Page 33 of Micah

“I’m heading into the office to talk to my boss. I shouldn’t be long. I’ll set the alarm when I go out.” He leaned down and kissed her lips.

“Okay. Maybe I’ll just wait right here.”

Micah grinned, liking that idea. “That will definitely make me get back here quicker. See ya later, pixie.”

He pushed to his feet and walked out the door. After setting the alarm, he entered the garage, climbed into his car then drove to the office. The alarm would set within thirty seconds. Patsy would be fine while he was gone.

Once at the bureau, he walked to Hodges’s office and knocked then entered when he was told to come in. He took a seat in front of the desk and waited for Hodges to lift his head from the paperwork he was looking over. Finally, Hodges put his pen down and removed his glasses then looked at him.

“What now, Turner?”

“I’d like to take a few more days off,” Micah answered.

“Is the world coming to an end?”

Micah couldn’t stop the grin. “Not that I know of, sir.”

“Take as long as you need. Anything else?”

“I appreciate that and while I’m here, I’d like to look into Melbourne’s finances.”

Hodges ran his hand around the back of his neck and sighed. “I don’t suppose it would hurt. It’s not like you’re doing any good around here.”

“Excuse me?”

Hodges laughed. “I know that if you were at your desk working on White’s men, you’d still want to make sure Miss Murphy stays safe.”

“True. I’m not sure if Dowling is involved in this but if he is, I don’t like the two of them out there when she’s alone at the house. I appreciate you allowing men to watch the house but I worry those two could get in and get her before the men would see them.”

“I agree, but I can’t spare more men for this. It would be easier if she’d go to a safe house.”

“She won’t. I asked her. She says she feels…safer with me since we know each other.”

“All right, take more time off.”

“As long as I need?”

He nodded but scowled. “When you feel safe coming back here and leaving her alone, I suppose.”

“Hell, that might not be until Dowling and Melbourne are caught.”

Hodges waved his hand. “If that’s what it takes. We’re not in the protecting witnesses’ business but she trusts you, so I can’t see abandoning her. You have more than enough vacation days coming to you—use them. But I swear to Christ, Turner, if this comes out, I will say I knew nothing about her being at your house and you protecting her.”

“Yes sir.” Micah stood and moved toward the door then looked back to his boss. “Thank you, sir. I’ll get out of here once I see if Melbourne has had any big deposits. White might be in prison but he still has a shitload of money and someone is controlling it.”

“Yep.” Hodges put his glasses back on and picked up his pen again.

Micah knew he’d been dismissed. Making his way to his desk, he pulled his chair out and took a seat. He wanted to get some information on Dowling and Melbourne but he also wanted to let Coby know he’d be out a while longer.

An hour later he closed his computer down and headed for Coby’s desk and took a seat. Coby glanced up at him.

“I can’t see where Dowling has visited White in over a year,” Coby said.

“I’m taking more time off. I have almost three weeks of vacation due me, and I’m taking what I need of them. I don’t likeleaving Patsy alone, especially if both Dowling and Melbourne are out there trying to get to her.”

Coby sat back and stared at him. “Hodges good with this?”

“Hell, it was his idea to use my vacation days. I could be back before then if Melbourne is found. I still think Dowling is somehow involved. Call it a gut feeling but…” He shrugged.

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