Flirting with Disaster (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 2)

“You’re so fucked,” Gates said, that infuriating smile in place again. “You won’t have a damn pension when I’m done with you, much less a job.”

“Do your worst. Just get out of my fucking courthouse before I have one of these fine officers assist you.”

Gates glanced back and seemed surprised to find a couple of uniforms standing right behind him. “Christ, Duncan. I hope that pussy was worth it.”

“Get the hell out,” Tom growled.

Gates left, pulling his cell phone from his pocket in a deliberate movement as he headed for the front doors of the courthouse, making clear he was going to follow through on his threat to get Tom in trouble.

Tom had notified Mary just before he’d cuffed Isabelle, and while they’d waited for a ride, Tom had called his chief to ask for a little leeway on a case. “She’s a witness in a federal fugitive case, and the FBI agent in charge of the case isn’t going to like this, but I don’t like him.” His chief had seemed unconcerned. Tom had a damn near perfect record, and he and his superior had shared more than a few late-night beers together. But once the wheels of the FBI started rolling over them, Tom wasn’t sure just how much leeway he would get.

Gates was right about one thing. Tom’s job was on the line, but he wasn’t walking away from Isabelle no matter what she thought.

Mary frowned as she approached across the lobby. “How’s your savior complex coming?”

“You’re funny.”

“You do have a tendency to date women who are a...bit of a mess.”

“That was a long time ago, and Isabelle isn’t a mess,” he said. “She needs help.”

“Semantics.”

He stiffened. “You don’t have to be involved in this if you don’t want to be.”

“That’s not what I said. Has she told you anything?”

“She’s not speaking to me.”

Mary raised one eyebrow. “What exactly is this going to accomplish, then?”

“It keeps Gates away from her for another day.”

“And then?”

“Then I help her get away,” he said.

“Jesus, Tom,” she breathed. “Have you considered that she might just be delusional?”

“The whole damn case is about dirty cops, and along comes Agent Gates, asshole extraordinaire. You really think he’s the one good guy in the scenario?”

“Well, shit. When you put it that way...”

Tom rolled his tense shoulders, but they felt only tighter after. “The judge is settled?”

“Everything is under control,” Mary said. “Proceedings begin in forty-five.”

“Do you have a minute to take a look at the Pozniak file? I’d love your take.”

“I’m on it,” she said, already moving away.

Tom stepped back into the meeting room, half expecting to find the heavy conference table overturned and the window open, but no. Isabelle was there, staring straight ahead, hands flat on the table.

“I’ll take the cuffs off if you promise not to run.”

“Do whatever you want,” she said, refusing to look at him.

“I’m trying to help you, Isabelle.”