The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

“I joined the Air Force.” There was a brief pause, then, “I was a PJ—a pararescue jumper.”

Her eyes widened. “You jumped out of the planes.” It wasn’t the jumping out that was the danger—it was what he jumped into that could be so terrifying.

“I did my job,” Cooper said simply.

Talk about a major understatement. She’d read reports on PJs before. Those guys jumped into infernos, into war zones and even into the paths of hurricanes.

She rocked back on her heels. “No wonder you were used to the adrenaline rushes.”

“Told you,” he said as his eyes glinted, “I’ve got plenty of experience with them.”

“Why’d you give it up?” Gabrielle asked him. “What made you turn away from that life?”

“Because I got a better offer.” He shrugged, as if the change didn’t matter. “I get to make my rules now, and I’m still helping people.”

She smiled at him. “Yes, you are.” She headed for the door. “Johnny gave us a real lead in there.” They cleared the guard areas and headed back outside. “I already know that Van McAdams was in the military.”

“How are you so sure?”

The sun glared down on them in the parking lot as they paused near his motorcycle.

“The killer sliced his neck open.” She pulled in a deep breath. “And he sliced through the dog tags that were around Van’s throat. I saw the dog tags in the blood near him.” She gave a firm nod. “That’s two men dead, both men who were in the military—”

“Plenty of people were in the military.” He didn’t seem to be jumping on board with her idea.

Maybe he needed more of a push. Shading her eyes, she told him, “I want to find out what, where and when they served. If Lockwood and McAdams were together, if they knew each other...that could lead us to the killer.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance. A storm would be hitting that night. But that still left them with plenty of time to follow up on more leads.

“We’re getting closer,” Gabrielle whispered. “I can feel it. I—” She broke off when her phone began to ring. Gabrielle yanked it out of her bag and she frowned when she saw Blocked on the caller ID.

“Is it Carmichael?” Cooper asked as he pressed closer. “Has he found something new?”

She swiped her finger across the screen so she could take the call. “Harper,” she said.

“He’s not who you think...” The voice was low, rasping, and she had to strain to hear the words.

Gabrielle put her hand over her left ear, trying to drown out the noise from the lot and the street as she focused on the call. “I can’t hear you—say that again.”

“Cooper Marshall isn’t who you think...” The voice was still low, still rasping, as if the caller were trying to disguise his voice.

But this time, she clearly understood his words. Her gaze flew to Cooper. He frowned back at her.

“He’s right there, in front of you, and he’s lying to you.” A rough laugh. “Lying right to your face.”

Her stare slid away from Cooper and she scanned the lot. “You’re watching me.”

More laughter. “You interest me. You shouldn’t have even been in the game, yet here you are, leading the race.”

“I didn’t realize we were playing a game.” There was no accent to his voice, at least, not one that she could detect.

“Of course, winner kills all—”

Fear had her voice cracking as she said, “People’s lives aren’t part of a game!” Then she mouthed It’s him to Cooper.

Cooper immediately tried to reach for the phone, but she backed away from him.

“Good, good,” the voice in her ear praised her. “Don’t let him get too close. That’s what he’s trying to do. Get close to you. Lie to you. Use you.”