Decker made his way to another chair and sat on the edge. “Sorry, boss, still nothing.”
Austin flung a hand out to the side. “What the fuck? They had to believe they’d get something out of taking Bella to go to those lengths.” He lowered his voice, and Everly closed her eyes so she could focus on hearing his words. “You backtracked over Everly’s information? She was in some shitty places. Maybe someone assumed she had money because she was American.”
“No one claims to have had a problem with her. She hasn’t gotten funds from anywhere but her employers. She doesn’t have money stashed anywhere. And Bella’s not even her kid. I can’t see how Everly could be the cause.”
Even though she knew she wasn’t the cause, a knot in her stomach still released with Decker’s conclusion. She hated the thought of anyone believing she could use or hurt a child.
“And still nothing on Seaver?”
“No unusual or large payments out of her bank account or her husband’s. Ty is tapping into her husband’s busine
sses.”
The men went quiet for a couple of long minutes.
Finally, Austin said, “Put two more guys on duty, round the clock.”
“Done,” Decker said before getting up and going back inside.
Austin stood again but just crossed his arms and stared at the pool.
Everly closed the window and picked up the television remote. She turned on the TV and flipped to a random news channel to have a distraction, but muted the sound so she could hear what was happening in the house. Then she flipped on the bedside lamp and pulled out her sketchbook. She turned to her latest image, a sketch from the memory of Austin and Bella at the party before everything went to shit.
She added a little color to Bella’s dress and Austin’s suit jacket. Everly thought about their lives after she left. After Austin had been cleared, and he and Bella went on without her. Wondered if he’d find a nanny to adequately keep Bella safe. Thought of him meeting a woman he could love. Bringing her into his home, into Bella’s life.
Everly closed her eyes on a hard exhale. They didn’t belong to her. And she would have to leave soon. She’d dreaded this assignment when she’d gotten it. Now she dreaded walking away.
She pulled her pencil back and swore when she saw she’d pushed too hard and added too much color. “Dammit.”
She worked the eraser across the paper, pulling away some color and leaving a nice faded effect. But she still felt a little sick to her stomach.
A barely audible knock sounded on her door. She looked up, wondering if she’d heard it or imagined it. The door opened a foot, and Austin peered around the edge.
“Sorry,” he said, hushed. “I saw the light. Can we talk a minute?”
Her heart jumped. Her stomach ached. She tried not to show her eagerness. She should cultivate some distance now. It was the perfect time. But knowing that didn’t keep her from wanting to feel his arms around her again. To taste the passion of his kiss.
“Sure.” She collected her pencils and set them on the floor. She started to close the book, but he crossed the room and reached for it.
“Mind if I look?” He waited, hand outstretched.
When she shrugged, he took the book and turned to take a seat next to her on the bed. His gaze roamed the sketch, and the spark of awe in his expression secretly thrilled her.
He might have been enthralled in the sketch, but Everly couldn’t ignore the sudden ache to reconnect with him. To feel all he’d made her feel the night before—beautiful, sexy, extraordinary, smart. Cherished. Everly had never felt more adored or desired than she had in Austin’s arms.
“This was last night,” he said.
“Yeah.”
He looked at her “Did you take a picture?”
“No.” She smiled a little. “It’s just a memory.” To get him out of the room before she threw herself at him, she asked, “What’s up?”
He heaved a sigh and closed the book. His smile faded, and concern etched his features, making him look so tired. “We can’t find the source of the attacks.” His tone was deeply troubled. Far more revealing than he’d been with Decker. He shook his head. “And you’re right. This is no way for a little girl to live.”
She bit the inside of her lip. She’d said those words in anger and fear. Yes, they’d been true. Yes, she’d meant them. But she could see now how much they’d burdened him as well.
He tilted the book in his hands back and forth with nervous energy. “I honestly don’t know what to do. At this point, for Bella’s sake, I would contact her grandmother to make peace if I thought it would work. There’s so much water under the bridge. And I don’t trust her. Not to take care of Bella, not to keep her father away from Bella. And given what she’s done in the past, put Bella at risk by sending these teams, I don’t believe she has Bella’s best interest at heart.”