Page 100 of The Savior

“She did it again,” Chelsea whispered then pushed out of her chair and asked the woman behind the counter, “Can you turn that up?”

Even as the volume increased, she stepped closer to the TV.

Liam pieced together the report. Zee Zee Mars had struck again, hitting a student center in Kentucky. They showed a picture of Mars and the calling card she’d become known for, a dark calla lily. Chelsea’s face reddened. She had her cell phone in hand and was furiously texting.

“What’s that all about?” Chance asked.

The incident was tragic, but Chelsea’s reaction showed more. It was personal, and she’d been pulled from her work because they’d gone out and gotten drunk together.

Guilt lined his chest. If people died, that might be his fault. Perhaps she could’ve prevented the bombing. And he’d stopped her while trying to protect his loved ones while other innocents were lost. “She’s worked on Zee Zee Mars for years.”

“Shit.” Chance whistled then looked from the television screen to Chelsea and back. “Squint a little, and it’s almost like Chelsea could be Zee Zee Mars, give or take a decade or so.”

Liam didn’t see a resemblance. “I wonder if they’ll need her on the job.”

Then they both realized quickly that they were about to be a person down if she had to report into work.

“We can handle it,” Liam finally said.

“If we can’t, then I know a guy or two that can step in.”

Liam rubbed his temples. For a gig that wasn’t supposed to exist, keeping an eye on the Nymans was starting to expand more than he was comfortable with. “No more folks.”

“My source is solid. They won’t ask. Won’t tell.”

They? “I can’t rely on you to provide an endless supply of backup.”

Chance let a fist land heavily on the table. “In this case? You do.”

Surprised by the truth, Liam agreed. “Appreciate it.”

Chelsea returned and folded herself into the chair. She tore a piece off her bagel and jammed it into her cream cheese container. If she didn’t look ready to angry-cry or kill, Liam would’ve called her on the bagel tear-and-dunk.

She swallowed the bagel, and her expression darkened. “I’mstillbenched.”

“What?” That couldn’t be right. Even if he didn’t want to lose her help, it didn’t make sense not to call in all hands on deck.

“Something about how Mac has it covered. How I worked it like a lone ranger and now it was my turn to get my head on straight.”

“Your head’s not on straight?” Chance asked wryly.

She seared him with a laser glare.

“Forget I asked.”

Chelsea abruptly pushed out of her chair again and studied the back of the bagel shop then rotated and gave the rest of the shop the same scrutiny.

Chance glanced at Liam, and Liam shrugged. The bombing and her behavior didn’t match.

“What’s up?”

Her lips flattened, and finally, her search stopped. “I don’t know. Nothing I can explain.”

That had been their life lately.

“Something’s up,” Liam pressed.

“Something.” She feigned a bullshit smile and sat down again. “Or not.”

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