Page 84 of Deadly Secrets
“Every day. But that’s why I solve criminal cases and didn’t become a writer or someone who depends on written communication.”
They drove for a while in silence, Brooke keeping her eyes on the scenery. He’d managed to put the brakes on the Percy story, but wondered what he was actually going to tell her.
“Brooke, I’m not a fictional character in one of your romance books whom the author makes out to be the perfect hero at the end.”
“I know.” Her head bobbed but she still didn’t look at him. “I don’t have unreasonable expectations.”
“You sure about that?”
“Are you keeping secrets from me?”
Damn. He left the highway and headed for his neighborhood. “Secrets about what exactly? I haven’t told you every nitty, gritty detail about all the mistakes I’ve made in my life, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“I’m asking about Percy and what happened with the Underground Order case.”
Yep. That’s what he was afraid of. At least she hadn’t yet found out about her birth mother and that whole hive of killer bees. “The only reason I haven’t told you the full story is because it could put a lot of people’s careers on the line.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw her brows shoot up. The indignation in her voice echoed in the car. “But you told your sister?”
The urge to come clean was so strong, he had to clamp his jaws together for a moment. He turned onto his street. “What I told my family was not the whole truth, and the only reason I sugarcoated it was to save what little I could of my brother’s memory for them.”
“That sounds honorable, but I have to ask, did you do something illegal? Did your team? Who are you really covering for, Roman?”
Myself as much as anyone. “I can’t discuss it with you, Brooke. I would if I could, but I can’t. There are innocent people involved.”
Silence reigned as he pulled up to his house. A strange car was parked in his drive. “Who the hell is that?” he said, eyeing the figure in the front seat who saw them and threw open his car door.
Roman already had his gun in reach and was ready to put the car in reverse.
“Oh God,” Brooke said, putting a hand to her forehead.
“Do you know this guy?”
“Dr. David Borgman,” she said, as the man stood next to his car with his hands on his hips. He was gray-haired and wearing an expensive suit. The look he was shooting at Brooke did not bode well. “My boss.”
“What the hell…?”
So much for having a quiet moment to talk to Brooke about the other secret he was keeping. Not really keeping it from her—he just hadn’t found the right moment to tell her.
Brooke bailed. Roman put the car in park and followed, making sure to flash his weapon before he pocketed it. He couldn’t help it—the guy’s whole demeanor set off warning bells in his head. What did it hurt to show a little intimidation?
Brooke went around the front of the Jeep. “Dave, what are you doing here?”
“You haven’t been returning my calls.”
The sun was setting over the water. Roman leaned on the Jeep hood and scanned the area. He didn’t like Brooke being this exposed here. And if some Smithsonian guy could find Roman’s house, surely the killer could. “A better question would be how did you know Dr. Heaton was here?”
“I had the number for that other taskforce guy, Harris. She’s done consulting stuff for him too. He wouldn’t tell me anything, so I went to his boss and threatened to go to the police since I suspected foul play. Got passed around, but eventually, one of the FBI’s minions gave me your name, Dr. Walsh. A little digging provided me with your home address.”
“We should take this inside,” Roman said, although the last thing he wanted was this man in his home. “Brooke has a killer after her.”
Bushy gray eyebrows went for the sky as he shifted his gaze to her. “A killer?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.” Flustered, her cheeks blushed a deep rose color. “I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls, Dave, but you really have to leave.”
“The crew refuses to move forward with classifying anything until you’re there to oversee the excavation.”
Roman pushed off the Jeep and motioned at the house. “Inside. Now.”
