Rosalyn swallowed and nodded. She hadn’t really expected them to find anything. “I’m not surprised. I had hoped maybe a professional would find something I had overlooked all these times.”
Molly shook her head. “There was nothing to be found, not by you, not by anyone. I’m sure that was true for the other notes, as well.”
Rosalyn felt a little bit better.
“But Jon found a transmitter on an article of clothing of one of the other deceased victims. He’s bringing it back here so I can analyze it.”
Steve looked over from where he was cooking at the stove. “Our primary focus with your case as of now is figuring out how the Watcher has found you after we removed the trackers in Pensacola.”
“Being able to look at a functional transmitter will help me,” Molly said. “I might be able to pinpoint where it was made.”
Steve fed not only Rosalyn but Derek and Molly breakfast. Molly and Derek told humorous stories of Molly’s own pregnancy—their daughter had been born five months ago—and some of Derek’s outrageous behavior in the delivery room.
Evidently the big, bad SWAT agent who towered over his petite wife had been reduced to “less than useless”—Molly’s words—while their child made her entry into the world.
“It was time to go to the hospital, and he got lost.” Molly rolled her eyes. “The man navigated his way through a Colombian jungle once to rescue me and he couldn’t figure out how to get to a hospital eight miles away.”
Derek nearly choked on his piece of toast. “I made one wrong turn. That is not the same as getting lost.”
She slapped him on the back to help with his coughing. “Of course, honey.” She turned to Rosalyn. “He was lost,” Molly said in an exaggerated sigh.
Steve laughed.
“Just you wait.” Derek stabbed some of his eggs, glaring at Steve. “Your time is coming. I’m going to follow you around with a camera.”
The normal conversation, the joking, even the glares, made Rosalyn feel better. Made life seem a little more normal.
But then the vision of the Watcher in her dream came back.
If the Watcher killed Molly and Derek, their daughter would be an orphan. Rosalyn fought to keep down the food she’d just eaten.
Steve moved closer to her. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, stop,” he whispered in her ear as Derek and Molly gathered her papers so they could all leave.
“But...”
Steve tilted her chin up. “I know it feels this way to you, but the Watcher is not the baddest bad guy we’ve ever faced. Isn’t that right, Derek?”
“Not even in the top ten,” Derek confirmed.
“That man is not going to let anything happen to Molly, so don’t even let that enter your mind.”
“Nope.” Derek confirmed again, reaching down to wrap both arms around his wife’s hips and lift her so he could kiss her. “Never again.”
“And I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
They got the rest of what they would need for the day and the four of them walked out the door and down the hall. Rosalyn tried to hold on to the good feeling she’d had for a few minutes, but it was lost in the weight of what was happening.
They had to go through the security section again as they entered the main offices. Everyone made it through the metal detector without it going off but Rosalyn. Again. Always her luck.
The poor guy looked as though he feared for his job when he used the wand on Rosalyn and she set it off once more.
“Eastburn, I thought I told you to get that wand checked.” Steve spoke through his teeth with forced restraint.
“Yes, sir, this is a new wand. There shouldn’t be any problem with it.”
“So, you’re suggesting that Ms. Mellinger has a weapon in her mouth?” That was where the wand kept beeping.
“No, sir. I’m not sure what is wrong.”