Chances Are - By Christy Reece Page 0,53
couldn’t take his eyes off a toy helicopter. She had a feeling they’d both be making a purchase today.
It didn’t take long to determine that the train set was indeed the perfect gift for Micah. Before she made the purchase, she caught sight of a dollhouse that would put a big smile on Evie McCall’s sweet little face.
Taking out her wallet, she handed the clerk her credit card. “I’d like to have these shipped to my home in Paris.”
The clerk took down her information, promising delivery within the next week. Pleased with her purchases, Angela turned just in time to see Jake buying two helicopters. “Two?” she asked.
Looking younger than she’d ever seen him, he winked mischievously. “Feel like a little friendly competition in the park?”
Delighted at the idea, she accepted the challenge. “You’re on.”
They left the toy store the same way they’d entered, like two carefree children eager to continue their fun, never knowing that a killer watched and waited, just as eager for his chance to destroy.
Chapter Fifteen
Four days later
LCR Headquarters
Paris
In thirty-six years of living, Noah had made his share of mistakes. Most times he took his knocks, cursing and growling the whole time. Being married to Samara had helped temper his responses. She teased him that he was mellowing but he preferred to think he’d grown wiser.
But even Mara couldn’t help him put a better spin on this mistake. Neither of them had seen it coming. He wanted to hit something or someone—mostly himself. He shouldn’t have put Angela on this op. For a new LCR operative, handling a serial killer case would be daunting. Coupled with the grief she was still experiencing, it was no wonder this had been a major bust. He had allowed her enthusiasm to override his usual caution. And now she was paying the price for his screw-up.
He had given her a few days off to think it over before she came in to see him, hoping the downtime would give her the distance she needed. Angela had a tendency toward impulsiveness. If she had simply made a rash decision about quitting, he wanted to give her plenty of time to reconsider. From the look on her face as she sat across from him, her decision was neither impulsive nor ill-considered. She no longer wanted to be an operative.
“Stop looking like that, Noah. You did nothing wrong.”
“Hell yeah, I did something wrong. I shouldn’t have put you on the op. You weren’t ready.”
“You don’t understand. I’ll never be ready. I proved that. At the first whiff of danger, I panicked.”
“You just need more training to deal with that. I’ve seen plenty of operatives overreact.”
She raised a questioning brow. “In the middle of a job?”
“No, and that’s the issue. You need to learn how to stay in control at all times. Fright is a natural occurrence when one is threatened. You can learn to control your response. I can—”
She shook her head. “No, I appreciate the words but if it’s all the same with you, I’d like to go back to my old job. That is, if you still want to keep me as an employee.”
“Dammit, stop talking like that. Of course I want you as an employee. I’m just infuriated that you’ve lost your confidence.”
Her mouth curved with her same jaunty smile but solemn sadness remained in her eyes. “I’m still as cocky and confident as ever. The only difference is I know what I can and can’t do. It was a good lesson learned. I’m just sorry the bastard is still out there and I did nothing but hinder the case.”
“You haven’t hindered anything.”
“How about everyone else? Any news from Eden, Shea, Sabrina or Riley?”
“No bites so far but we’re not even two weeks into the mission. Fishing expeditions like these usually take a lot longer.”
“I just hope something happens before he can take another victim.”
“Jake didn’t tell you? There’s another woman missing.”
“No, I guess he figured since I was out of the op, I didn’t need to know.”
“She’s different from the others, in looks and profession. But she’s been missing for several days and a dozen red roses were found in her apartment.”
“Do they think he’s changing his preferences?”
“Or expanding them. Hard to say until we know more.”
“Or until he takes another one.”
Noah shrugged. “That too.”
“I wish I could have helped.”
“We’ll find him.” Switching gears, he asked, “How did things go with Jake? You two get along okay?”
The flicker in her eyes gave him the answer. Something had happened between