burned in the past for issuing trust too quickly. I’d rather sidestep another scold.
“Have you just landed?”
A plane taking off almost drowns out her reply, “Yeah, I’m sliding into the back of a cab as we speak. Where do you want to meet?”
My first thought is at HQ. However, if Phillipa bumps into Theresa, things could get mighty uncomfortable remarkably fast. “Can you come to my apartment? I have a heap of time off in lieu to take.”
“All right.” I could be wrong, but I swear a touch of excitement is dangling off Phillipa’s vocal cords. “I should be there in around thirty. Will that work for you?”
“Thirty works. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“See you then.”
When she disconnects our call, I slide my phone into my pocket before entering the hub of HQ. I’m not surprised to see Isabelle is packing her desk. An unpaid suspension is the Bureau’s go-to punishment when an agent goes rogue. It’s a penalty I’ve been handed twice in my almost five-year career.
Isabelle startles when I offer to walk her out. She was too busy returning Theresa’s glare to notice my approach. After a final snarl, she devotes her attention to me. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want you thrown under the bus with me.”
I shoo away her worry as if it’s a fly. “I don’t care what they think. You’re my friend, Izzy, and until proven guilty, which will never happen, I’ll have your back.” There’s no doubt in my mind she’s in a physical relationship with our target, but that doesn’t mean she should be thrown in jail on false charges. The angle Theresa is working is weak at best, and I’m more than willing to show her just how pathetic it is.
Isabelle bumps me with her hip. “Thanks, Brandon.”
Once she slides her pistol into her satchel and her phone into the pocket of her trousers, she shadows my solemn walk out of HQ. I kind of feel bad. If I had stopped jumping between our team’s investigation and the numerous personal ones I’m undertaking, perhaps I could have avoided this. I kissed Isabelle with the hope Isaac would react. It worked, and I can’t help but wonder just how effective it was. Jealousy is as potent as attraction when it’s handed to the wrong person.
The constant drone of tires rolling over asphalt filters into my ears when we step onto the sidewalk at the front of HQ. Isabelle squints when the midday sun breaks through the handful of high-rise buildings surrounding us before she curls her arms around my neck.
“Thanks for your help,” she whispers into my ear, her tone forlorn.
Understanding her struggle, I return her hug with just as much eagerness. “Fly under the radar, Izzy. Once I have any information, I’ll bring it straight to you.”
She sighs into my neck before inching back. “I will. And thank you again.” Her lips tug into a grin before she says, “See you around?”
I nudge her with my hip as she did to me earlier. “You’ll be back here filing before you know it.”
My jest has the effect I’m aiming for. She doesn’t smile a full-toothed grin, but it’s pretty darn close. “Don’t forget the coffees. God forbid Alex would have to fetch his own cup.”
She takes in my laugh for a few seconds before spinning on her heels and sauntering down the sidewalk. I keep my eyes locked on her back until she disappears around the corner, then just as quickly, I race to my car, firing off an email to Alex about how I got a stomach bug on my way.
26
Brandon
With traffic shit, Phillipa is waiting for me outside of my apartment block when I pull into the loading bay fifty-five minutes later. She leaps up from the three stairs that lead into my overpriced crash pad before walking my way. “You’ll be towed within an hour if you park there.”
“Pay a tow fee of one hundred dollars or an exorbitant parking garage fee that’s almost three times that price.” I twist my lips. “I’m willing to take a risk.”
She laughs before rolling her eyes that are circled by dark rings. Even being on suspension hasn’t seen her catching up on sleep the past three nights. We usually talk until around two in the morning, then we’re back at it again before seven.
“Did you rewire the sliding door’s alarm before you left?”
Phillipa shadows me into the foyer of my building before shaking her head.
“Why not? I don’t know