Page 12 of Nicole's Shelter

Her stomach pitched. If he so much as guessed at the truth he’d be in more trouble than anyone deserved. “Just how does following me help Allie?”

“Where’s your computer?”

“What?” She didn’t see what one thing had to do with the other.

“You IM with her all the time right?”

“We did.” A lump of regret lodged in her throat. Allie had been her longest running friend. Until he said it, she hadn’t realized—

“Your computer?”

“One is now ash thanks to that fire and my work computer is currently an oversized paperweight. IT was supposed to get me a replacement, but as of close of business today, it hadn’t shown up.”

“What happened to it?”

“I don’t know. It’s just dead. You think you can fix it from here?”

“No. Your IM account was hacked and Allie received messages from someone posing as you.”

Nicole weighed that information against the gang kid who’d cut the ladder. The incidents couldn’t be related. Nicole Livingston had been a steady, safe identity for years. No one at the office could possibly know the ugly truth of her past. On normal days, if she didn’t think about it, she almost felt complete as Nicole.

“What are you thinking?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. Allie’s safe right?”

“Yes. I’m not sure she’s out of danger, but she has help and they’ll get her through it.”

Nicole figured that was as much as she could hope for. “The rumors circulating at work about her are awful. People are saying she stole from the company. But that’s not Allie. And her boss hasn’t been in for a couple of days. It’s shocking what small-minded people I work with.” She rubbed her temples and paced away from him. “If someone at work hacked my IM…” This time the chill on her spine had nothing to do with sensual awareness.

“Are you away from your desk regularly?”

His voice muffled, she turned back, relieved that Rick and his towel had retreated to the bathroom. “Isn’t everyone? We have meetings and there’s a security crew or janitorial staff. I’m not sure the building is ever empty.”

“Do you ever use the camera for business?” He reappeared in jeans and a snug gray t-shirt that made his biceps look bigger. For some ridiculous reason, she found him almost more tempting dressed.

“Yes.” She gasped. “You think that’s why they burned down my building?”

He froze, one hand in his damp hair. His eyes locked with hers and the intensity shocked her. She’d said too much.

“What makes you think arson?”

Her throat dry, it required a concentrated effort to get the words out. “You said you saw a gang banger. I, ah, just made the leap.”

“A lot of drug activity in your building?”

“No. N-none that I know of.”

“Stolen goods?”

“This really isn’t my area of expertise.”

“No? You sure?”

“What are you implying? I go to work, I come home. Just a normal, boring woman.”

Rick disagreed. Although the quick background check supported her statement, there was more under the surface. More she was desperate to hide from him. From the rest of the world too, he’d bet.

“I’m going to give you your camera. Not the purse.” He smiled when she grumbled at his autocratic statement. Blocking her view as he punched in the combination, he opened the safe and withdrew her camera. Smiling, he handed it over, giving her a long look. “You’ve gotta tell me what the plan was.”

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