Page 120 of Rescued Duty

“That’s great for Jude, but I’m happy where I’m at. Charging the big bucks. You sure this is worth my hourly rate?” Because she wasn’t sure there was any compensation worth the risk to her heart of being back here.

Maybe sheshouldlet Jude pick it up from here. He could keep an eye on things. She could get back to the open road. Freedom.

But her bank account balance flashed through her mind. She might not be in dire straights yet, but she needed the work.And she did have a professional reputation to consider. If she couldn’t complete this job, who knew if Ben would give her another? She liked to stay near Denver so she could see Libby and the kids more often.

Of course, she always talked her sister into coming to seeherso she could avoid this kind of thing. But with Libby’s family living here, Penny should be the one to make sure there was nothing dangerous going on. She groaned again.

“Do you want me to contact Jude? If you really don’t want this job?—”

Her father’s voice echoed from the past.Buck up, Pen.

“Nah, no need to bother the newlyweds. I’m just whining.”

“Hey, that reminds me. Why didn’t you make it to the wedding? You missed seeing Jude do the Macarena. Those Crawfords sure know how to throw a party.”

Yes, they did. Memories of country music, learning how to two-step, and a certain masculine beachy fragrance floated through her mind.

“I…had a job I couldn’t get out of in time. But I sent Jude and Andi an obnoxiously expensive gift, so all was forgiven.”

The hefty price tag hadn’t madeherfeel any better though. No one had to know that she’d specifically taken a job that’d meant she would be gone that day. And no need for Jude oranyof his in-laws to know she was in the vicinity now.

Especially Bryce.

The handsome rescue firefighter, one of Andi’s brothers, probably hadn’t given her a second thought since the last time she’d hightailed it out of the county a year and a half ago.

And it was better for everyone if it stayed that way. Even if there wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t see something that reminded her of him. Try as she might, it was hard to forget those passionate brown eyes.

“You missed a good reception.” Freeman obviously wasn’t going to let it drop.

Movement on the sidewalk across the street grabbed Penny’s attention.

“I need to go. Someone else is coming. I’ll let you know when I find anything.”

“If Emma ends up sticking around, contact Jude.”

Not unless she absolutely had to. “Bye.”

The high desert sunset softened to a lavender haze behind the mountains outside of town. She had to give it to Jude, he’d picked a beautiful place to live. Something like a sigh escaped as she watched the street. Some things just weren’t meant to be.

She sat up and watched two men park a truck and approach Emma’s car. One stocky and tall, the other average height and thin. Penny took pictures as they came closer. Both had darker hair and olive skin tones that could be from a variety of ethnicities. The lighting wasn’t great, but hopefully she could still identify them later.

Emma got out and opened the back of the SUV. She pulled a couple duffel bags out and handed them to the men. Then she grabbed another. They turned down an alley between two of the buildings and were out of sight.

Penny checked her Smith & Wesson Equalizer and quickly ran across the street to follow them just as the streetlights turned on. Her black leather jacket helped fight off the spring chill in the air and blend her into the night shadows. Too bad it didn’t have a hood to hide her blonde head. She picked up her pace and approached the alley between the warehouse and the empty store next to it. She peered around the corner.

Empty. Just scraggly weeds growing in the cracks of the asphalt between the buildings, and trash scattered against the wall.

They had to be close. Penny jogged down the alley. There. A door in the warehouse hadn’t quite closed.

With gun in hand, she toed the door open a smidge, testing it to see if the rusty hinges would squeak. It opened quietly.

Good. She peeked in first, then slipped into the dark building, letting her eyes adjust. Voices carried from deeper within the space.

Penny crouched by a pile of pallets just inside the doorway and scoped out the area. Tall metal shelves were mostly empty, although some held boxes. An old forklift off to the side looked like it hadn’t been started in decades. But the tables in the middle were bright white plastic, like the kind one could find at the nearest Costco. Those must be new. And the folding chairs didn’t look too worn either.

There was nowhere else to hide in the cavernous space. Emma spoke to a tall man, but in the dark there was no way Penny could distinguish any features. Not even the color of his hair. His bright flashlight shone down at the table between them. Where had the other two guys gone?

“Did you bring them?” the new man asked.

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