Page 22 of My One and Only (Blackhawk Security #10)

S hortly after they arrived back at Cam’s office, Jo got an email from Mel with the VIN numbers of trucks that matched the description of the one that’d hit Cam. She scrolled slowly down the list until she found the VIN she’d copied off the truck at the repair shop.

The owners of that truck lived in a subdivision in Geneva. Jo opened her mapping app and typed in the address. The house was three blocks away from the intersection where the truck had been waiting for Cam.

She could go through all the employees and try to figure out who lived near that address. Instead, she showed the map to Cam. “The truck that hit you belongs to the people who live here. Anyone you know live in this area?”

Cam studied the map. “Yeah, I think a number of my employees do. This is a lower-priced subdivision. A good one, but the houses are smaller. So are the lots. Starter homes for a lot of people, including the men and women who work for me.”

Jo sighed. “If nothing pops soon, I’ll get a list of all your employees and see which of them live near this address. It makes sense that whoever stole the truck lived in the area. Knew the couple who lived there were in Florida.”

The police checked out the house and called the owners, who went to Florida every winter after Christmas. The truck had been in the garage, and the police’d found the garage window open.”

“That’d be a lot of work,” Cam said.

Jo shrugged. “Attention to details is how a lot of cases get solved. Not ready to dive into that, but it might come down to those addresses.”

An hour or so later, a noise echoed through the room, and Jo glanced over at Cam. He was typing, staring intently at his computer. He swallowed, and a muscle rippled in his throat as he paused, then began typing again. His fingers flew over the keyboard, and he pursed his lips as he stared at the screen. Cam was completely into whatever he was doing, clearly oblivious to anything around him. Including her.

Jo had always found that kind of focus and concentration appealing. Before Mike was hurt, he would study maps the same way Cam was staring at his computer. Completely lost, and she’d known he was visualizing the terrain, looking for possible trouble spots. Entries into the small villages. Places to hide in the fields of barley outside the villages. The mountains in the background, the peaks sharp and jagged, loomed over everything.

She looked away from Cam and stared at her own computer, swallowing hard. One of the most dangerous things in Afghanistan couldn’t be seen on any map -- the IEDs buried beneath the roads.

Pressing her lips together, she shoved Mike out of her head. Forced herself to focus on her job. On what she had to do to keep Cam and Fiona safe. She’d gotten very good at compartmentalizing over the past few years.

Cam had given her the names of her former co-workers who had agreed to come to work for PK Construction. She’d known all of them, and knew they’d work hard for Cam. They were trustworthy, and she was sure they wouldn’t be susceptible to bribes. Wouldn’t look the other way at issues in the houses they were working on.

She leaned back and studied the names. She glanced over at Cam, but he was still deep in whatever he was working on. But when she got a chance, she’d ask him how he intended to deploy all her recruits. Since she knew they were all honest, maybe it would be smart for Cam to pair them up with his current employees and spread them out.

She frowned. Maybe not. She didn’t want to put any of her friends in harm’s way. Didn’t want them to be forced to snitch on co-workers. To risk retribution.

Jo shook her head. She wasn’t thinking straight. That was one of the things she’d suggested to Cam -- that he use her friends to keep an eye on the work in the teams they joined.

The thought sent dread creeping up her spine. She didn’t want to endanger any of her friends.

Maybe Cam had some ideas about how to utilize her buddies. She hoped so, because she didn’t want them involved in whatever was going on. Didn’t want to put them in danger simply because they wanted to work.

Before any of them arrived, she and Cam would have to figure out the best solution. In the meantime, she’d play around with various scenarios and see which ones would keep her friends safe while also gathering information for Cam.

Jo was deep into her ideas, her fingers flying over her keyboard, when Cam touched her shoulder. Startled, she swiveled to face him.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“I asked if you were ready to go and you acted as if you didn’t even hear me,” he said, staring hard at her. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Just went too far down the rabbit hole.” Shoving away from her desk, she stood up and reached for her jacket. “We going straight to the school?”

“Yeah,” he said. “When I made the appointment with Ms. Christopher, I said I’d be there when school let out.” He slanted her a look. “You okay with staying on the playground with Fiona?”

“I’m fine with that. What I’m not fine about is letting you walk into that school by yourself. But I already told you that.”

“Someone has to stay with Fiona,” he said, his jaw working. “She shouldn’t be on the playground by herself.”

“I agree.” She poked him in the chest. “But if you get hurt, or something happens to you, I’ll kick your ass.”

“Noted,” he said as he studied her. “Are you really serious about not wanting me to go into the school alone? I think I can take any of the teachers out, if necessary.”

Jo clenched her teeth. “This isn’t funny, Cam. The agreement you signed stated that you’d follow my instructions. Always. Not just when it’s convenient.”

