The Girl Next Door (Shadow Agents 6)

Like she was going to believe a killer.

“He’s not who you think...don’t trust the wrong man. Doing that will just get you killed.”

Then the line went dead.

For a moment, she didn’t move at all. Where is he?

“Gabrielle?” Cooper touched her arm.

She flinched. “He’s here. He’s watching us.” She spun around, her gaze searching all around the area.

Cooper took the phone from her. He tried to do a call return.

“You can’t,” she said, her eyes still scanning the area. “He blocked the call.”

Cooper pulled her back toward the shelter of the building. Cars were in front of them. The heavy stone of the building behind them. As far as protection went, it sure seemed like a good spot to her.

Cooper put his phone to his ear. A few seconds later, he said, “Rachel, the SOB just called Gabrielle. See if...if Sydney,” he said as his gaze fell away from Gabrielle’s, “can hack into the system and find him.”

She figured Sydney must be another one of his useful friends. Those friends were sure coming in handy.

“She says that he’s watching us,” Cooper continued. “We’re at the DOC. Yeah, yeah, I want a search.”

A search for the killer sounded like an excellent plan to her.

“I’m going now. I’m sending Gabrielle back in with the guards.”

Whoa, he was benching her?

He ended the call and secured the phone back in his pocket. His stare leveled on her. “Get inside. Stay there until I come for you.”

“While you face him alone?” That sounded like a horrible plan.

His smile was grim. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve got this.”

He was cold and deadly and he didn’t show even a hint of fear.

He’s not who you think.

“Get inside,” Cooper ordered her.

Now she knew why he seemed to be so good at giving orders. That was the military in him, coming out.

Only she wasn’t so good at following orders. Especially in a partnership. “I’ll call Carmichael.”

His jaw hardened. “Do what you need to do.”

Uh, calling the cops counted as doing what she needed to do.

“I have to know that you’re safe, Gabrielle, or I can’t look for him. Every minute we waste...he could be getting away.”

She managed a nod, but she sure wasn’t happy about him racing out alone. Then she was inside and he just—gone in an instant. She glanced around, looking through the window, but she could find no trace of him.

A chill settled over her as she kept staring outside.

Don’t trust the wrong man. Doing that will just get you killed.

She didn’t plan on dying.