Page 51 of Crosshairs

“Charlotte’s diaries. Yes. That’s it.”

“Do you know where you put them?” Ainsley held her breath, waiting for Cora to answer.

“Somewhere safe...” She closed her eyes. “I’m so tired.”

She hated to push Cora. It wasn’t like a crime had been committed, or at least Ainsley had no proof of a crime.

“Would it be okay if I stayed at your place? Maybe keep an eye on it for you?” she asked, ignoring Gran’s wide-eyed stare. “I can check the safe and see if the diaries are there.”

“You know you can,” Cora said. “I can’t seem to stay awake.”

Gran walked to Cora’s bed and smoothed her sister’s short hair back. “Go to sleep if you can. We’ll be here as long as they let us.”

When Cora’s breathing slowed, Gran pulled Ainsley away from the bed. “I want some answers, missy.”

“Can it wait? I don’t want Cora to overhear us.”

Just then, Linc stuck his head in the door. “How is she?”

“Better, and you’re just the person I want to see,” Gran said. “Would you sit with her for a minute? Ainsley and I need to talk.”

Linc questioned Ainsley with his eyes, and she nodded. “Do you mind?”

He stepped into the room. “Not at all.”

Gran pulled her outside into the hallway and away from the nurses’ station. “Now, what’s going on?”

Ainsley gave her an abbreviated version of the attack at the church and the information about Maddox. “It’s not certain Maddox is in the area, but just in case, staying at Cora’s until she comes home should keep you out of danger.”

“I’m not worried about me.” Gran’s gaze narrowed. “That’s why you were wearing that vest! Why don’t you have it on now?”

Ainsley patted her chest. “I changed into one I could wear under my uniform.”

Her grandmother crossed her arms. “You need to drop this case. Let someone else handle it.”

“Gran, I can’t do that. You didn’t raise me to quit the first time I ran into a problem.”

“You didn’t have someone trying to kill you then.”

“We don’t know that for sure.” Somehow she had to make her grandmother understand. “I’m in danger in every investigation I conduct. It’s the nature of my career. Besides, I have Linc and Sam backing me up.”

“You’re going to do it whether I like it or not, aren’t you?” Ainsley didn’t answer, but finally, her grandmother squeezed her hands. “Just be careful.”

“Always.” She relaxed. “Thanks.”

“Not sure ‘You’re welcome’ is the right response, but you are.” She looped her arm in Ainsley’s as they walked back to Cora’s room. “I know you love that job of yours, but times like this I wish you’d get a different career.”

26

In the bedroom that had been hers since she was five, Ainsley quickly packed her clothes, except for her hanging garments. Linc would help her with those. He’d dropped her off and would return in twenty minutes, he’d said. Something about going by his apartment.

Her heart fluttered as she remembered the look on his face in the church.Stop it.Out of everything that had happened today, their near kiss was what she remembered? Sheesh, what was wrong with her? They’d had their time together and it hadn’t worked out.

She gathered her toiletries from the bathroom. Linc had definitely changed. While he was still confident, he wasn’t ... what had she called him when they’d broken up? High-handed. Acting like he knew what was best for her. Even undermining her confidence in her voice. Just like her dad.

But that was the old Linc. Had he changed enough for them to have a second chance? Did she even want a second chance with him? She had her life planned out—keep her focus on solving crimes and one day head up the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service. She didn’t want any distractions. And Lincoln Steele would definitely be a distraction.

A text dinged on her phone, and her face flushed. Linc.It was like she’d conjured him up.

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