“You sound rattled.”
To say the least. “Don’t worry about me. Just keep your ear to the ground.”
“What’s your next move?”
Del sighed. “I’ll have to try calling Eric again. I tried while I was heading out east. Somehow, I’ll have to explain that I hid part of my evidence on a flash drive and stashed it at his house.”
She hoped that conversation didn’t go badly. They’d managed some civil conversations since their divorce. If he had a new girlfriend and was getting laid, he enjoyed rubbing it in her face. If he wasn’t, well, Eric had proven during the divorce that he was fabulous at serving up a cocktail of acid and guilt. She’d known when she hid the flash drive at his house that she’d have to retrieve it sooner or later. She’d simply hoped that time would continue healing him, and they’d be on better speaking terms.
“Keep me posted. I think he’s been out of town. Newspapers are stacked in front of his house, at least when I drove by there on my way to work this morning to check for you.”
Maybe that explained why he hadn’t been answering when she called the house. At least she hoped that was all. She had to get back in the little Craftsman quickly. She’d simply sneak in again, but with everything going on, Eric had a right to know that someone might hit his house. But she also had to keep him and Tyler from coming to blows. Hmm. Maybe she should meet Eric by herself . . .
“Please let me know if you hear anything else.”
Lisa agreed, and they hung up.
And Del saw her future teetering on extinction. So much was riding on these next few days, her ability to navigate Eric, get this story written, and dodge killers. She thanked God that Seth was safe and away from the danger, but every moment she couldn’t talk to him, she worried something terrible was happening to him. If someone hurt him because of her . . . Guilt choked her.
Tears began to flow. God, she hated being weepy, but fear did that to her.
Del wished she could undo the day she’d confronted Carlson with everything she knew. She’d wanted to provoke him into admitting something. Be a hard-hitting investigative journalist. She’d been determined to show the world what ruthless scum he was.
Naïvely, she hadn’t counted on him being this violent, and now she and Seth might pay with their lives.
***
TYLER emerged from the bathroom to see her set her phone aside. Then she dropped her face to her hands. Her shoulders shook with sobs. She was dead silent. Her pain was a blow to his gut.
“What’s wrong, angel? Is Seth all right?” He put a hand on her shoulder.
She jumped up and pressed a hand to her chest, quickly wiping away her tears. “He’s fine. It’s just that . . .”
Del stopped talking, her gaze grazing his face, then moving down his chest. The air conditioner kicked in, and he felt the rivulets of water cold on his skin. Once more, her gaze dropped to the little white towel wrapped around his hips. In the next instant, her cheeks flushed rosy. Her lips parted breathlessly.
His c**k stood at attention. If she liked what she saw, Tyler wasn’t above using that to his advantage, but not until she calmed down.
“Don’t look at me like that, angel, unless you want me to accept that unspoken invitation and take you to bed. I’m trying to be a good guy here and find out why you’re upset.”
Del looked away, cleared her throat. “I was just talking to an investigative reporter I work with, Lisa. She helped me find you. She’s been keeping an eye on the situation in L.A. while I’ve been gone.”
Tyler stared. What the hell was she thinking? He didn’t want to yell and upset her more, but damn it. “Did you tell her where we are?”
“No, just that we’d be there tomorrow.”
Tyler breathed, trying to calm himself. “I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t like this. I know nothing about this woman.”
Del turned imploring eyes on him. “She’s my friend, I promise. You asked me to trust your friends. Now I’m asking for the same.”
“We should have discussed this first.”
“I’m trying my best.” The angry tears that stabbed her eyes only made him wince with pain. “There wasn’t time. At the end of the day, it’s my problem. And now we have a bigger issue. Carlson is about to be named district attorney.” She explained everything Lisa had divulged. “If I can’t take him down before that happens, he’s going to find a way to shut me up for good.”
Tyler wrapped his arms around her and dragged her against his chest. “I won’t let that happen. Do you hear me?”
“He’s got contacts everywhere and—” Tears overcame her again, and she swiped at them angrily.
“Aw, angel, don’t cry.” He brushed a tender hand down her hair, kissing the top of her head.