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Leah’s scissors are spread open on the checkerboard tile where my feet once were.
“Leah?”
“Oh.” She blinks and scoops up the shears by the blade.
“What are you doing?” I screech.
“Oops. I’m so klutzy.” She drops the shears on her cart and looks at the woman in her chair. “Just a moment, Lucy. I think I grabbed the wrong color.”
Leah rushes off to the color room with her bowl and I turn my attention back to Maddie’s gorgeous locks and determined expression.
“I’m calling him back and telling him to take a hike,” she says.
“No way, put the phone down. Don’t make me color your hair red.” I hold a strand of her hair as hostage.
“Then I’ll tell him you’ve acquired legal counsel and will file a restraining order if he doesn’t stop contacting you,” she says, fingers already hovering over the call button, waiting for my approval.
“He’s just lonely. He’ll find someone else to shack up with and forget about me.” Like he did last time.
She purses her lips. “Fine. But if he keeps bugging you let me know.”
The last thing I want to do is add more to her plate. I can get rid of an annoying ex by myself. I’ve done it before.
“Yes ma’am.”
Chapter 12
Caleb
Cruz slams her fist into the dummy's nose and then sends a jab into the stomach. “I don’t trust her.”
“Who?”
“Amelia.”
I stare over the dummy's head at her. “You’re the one who recruited her help on behalf of the U.S. government.”
I was against the whole idea. But as much as I hate to admit it, it's a good opportunity to get closer to Liam and possibly figure out why he’s here. We’ve been watching him for ten days and there’s no pattern to his movements. Sometimes he stays in his hotel all day. Other times he wanders around downtown, chatting with old people and being a decent human being. But he never talks to the same person more than once. Except for Amelia. Either he knows he’s being watched, or he’s as innocent as Amelia believes. I refuse to accept that answer.
We’ve connected him to a few known criminals in the U.S., but none are here in Phoenix. Is he gathering a crew for a job here? Or is he here reporting to his boss? But as far as we can tell, he’s always worked alone. What’s his play?
Cruz grabs the dummy’s head and drives her knee into the rubber crotch.
Ouch.
“I asked her to help because I don’t trust her,” she grunts.
Sometimes she makes no sense. “Why? Two days ago you said she could be in danger.”
“And then she opened her mouth.” Cruz kicks the dummy so hard I lose my grip on it.
I narrow my eyes and step out of the danger zone. “Because she can’t shut up you think she’s in on it?” I give her a bewildered look. I know we are taught to be suspicious of everyone, but Amelia? She’s too beautiful, too smart, too funny—okay I realize these aren’t the best reasons why she couldn’t be a criminal. But still.
“No.” Cruz glowers at the dummy like she won’t stop until it’s on the ground. “Probably not. But I get the vibe that she’s up to something.”
“Like?”
“I don’t know, okay? Guilty until proven innocent.”