Page 77 of Fatal Betrayal

"But those days are gone. We can't get them back."

"We can't recreate the past, but we might be able to redefine our future."

"You just said you don't know if you can ever forgive me. I don't see us redefining anything."

"I said I want to forgive you. I just don't know how, but I'm thinking more kissing might help."

Her pulse leapt, but she shook her head. "It's only going to make everything more complicated and the last time we kissed, there was an explosion at the end of it. I take that as a bad sign."

He grinned. "I thought our kiss was more explosive than the bomb."

"Why did you have to grow up and be so attractive?" she asked in frustration. "So sexy and charming."

"I was thinking the same thing. Well, not the charming part, because you're very prickly, but the sexy part—definitely," he said, as he inched closer to her.

And then her phone rang, making them both jump.

"Did you time that?" Cooper asked.

"I wish I had thought of it. But saved by the bell. And it's Flynn." She answered the call. "What did you find out?"

"Tyler, the kid at the gym is in the hospital," Flynn said. "He was jumped in an alley behind his apartment and beat up. He was barely able to speak, said two guys jumped him, but they were wearing masks and he didn't know who they were. He also said he was driving alone last night. There wasn't anyone in the car with him. He didn't think he hit anyone, but he was texting while he was driving, so maybe he wasn't looking."

"Maybe it was an accident."

"Or the beat-down came after instructions not to say who was in the car with him. He looked nervous and terrified," Flynn added. "We're still looking for traffic cam footage. Hopefully, we can pick up the car at another location."

"What about the Benedicts? Have you spoken to them again? They're going to wonder where Cooper and I are."

"I said you were working on the case. There's nothing new with them. And nothing more you can do tonight, so stay put, and we'll talk in the morning."

"I'll stay here tonight, but I make no promises for after that. I can't just hide. I need to work."

"I get it. We'll touch base tomorrow."

She hung up the phone and met Cooper's gaze. "What do you think?"

"That Daniel was probably in the car," he said heavily.

"Daniel or someone else. I don't believe Tyler was alone, but I need evidence not thoughts. I'm going to get on the computer and see what else I can find." She stood up, then paused. "What we were just talking about…"

"Can wait," he said quickly. "For a better time."

"What if there isn't one?"

"Then that will be our answer," he said cryptically. "You get to work. I'll clean up here."

* * *

While Andi got on the computer in the office, Cooper cleaned up the kitchen. He'd just started the dishwasher when his phone buzzed. It was Neil.

"Where are you Cooper?" Neil asked, an angry note in his voice. "Why haven't you checked in with me?"

"I was about to," he lied. "The FBI assured me they were keeping you up to speed."

"They've told me next to nothing. Solange called me and said she thinks she needs a lawyer. They're asking her a lot of questions about Daniel."

"Has she seen Daniel?"