Tinsley and I nod. My heart is racing, and she’s taking short breaths. We line up behind the flight attendant, ready to exit.
I turn to Tinsley and paint on the best smile I have. “Ladies first.”
She kisses me and mouths, “I love you.”
When she’s about halfway down, I hobble behind her. I spot zoom lenses, so I’m sure that they can see every pore on my face. Tinsley stands at the open door of the Range Rover and watches me awkwardly descend the stairs. I focus on her and ignore all the commotion around me. I can do this.
As I step off the final stair, I see a large Suburban arrive with flashing lights in its grill. Before it comes to a complete stop, a large man exits the car.
Fiona steps in and greets him. He embraces her. She points to the dent and paint all over the nose of the plane. For the first time, I turn and look at the damage. I knew the window was cracked, but there’s also a dent above the nose cone and paint not only all over the plane but also the hangar. That’s going to be a costly fix, and it may have totaled the plane.
Robards is done.
Detective Robards rushes over to the large man and seems to bicker with him. We’re seated in the Range Rover, and one of Jim’s drivers settles behind the wheel. Detective Robards isn’t as aggressive with this man as he was with Fiona. He seems to be pleading his case.
Jim chuckles. “I’m delighted not to be Detective Robards right now.”
“Who is that man?” Tinsley asks as we drive away.
“That is Eddy Martinez, the chief of police,” Jim says. “Detective Robards has probably ended his career.”
“But that doesn’t mean the hunt for Heather McCoy has ended or that I’m not still the number-one suspect,” I muse aloud, mostly to remind myself.
“We have some leads we’re working on.” Jim looks out the window as we pull onto the freeway, heading into the city.
I glance behind and see one of the police cars tailing us. “Are they going to arrest me when we get to my building?”
Jim shakes his head. “I don’t think so. No one knows where Heather McCoy is. It’s not even a bona fide missing person case, so hanging it around your neck seems to be more about publicity than anything else.”
“I can’t help but wonder why both the Las Vegas and San Francisco police were making arrests at the airport today,” I note.
“I was thinking the same thing.” Jim looks down at his phone.
When we arrive at my building, Jim’s team takes us in through the garage, and we go directly up to my apartment. It smells a little closed up, so we open the windows to get some fresh air. Jim and his team move toward the security room. I’m not sure what they’re going to do.
Before Jim goes inside, he says just above a whisper, “I need to see what’s going on with Nate. I’ll be back in a bit. Your belongings will arrive shortly, but try not to go anywhere. If you do feel the need to get out, take two members of your team with you. They’ll be in the security room and have access.”
I extend my hand to shake Jim’s.
“After I get these guys settled, I’ll check on my team at the office and be back shortly,” he says.
He disappears behind the door to the security room, and Tinsley collapses into me. She’s so strong and beautiful. I look in her big brown eyes, grateful she’s here with me. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here. For putting up with the chaos that is my life.”
Tinsley holds me tight. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
After much wrangling, Tinsley has agreed to stay here in my apartment, but I’m still nervous about my next question. “Have you decided where you want to stay? I won’t lie; I want you in my bed. I’ve grown rather fond of taking you before I go to sleep and again in the morning.” When she doesn’t respond, I add, “Or I can always sneak into a guest room, if that’s where you’d be most comfortable.”
She grins. “Your room is closer to the pool.”
Yes! I sit down on the couch and pick up the remote control. ESPN comes on, and I mute it.
“It’s weird to be without my computer,” Tinsley frets.
“It’ll be here before too long.” I smile. “I know a way to keep ourselves entertained until they arrive.”
She smiles. “Really? Maybe a little therapy?”
“How did you know?” I pat my lap. “How about you take your pants off and sit on my lap.”
“Leave the panties on?”
I nod. “For now,” I whisper.
She looks over at the door to the security room and then to the elevator.
I pick up my phone and call Dee downstairs. “Dee, I’m home. I’m expecting someone to bring our luggage. When they arrive, can you let me know? Thanks.”
Tinsley looks again at the security room door.
“Jim already told me they were going to be busy and to let him know when we need them,” I tell her. “And no going out without two people.” I give her a look. “Take your jeans off.”
“You’re so bossy.”
She unbuttons her jeans and kicks off her shoes. She’s wearing plain white cotton panties, which totally works for me.
“You like it when I’m bossy.”
“And you like it when I’m naughty.” She reaches for the hem of her Atari T-shirt and lifts her
