Page 22 of Shelter for Sharla

Carter’s stomach sank into his shoes. Well, shit. Get a break on a big case and find out the woman he was interested in could be more deeply affected by it than he’d like. “Thanks. I’ll give the mother a call as soon as we hang up.”

“Good deal. Talk to you soon, Carter, and thanks for calling.”

“You’re welcome. Thank you.” Carter really wanted to say,Wish I’d never called you, just as the phone went dead, but that wasn’t true. If his information could keep Sharla and the kids safe, he was glad to have it.

The phone only rang once on his end before he heard her say, “Hey there!”

“Hi. Got a minute?”

“For you? All the minutes you need. What’s up?”

“I need to come over and talk to you.”

“Now?”

“No time like the present. This can’t wait.”

“Well, sure. Not a problem. Come on. Have you eaten?”

Did a frozen dinner count? Carter didn’t think so. “No. I haven’t.”

“By the time you get here, I’ll have something ready.”

“Okay. Thanks. And make sure your doors are locked.”

A snicker came from the phone. “My doors arealwayslocked. I’m a woman who lives alone.”

“And your car doors?”

“Yes, Carter. My car doors too. I keep it locked up. What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain when I get there. Be there in a few. Bye, babe.”

“Bye.”

He’d called her babe. Had that been okay? Oh, who the fuck cared? He was terrified something horrible was going to happen to her, so one word wouldn’t make that much difference. As he threw things together to leave, he thought about his Glock. Damn thing still wasn’t back from the manufacturer, and that meant he had no handgun to give her if she didn’t have one. He was using his Ruger and no way would he hand over his 1911. It was just too big and heavy for her. If she didn’t have one, he’d have to get one for her and make sure she knew how to use it.

He didn’t even have to knock?it appeared she’d been watching for him. “Hey there,” she whispered when he stepped inside. Without giving it a second thought, he closed the door, then wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a sweet, warm kiss. As soon as he pulled back, she smiled up at him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad to be here,” he replied and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Something smells good.”

“I hope it tastes good. Come on. Eat and tell me what’s so urgent.” He followed her to the kitchen and watched that glorious ass do its thing. There was a stirring below his belt, and he told the beast to quiet down.

“Oh, wow, this is good,” he said as he took his first bite.

“Thanks.”

How to jump in?Oh, just go ahead and tell her, Carter told himself. “Sharla, there’s something I’ve got to tell you, and if you think I’m trying to scare you, then you’d be right. I found out some things today that may very well affect you, and you need to know about them.”

Her brow fell. “Sounds serious.”

“It is.” Carter started in and watched her face closely. There was no panic there, but she was most definitely shaken. When he finished, he added, “And now I’m really concerned if you believe someone was following you.”

“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’m sure of it. But why? What would anybody want with me? How deep into this was Tamara?”

“I have no idea. I’m not even sure what they’re trying to do with the college kids, unless it’s to use them to move drugs and guns. Otherwise, there’s no use for them, no reason to involve them. Can you think ofanythingTamara had been involved in or done in the last few months that would make you wonder what she was up to?”

Sharla shook her head. “No. Nothing. And you think this has to do with a gang in Texas?”

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