Explosive Secrets. Valerie Hansen

but that wasn’t proof of real danger. As long as Titan didn’t alert, he’d be satisfied that the place was free of explosives. That was the main thing.

      Finished with the second phase of the sweep, he paused at apartment number 210 and motioned to Nicolette.

      Watching her hurry to join them he was taken by her grace, her natural loveliness. So many women he’d known in the past seemed to think that painting themselves up was the key to beauty. As far as Jackson was concerned, a naturally pretty woman like Nicolette Johnson was far easier on the eyes.

      You’re on the job. You’re not supposed to notice things like that, his conscience reminded him.

      That made Jackson smile slightly. He might be working. And he was certainly not in the market for romance of any kind. But that did not mean he was unable to appreciate this kind of loveliness, any more than he could overlook a gorgeous Texas sunset or the shining, coppery coat on a special chestnut-colored mare out at his ranch.

      His smile threatened to widen and he had to stifle it. He could just imagine what Ms. Nicolette Johnson would think of having her beauty compared to that of a fine horse, even if it was one of the nicest compliments he could have bestowed.

      * * *

      Nicki’s hands were trembling so badly she had trouble fitting the key into the lock. When she was finally successful, she stepped back and let the dog and his handler enter while she waited by the door.

      It was interesting seeing how they worked as a team with the dog leading the way and the man indicating when he wanted him to proceed to another room.

      If the apartment hadn’t been so small and sparsely furnished, she would have worried more when they both disappeared into the bedroom. Thankfully, there wasn’t much to see and their inspection was complete in a matter of minutes.

      “You can come in and relax now,” Jackson called. “The place is clean. There’s no danger.”

      Frowning, she poked her head in first. “You’re sure?”

      “Titan is,” Jackson said with a smile. “You can trust him. I do.”

      “Okay.” She took a few steps closer and eyed her tiny living room. “I suppose I’d notice if there was anything out of place. It’s just that the last few days have been so awful. The landlord repaired my front door after the female police officer forced it, but I thought I’d never get the stains out of my rug from where that poor dog was wounded.”

      “I understand your concern.” He waited for her to sit in the only easy chair before taking a place across from her on the slipcovered sofa. Titan lay at his feet. “Now that we can take it easy, how about starting from the beginning and telling me what’s been going on?”

      Sighing, she began. “I feel like I’ve just run a marathon instead of sleeping ’til noon. I work nights at The Truck Stop Diner out on Highway 20 so I don’t get up very early.” Her stomach fluttered, then settled, much to her relief. She didn’t think it was this officer’s business that she was expecting a baby so she kept that information to herself.

      His eyes never left her face as he asked, “I take it that’s your normal schedule. Are you a waitress?”

      “No. I’m one of the short-order cooks. I’ve worked that shift for the past year.”

      “How about neighbors? Any trouble with them lately?”

      “No.”

      “Boyfriends? Anybody you may have argued with?”

      Hadn’t he heard a word she’d said? “I told you what the caller wanted. He knows—knew—my cousin, Arianna. That’s what this is all about. Everybody thinks she told me some secret, but she didn’t.”

      Nodding, he seemed to be trying to stare right into her mind because his gaze was unwavering. “I’d like to believe you, but there’s a problem with that,” Jackson said.

      “A problem? What?”

      “I heard your cousin’s dying declaration with my own ears. She said, ‘Cousin. Code. Danger.’”

      “Now you sound like Murke!” Nicki jumped to her feet and began to pace the small room. “Arianna and I were related, yes, but we weren’t close. Not anymore. There’s no reason for her to even mention me.”

      “Does she have other cousins?”

      Nicolette’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head slowly. “Only one that I know of. I have a half sister somewhere back East. Since even I don’t know where she is, I’m sure Arianna couldn’t have meant her.”

      “So, that leaves you,” he said calmly.

      “I know, I know.” She blinked back unshed tears, unwilling to let a stranger see how close she was to losing control of her emotions. That was another of the side effects of pregnancy, or so she had read, and she couldn’t believe how often she’d fought mood swings lately.

      “We’ll need your half sister’s name.” He poised to write in a small notebook.

      “Her maiden name was Mae Johnson. I heard she got married. I don’t know what her last name is now.”

      “We’ll track her down, just in case.” He stood and pocketed the notebook and pen. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d like to tell me?”

      “No! Nothing. I don’t know why nobody will believe I’m innocent.”

      “It doesn’t matter what I do or don’t believe, Ms. Johnson. I’m just doing my job.”

      “I know you are. Sorry.”

      He nodded stiffly. “No problem. I’ll be glad to escort you to work if you want.”

      Nicki almost told him to go away, to leave her alone and stop treating her as though she was lying. If she hadn’t still been so afraid she might have done so.

      “Okay. I guess there’s no sense sitting home brooding,” she finally said with a muted sigh. “Besides, I can’t afford to make my boss mad. When I had to call in sick the other night after Murke came gunning for me, Lou told me it had better not happen again or I’d be fired.”

      “In that case, we should get going. If you receive more strange calls or notice anything unusual, feel free to call us again. That’s what we’re here for.”

      “Thanks.” She hesitated. “Would you mind walking me to my car and having the dog check it, too? Just in case.”

      “Sure. Be glad to.”

      Nicki grabbed her wallet off the end table and fisted her keys. They jingled, attracting the dog’s attention and making him pant and wag his tail.

      “Looks like your partner is ready to go for a ride.”

      “Titan is always ready for adventure.” Jackson stepped to the side while Nicki opened the apartment door.

      She halted abruptly, staring at the floor. Someone had tucked a small, fresh flower arrangement in the doorway so that she couldn’t miss seeing it.

      “Oh, how pretty. I love daisies.”

      Jackson frowned. “I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend.”

      “I don’t. Not since Bobby Lee got so mad and took off. Maybe he changed his mind.” She bent and reached for the flowers.

      To her left, she saw Titan plop down into a sitting position so fast the movement was a blur.

      Jackson shouted, “No!” and lunged for her.

      Half bent over, Nicki was almost toppled. She recovered, managing to rescue the bouquet by clutching it to her chest.

      Titan began to bark.

      In what felt like one fluid movement, Jackson grabbed the flower arrangement from her, threw it inside the apartment, shoved