“You want Fiona to sit in on the meeting?”

“Absolutely not!” She stared at him, appalled. “But you could have figured out something else. Maybe had your mother pick Fiona up.” She glanced at her phone. “Too late now. If we’re going to get there in time, we have to leave now.”

Jo grabbed her coat, irritated enough with Cam that she shoved her hands into the sleeves too hard and ripped the lining at her right shoulder. Then she saved her work, closed her computer, shoved it into her bag and followed him out of his office.

An uncomfortable silence filled the truck as she drove toward the school. Finally, when they had to stop for a red light, Cam reached over and skimmed a finger down the back of her hand.

“Sorry, Jo,” he sighed. “I wasn’t thinking when I made this appointment. You’re right -- I should have asked my mom to pick Fiona up, then you could have stayed with me at the school.”

Jo blew out a breath. It was hard to stay angry with someone who was genuinely sorry for a mistake they’d made. “Then Fiona would be left unprotected,” she said quietly. “There’s no good solution for this. And you’re right about the school,” she admitted. “They do have good security. So me staying on the playground with Fiona is the best solution.” She drew a deep breath. “But you should have talked to me about it first.”

“Yeah, I should have talked to you about Fiona first. I’ll remember to do that if there’s a next time,” he said. “Maybe we can kiss and make up later.”

She shot him a hard look. “Don’t press your luck, buddy.”

“Too soon, huh?” he said, giving her a side glance.

Jo sighed and banged her head against the headrest on the back of the seat. “I never could stay mad at you, Cam Pierce. You always managed to sweet-talk me out of my pissiness.”

She turned into the school and pulled into a spot in the visitor’s parking lot. They got out and walked toward the front door. He brushed his fingers over hers and said softly, “I promise not to do it again, Jo. Okay? We good?”

She stared at his hand touching hers and wanted to twine their fingers together. Instead, she swallowed and said, “I’m gonna trust you, Cam. But if it happens again? I’ll get someone else here to guard you. Someone who’s a lot meaner than I am.”

“Yeah? And who would that be?”

Jo smiled. “We have an agent based in Chicago. Bree Gordon. She used to be a Marine Corp sniper. She’s as badass as they come. She wouldn’t cut you any slack.” She leaned close and murmured, “She’d put you on your ass without thinking twice.”

Cam leaned closer. “That’s hot,” he murmured. “But is she as hot as you?”

“Hotter,” Jo answered immediately. “But she’s very happily married. No action there, buddy. Sorry.” She smirked at him, good humor restored.

His gaze touched her mouth. Her breasts. Her legs. It felt as if his hands swept over her, finding every sensitive spot on her body. “I don’t want anyone but you, Jo,” he said, his voice a soft breath against her neck.

She swallowed hard once. Again. “Don’t piss me off, then, Cam. Don’t take your safety so lightly.”

She held his gaze until he nodded. “I won’t do it again. I promise.”

She nodded once. “Then we’re good.”

They’d reached the front door to the school. Jo leaned against the wall and said, “I’ll wait here for Fiona to come out. Then she can show me where the playground is.” She leaned closer. “And remember, if anything happens in there, I’ll kill you myself.”

His eyes darkened, and his breath feathered across her cheek. “I’ll be fine, Jo. See you and Fiona soon.”

Without waiting for her to answer, he pressed the intercom button on the door. When the security guard showed up, he glanced at Cam and opened the door.

“Thanks, Howie,” Cam said. “I’m Cam Pierce. I have an appointment with my daughter’s teacher. Ms. Christopher.”

“Yeah, I knew you had a meeting,” the guard said, holding the door open. “Her room is down this hall. Room 23.”

“Thanks, man.” He looked back at Jo. “See you and Fiona in a bit.”

“We’ll be on the playground,” she said, forcing herself to speak normally. As if the sexual tension between them hadn’t been thick and heavy just moments ago.

Cam disappeared down the hall, and Jo moved off to the side when she saw the wave of kids heading for the door. The first boy smashed into the crash bar, and kids poured out of the school.

A lot had changed in fifteen years. When she’d lived in Ogden, the town had been lily-white. Now Black and Brown kids were part of the crowd, everyone talking and laughing.

Fiona was one of the last kids to emerge, walking with another girl and chattering away. When she looked around for her father’s truck, Jo stepped closer to her. “Hey, Fiona.”

Fiona looked at her and smiled widely. “Jo! Where’s my dad?”

“He wanted to talk to your teacher. He was afraid you were too smart for first grade.”

Fiona giggled and said, “You’re silly, Jo.”

“Yeah, I know. You want to wait for him on the playground?”

