opened the front door of the realtor’s office, relishing the jingle of the overhead bell.

      An hour later Abi wanted coffee and to share her good news with someone. She grabbed a to-go cappuccino from the coffee trolley in the middle of the square and made the short walk to the town’s best florist in less than five minutes.

      Kayla Paruso looked up from her screen and smiled when she saw Abi.

      “There’s our new gal. How are you today, Abi?”

      “Great.” It felt so damned good to have someone greet her with such warmth, as if she were already a part of this town. “I’m checking things out and well...” She looked at the huge bouquet of pink and white tulips on the counter behind Kayla. “Wow. Those are absolutely stunning.”

      “They are, aren’t they? It’s that time of year. We get the cuttings three times a week from Baltimore. Interested in some?”

      “Not yet—I’m still in the hotel. That’s why I came in here, though. I had to tell someone that I think I’ve found a great house to rent.”

      Kayla’s eyes crinkled with her wide grin. “Fantastic! I wanted to ask Rio if you’d found anything yet.” Kayla was smooth but Abi picked up on the real meaning.

      “You mean, am I thinking about settling down here?”

      “Yes.”

      “Maybe. I mean yes, I want to set down roots, start my own business, even. It’s just so difficult to know if I’m acting too quickly or too slowly—will I miss the boat on a great deal or am I throwing my money away trying to start a small business? I love police work but it’s time to move on and think about something different.” Something that would allow her to finally let go of her past and the drive to solve every arson case in her path. Maybe even to be present for a future family, not that she had any delusions that was happening in the near future.

      Kayla