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I nodded. I’d try, but might already be too late. My reaction to her hug at lunch earlier was an unexpected emotional high, but I couldn’t tell them that. It was bad enough they knew I was interested in her. Interested enough that I had lunch with her before I came here. And, of course, they witnessed my outburst, which was just as damning.

“You can’t work the case, but we won’t leave you in the dark, either.” Jamie said. “Our plan is to learn more about Sullivan and how Meg was involved. He’s on parole with an ankle monitor, so if he leaves Boston, there’ll be a BOLO. We’ll monitor her parents as well, but we don’t consider them a threat. Doug agreed to move up his start date so we’ll have an extra set of eyes and ears. His first priority will be to update the security cameras at Grannie’s.” Doug was a tech and surveillance guy who had served in the Air Force. His skill set would come in handy.

It was a hard pill to swallow, but they were right. I was too close. “Thank you.” I said around a mouthful of humble pie. They’d done so much to help me. To help Meg. They didn’t deserve my attitude.

“We’re contemplating putting a camera in the extended stay parking lot to monitor for suspicious activity.” Dad leaned forward and put his forearms on his desk.

“Can we do that, monitor her apartment?”

“Not her apartment, the parking lot. We’re walking a fine line, and wouldn’t be considering it if the threat to Megan wasn’t a potential threat to your mom.”

“I’d still want to help her, even if there wasn’t a threat to ma.” I made my position clear.

“I know, and you know we would too.” Dad paused. Jamie picked up where he left off. “Listen, we know you like her, so we’ll do what we can.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but dad cut me off. “Don’t deny it. Hell, Jack, you had lunch with her before coming to see me and your mom.” He held up his hand when I opened my mouth to defend myself. “We’re not upset. I’m just pointing out the obvious.”

I didn’t want them keeping me in the dark because of my feelings when I wasn’t even sure what they were yet.Keep telling yourself that.

“We know you like her but, at least for now, you need to take it slow.” Dad was right.

I nodded. I couldn’t help her if I flew off into a rage anytime I thought about what might have happened to her. And dating wasn’t an option, yet. Best to keep it professional.

Jamie asked, “Are you taking her to the range again anytime soon?”

“Wednesday.” At least now I understood why she wanted to get a gun. Though I didn’t understand why she was reluctant to let me help her. “So far, it’s been fun. I’ll subtly increase her training, so she’s proficient faster.” I wouldn’t tell Meg, but we were no longer two friends having fun. She was training to defend herself.

“Good,” Dad said. “Does she have a gun, or any other weapons?”

“No gun, not yet, but she’s thinking about buying one. I’ve got one she can borrow until she buys her own. I don’t know if she has anything else.”

“Do you think she’ll agree?” Jamie asked. “You’ve said she’s reluctant to accept help.”

“She is, but I’ll figure something out.” I was thinking of ways I could convince Meg to borrow one of my guns when I remembered the Wyatt Foundation fundraiser mom was hosting at Grannie’s Halloween weekend. “Didn’t ma say someone donated guns for the raffle table?”

“Yeah, two last I heard.” Dad asked, “Why?”

“I have an idea.” I felt a little calmer knowing I had their support. “But I’ll need mom’s help.”

“Care to share?” Jamie asked. His grin hinting he knew the answer.

“Not yet.”

I was getting ready to leave, after a few hours of letting my mom fuss over me, when dad reminded me they wouldn’t tell me anything they wouldn’t tell AJ or Doug. “To protect Meg’s privacy, you’re all on a need to know basis.” It was frustrating, but I didn’t have a choice.

I was halfway to the door when dad said, “Be careful with Meg, you-”

“I know.” I barked at him.Shit. Being rude to my father, personally or professionally, wasn’t something I was in the habit of doing, but my head was still spinning from what they’d told me, and I was tired of being told something I didn’t want to hear.

“Watch your tone. It’s my responsibility as your boss to make sure you don’t lose focus and my job as your father to watch out for you.”

“I know.” I turned to face him and apologized. “There’s a lot going on in my head right now.”

“Accepted.” He patted me on the shoulder.

Mom brought us a bag of leftovers from the kitchen. Food was her love language, so she was always trying to feed us. We never complained. “Thanks.” I gave my mom a hug. “Bye mom.”

“Let me know if you need anything.” She couldn’t help me with what I needed, but I appreciated her support none the less.

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