“Yeah!” Fiona said. She grabbed Jo’s hand. “C’mon. I’ll show you where it is.” She turned to the girl she’d been walking with. “You wanna play on the playground, Mina?” she asked.

“I gotta ask my mom,” the girl said. She pointed at the sidewalk, where a woman wearing a hajib stood a little apart from the other parents, focusing on the kids coming out of school instead of talking and laughing with the other adults. “She’s waiting to walk me home.”

“Should Fiona and I come with you so your mom knows an adult will be with you?” Jo asked.

Mina began to shake her head. Stopped. “Yeah,” she finally said. “She’s weird about that stuff.”

Jo swallowed. Was it tough for Mina’s family? Being a minority in this town? “Okay. Let’s go.”

Fiona slipped her hand into Jo’s, and a lump swelled in Jo’s throat. Kids were so trusting. Her fingers tightened around Fiona’s, and the girl swung their arms back and forth as they walked.

Mina ran to a smiling woman standing on the sidewalk. The gold band on her hijab caught the sun as she reached down to pull her daughter into her arms. Mina began speaking, and she turned and pointed at Jo and Fiona.

By the time Jo and Fiona reached Mina and her mom, her mother was studying her. “Hi, I’m Jo Hatch,” Jo said. “I’m watching Fiona while her dad has a meeting in the school. Is it okay if Mina joins us on the playground? If you give me your address, we’ll bring her home after the girls are done playing.”

“I’m Nahid,” the woman said. “We live just down the street, at 1512. If you could bring her home, I’d appreciate it.”

“We’ll be happy to do that.” Jo smiled. “Very nice to meet you.”

“Are you and Fiona’s dad a couple?” Nahid asked.

“We’re just old friends,” Jo said easily. “We went to high school together. We won’t let the girls stay outside too long, and we’ll walk Mina home.”

“Thank you,” Nahid said, nodding. “Mina talks about Fiona a lot.”

“I’ll tell Cam to try to get them together after school one day when he’s feeling better.” When Nahid frowned, Jo explained, “He had a car accident several days ago. Got a severe concussion, but he’s doing better.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She looked at her daughter and Fiona. “Have fun, girls,” Mina’s mom called as she walked away.

Mina waved at her mom but didn’t even look up. She and Fiona were too busy talking. As Jo followed them to the playground, she thought maybe Cam hadn’t needed to talk to Fiona’s teacher. Fiona had at least one friend in her class.

Both girls sprinted to the tower that held two slides. They climbed up the ladders and raced each other to the bottom. After a few minutes, two other girls ran onto the rubber surface of the playground and called out to Fiona and Mina. All four girls began an elaborate game that involved chasing each other and escaping onto the playground equipment.

Twenty minutes later, Cam slid onto the picnic bench beside her, watching Fiona. After a moment, he exhaled and his shoulders relaxed. “They look like they’re having a great time.”

“Yeah,” Jo said, keeping her gaze on the girls. “Fiona and Mina,” -- she pointed out the dark-haired girl, -- “walked out of school together. I spoke to Mina’s mom and assured her that I’d keep an eye on the girls, and we’d walk Mina home when they were finished playing. The other two girls showed up a few minutes later.”

Cam exhaled. “Well, that confirms what Ms. Christopher said. Fiona is friends with everyone in her class. She plays with different kids every day at recess, but most often plays with Mina. And she’s never alone at lunch.” He swallowed as he watched Fiona. “She doesn’t see any signs of social anxiety or reluctance to play with other kids. In other words, she’s normal.”

“Based on what I’ve seen here, Ms. C’s right.” She glanced over at Cam. “Now all you have to do is figure out a way to have Mina, and maybe other kids, over to play after school.” She touched his hand, the fleeting swipe of her fingers against his skin making her swallow hard. “You need to figure out a way to get them together at your house or your mom’s after school occasionally.”

“Yeah.” Cam watched the girls playing for a long moment. “After this whole mess is dealt with, I’ll talk to my mom. See if she’d let Fiona ask Mina or another girl over after school once or twice a week. Or stay at the playground with Fiona occasionally.”

“Definitely wait until we’ve rounded up everyone involved in the bribery scheme,” Jo said. “Until I’m sure it’s safe, I don’t want to get other kids involved.”

“Yeah,” Cam said. He glanced over at her. “Should we walk Mina and the other girls home, then head back to the house?”

“Yeah. We should.”

Ten minutes later, Mina and the other girls delivered to their homes, the three of them climbed into the truck. Cam buckled Fiona into her car seat, then swung into the passenger seat.

As they pulled away from the school, Fiona leaned forward in the car seat. “Why were you talking to Ms. Christopher, Daddy? Am I in trouble for something?”