Her heart squeezed as she silently admitted how much she’d miss him once this was over.
Ryker kept his gaze on the road, his thoughts whirling. He didn’t like knowing he’d only have Duncan’s help for the next leg of their journey. Still, he didn’t begrudge the Callahans the need to support their spouses and children. He would do exactly the same thing if the situation was reversed.
But he’d hoped to surround Olivia and Aaron with armed men who could look after her while he worked the case.
“You really think he said the word number?”
Olivia’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Yeah, I do. Mike and Duncan agreed, especially once they learned you were an accountant.”
“But I didn’t do any accounting work for Blake-Moore.”
“I know.” It would have made things easier for them if she had. The way things stood now, she didn’t have access or any reason to be connected to Blake-Moore’s accounts.
Except through her dead husband and brother.
And what about the numbers, anyway? Why had numbers sent men searching for Olivia? Was it possible she had information she wasn’t aware of? He glanced at her. “You don’t happen to have a key to a safe-deposit box or anything in that diaper bag of yours, do you?”
She frowned. “No, of course not.”
He’d been in the bag several times and hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary. Yet he hadn’t done a full inventory of the contents, either. Something to consider once they reached their next destination.
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. This time, he was in the lead with Mike and Duncan covering his six. He was grateful to have them behind him, and knew they’d keep an eye out for anyone following them. He kept his speed about five miles per hour over the speed limit, keeping up with the rest of the traffic heading north.
This way he could set the pace, or rather, Olivia could, as she was the one who needed frequent rest stops.
As they rolled into Rockford, she gestured toward a gas station. “Would you mind pulling in?”
“No problem.” He tapped the brake, letting Mike and Duncan know that they were stopping. The SUV behind them slowed, then followed them into the gas station.
Mike pulled up to a gas pump and jumped out of the car. “May as well fill up.”
“Okay.” He pulled in behind him, then slid out from behind the wheel. “I’ll go inside with Olivia and Aaron first.”
“I’ll fill it up for you.” Duncan waved him off.
“Thanks.” He lifted Aaron out of his car seat, then followed Olivia inside. She had the diaper bag, and he wondered if he should look through it now or wait until later.
Olivia took Aaron’s hand and led him into the restroom.
Okay, later then. He stayed near the door, but positioned himself so that he could also keep an eye on the gas pumps through the window. Duncan and Mike didn’t speak, their gazes alert on the cars coming and going around them.
They were good friends and he was fortunate they’d dropped everything to come help.
“We’re much better now. Thanks.”
Olivia’s voice had him turning toward her. He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t heard her and Aaron come out. “All set?”
“I wanna toy!” Aaron hopped from one foot to the next. “Please, Mommy?”
She sighed. “No, Aaron. You can’t get a toy every time we stop to use the restroom.”
“I don’t mind—” Ryker stopped when she narrowed her gaze at him.
“No. Not now. Maybe later,” she told her son. She took Aaron’s hand in hers, but he pulled away.
“I wanna toy!” By the looks of it, the kid was gearing up for a full-blown temper tantrum.
“No.” Olivia looked tired and stressed, not that Ryker blamed her. But she ignored Aaron’s cries, took him by the hand and dragged him toward the door.
Feeling helpless, he trailed behind them. Aaron dug in his heels yanking Olivia off-balance. He swooped the boy into his arms and strode outside.
“Enough.” His stern tone surprised Aaron, and he stopped crying.
He gently set the boy in the car seat and buckled him in. The kid was still crying, but not nearly as out of control as he had been. When he glanced over at Olivia, she offered a weary smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He hated the idea of her dealing with Aaron on her own, especially in her condition.
Sweeping his gaze over the gas station, he looked for anything out of place.
Nothing. Aaron’s crying hadn’t drawn much attention, either. Guess that wasn’t unusual when it came to kids.
Yet, he felt unsettled, the back of his neck tingling with warning. It wasn’t over yet. He slid behind the wheel, eager to get back on the road. Mike and Duncan let him pull out first, then followed.
“We’ll be at the Wisconsin border soon.” He could tell by the toll station looming up ahead. “Beloit is only thirty miles from here.”
“Good, I guess.” She looked hesitant about returning to Madison as she rested her hands on her abdomen. “I’ll be sorry to see Mike go.”
“We’ll be okay.” He infused confidence in his tone. He slowed to get through the toll, then increased his speed. The roads were wide open now, without much traffic. There weren’t a lot of homes or businesses along this stretch of the highway and the prickly feeling wouldn’t leave him alone.
He plucked his phone from the console between them and called Mike.
“What’s up?” Mike’s tone was on alert.
“Let’s change the meeting spot to Delavan.”
There was a pause. “Okay, any particular reason why?”
“It’s smaller, easier to pick up a tail.” Beloit was a larger city, and he felt better about going to a smaller, contained area.
“Okay, I’ll let Miles know.” Mike hung up.
Olivia’s gaze showed her concern. “You think they’re still following us?”
“I don’t know.” And he didn’t like the feeling of being in a fishbowl, where their two SUVs could be seen for miles. “Probably not.”
She didn’t relax, but grasped the hand rest on her door like a lifeline.
Several miles had passed by, when
