Wolf Tracks - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,6

and she hoped they might stop for a bite, but she’d do whatever the others decided. She was just along for the ride.

They parked in a row, next to another vehicle. Helen was aware that Jim positioned his pickup on the far side of the other car. Martin had parked between the other car and the diner. Helen’s car was next to Martin’s, adding another layer of obstruction between the diner windows and the car in the middle of the two trucks.

She got out of her car and stretched her legs. Martin helped Lisa and Melissa out of the pickup. By the time the family was standing in the parking lot, Jim had joined them all.

“That car is the one Buford left in. He dumped it here. I didn’t touch it, preserving it so you could search for evidence, but I did pick up his scent trail and followed it back to the highway for a bit. He got a rental car at the lot just down the street and then went back to the highway. The trail goes cold at that point. At least for me,” Martin admitted with a grimace. “I was thinking maybe you might find something in the car that would give you fresh sign.”

“Good call. Why don’t you all head into the diner while I take a gander at the car?” Jim suggested.

“Yeah, it’s about lunchtime anyway, and we could use a pit stop,” Martin agreed. He turned to his little family and shepherded them toward the door of the diner.

Helen hesitated a moment. “Shall I order food for you?” she asked Jim.

He seemed surprised by her offer. “I’d really appreciate that,” he told her. “Roast turkey on rye, if they have it. No mustard. No mayo. Extra tomatoes. And fries. And a big glass of O.J. Maybe a slice of apple pie?”

“No problem,” she told him with a smile, pleased to be able to do this little kindness for him. “It’ll be waiting when you finish.”

He paused to meet her gaze, a spark of blue-green making her want to catch her breath. “Thanks, Helen.”

She nodded and turned away, unable to form words. She practically skipped into the diner, her emotions running so hot and…weird. Jim’s simplest words made her feel all fluttery. Like some kind of teenager mooning over a heartthrob. She really had to get a grip.

Helen sat at the large table with the others, keeping a surreptitious eye on the parking lot to see if she could figure out what Jim was doing. Whatever it was, he was better at stealthy maneuvering than she would have credited. How did a big guy like Jim manage to keep such a low profile? It boggled the mind.

“Don’t expect to see too much,” Martin told her quietly, his eyes twinkling with amusement when she met his gaze. “That boy’s a former Navy SEAL, and he’s got a direct line to one of the legends of the Spec Ops community. I bet he knows more about stealth than just about anyone, other than his Uncle Arch.” Martin looked past her, out the window. “Look, here he comes now. Boy doesn’t give much away, but I’d bet he found something.”

“What makes you say that?” Helen turned to watch Jim’s long-legged amble into the diner.

“Because if he hadn’t, he’d still be out there looking.” Martin winked at her as he grinned. “That boy’s no quitter.”

Jim had no sooner sat down at the table with the others when the waitress came out with a large tray, delivering the plates heaped with food to everyone. Jim winked at Helen when the turkey sandwich he’d asked for was deposited in front of him, sending her a smile of thanks that nearly melted her bones. He really was the most attractive man she’d ever met.

There was just something about him that drew her like a moth to a flame. He was probably just as dangerous to her gentle soul as that fire was to a moth’s tender wings, but she couldn’t help herself. The longer she was around him, the more she felt this uncanny pull to be near him…always.

Conversation halted until the waitress left, but once they all had their food, they were able to talk, as long as they kept their voices low. Lisa was doting on her daughter, but Martin looked keen to find out what Jim had learned. As was Helen.

“This was stuck in a little crevice behind the door panel,” Jim said, handing something over to Martin.

“Well,