Page 10 of Delivering David

Samuels smiled. “That will do.”

And they shook hands in silent agreement.

“Are you crazy? Absolutely not!”Grant Miller’s shout came through the phone’s speaker loud and clear at Suzanne wanting to talk to Mercy’s neighbors. He’d been annoyed enough at her not telling him about what Mercy had shared with her about the Campbell sisters and their claim, but her request had clearly infuriated him.

“You are not going door-to-door in Mercy’s neighborhood asking questions, is that clear?” Miller lowered his voice, but his biting diction proved his anger was still volatile. “That is an order.”

“But I’ve met some of her neighbors–” Suzanne started, but one look at Miller’s expression on the screen shut her up.

“I don’t care,” Miller retorted. “You were targeted in your own home last night, Suzanne. Someone followed you as soon as you left Mercy’s house. It’s nothing short of a miracle you weren’t killed. You can look for Mercy’s address book, but that’s it.”

“How likely is it the killers are still hanging around?” Suzanne persisted. “That wouldn’t be very smart.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Miller said. “I’m not taking a chance of you being seen. Besides, my guys have just finished talking to Mercy Phillips neighbors and they all deny knowing anything.”

“If one of the neighbors comes to the house while we’re there, could she talk to them?” Kristopher asked. “Your men would be there, so it would be safe enough, right?”

“No,” Miller said firmly. “Officer Jackson is going to wait for you. And it’s the job of KPD to interview people, not yours, Suzanne. I’ll give you an hour to search through the house, but then Sergeant Brower, I expect you to take her back to whatever safehouse you’re using and keep her there.” It was obvious that he was not going to give in an inch.

“I’ve met one or two of Mercy’s neighbors at block parties,” Suzanne continued her plea. “If they know anything they might be more willing to talk to me because they know me.”

“The answer is still no.” Miller’s tone could have sliced through steel.

“Did you find her laptop?” Suzanne asked. “She usually kept it on her office desk.”

“I’m sorry to say like her phone, it was destroyed,” Miller said. “Do you think there was something work-related on it?”

“No,” Suzanne said. “Just a thought.”

“Okay. You have an hour,” Miller repeated. “Got it?”

“Absolutely,” Kristopher said, trying not to look at the very frustrated woman beside him.

“Okay,” Miller repeated. His gaze seemed to target Kristopher. “Have you told her we worked together? That you were with KPD?”

“I did,” Kristopher acknowledged. “We’re good there. We’ll contact you if we find something. Talk to you later.”

He ended the call and glanced at Suzanne. “You okay there, Miz Bennett?”

“Was he that stubborn when you worked with him in the past?” she huffed.

“He could be,” Kristopher said.The anger on her face did not make her any less pretty and Kristopher wondered what she might look like when she wasreallyangry or in the throes of passion.Hell’s bells, Brower!You just met her! Get your mind out from between the bed sheets! You’re here to protect her, nothing more.

“But he’s fully invested in helping Brotherhood Protectors when we’re on the job,” Kristopher assured. “He cares a lot about keeping kids safe and stopping or at least slowing down The Cadre. Did Elaine tell you about Tennessee Task Force?”

“She did,” Suzanne said, and he watched some of the anger fade from her face. “It sounds like a great organization. And it makes sense, all the agencies, including law enforcement joining together to find and rescue missing and trafficked kids. My work is placing underemployed or disabled adults in employment situations, and I have almost no professional experience with kids.”

“I’d like to hear about that later,” he said. “Maybe over lunch?”

“Sure thing,” she agreed. Let’s go help Officer Jackson.” She sighed and added, “For now that’s going to have to be enough.”

CHAPTER 9

Alittle later

“There’s that Bennett bitch!”Toby hissed, nearly yanking the drapes from the rod. “What’s she doing back here? And who’s that with her?”

Bogdan shoved him away and the drapes settled back into place, but not before he’d seen Suanne Bennett exit from the old-fashioned black and white squad car once so popular in America that had pulled into the Phillips’ circular driveway. A tall man with an unmistakable military bearing got out from the driver’s side.

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