sheâd had coffee with Daniel. And she wanted to know if he knew anything about Axleâs case. Talking with him in a public place would be better than him coming to the house. From what she knew about Ranger Daniel Riley, their conversation a couple of days ago wouldnât be their last. She got the feeling he would keep visiting her until he got what he was after and that worried her a lot. The intruderâs warning about the police resounded in her mind.
âSure. I have a little time before I need to be home.â
Daniel smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. âThatâs great.â
His expression caused her heartbeat to increase. What would it feel like to have a normal life?
As she stepped up to the elevator, Daniel reached around her and punched the down button. Her stomach clenched at his nearness. A whiff of his fresh aftershave swirled around her. What she knew of him made her wish theyâd met under different circumstances. For just a moment, she felt safe in his presenceâa feeling she hadnât experienced in years.
Theyâd once moved in the same social circles, although Daniel hadnât attended many functions in the past five or six years. Rumor had it that he and his father, who died last year, had a falling out about his job in law enforcement. Was that what was behind the hurt and pain in his expression earlier?
The ding of the elevator pulled her away from her thoughts. She needed to keep her wits about her. She couldnât let him know what was going on and risk something happening to her daughter or uncle.
Inside the Java Hut, Melora ordered a chai latte while Daniel got a cup of black coffee. She sat at a table for four and decided it wasnât big enough. He was too close. Too commanding. Too appealing. Those thoughts stunned her. It had to be her exhaustion talking, what with the identification of Axleâs body, his funeral, the break-in and new threats.
âWill the Rangers be able to secure the celebration?â she asked after taking a sip of her drink.
âWeâll have to. We have no choice now. While the secret service will guard the vice president, our main concern will be the governor and lieutenant governor.â He set his mug on the placemat before him. âIâm glad youâre here. I was going to pay you a visit to let you know about the progress on the break-in.â
The mention of the intruder stiffened her spine. She gripped her cup, relishing the warmth on her cold fingers. âYou found him?â
âNo, but we think Alicia Wells was the one responsible for giving him a key and the code.â
âNot Alicia. Sheâs worked for me since I married Axle six years ago. Sheâs never given me a reason to doubt her loyalty.â
âWell, sheâs gone. Her bank account was closed two days ago. She deposited several thousand dollars late last week into it. Do you know any reason she would be putting that kind of money into her account? From the looks of her apartment, I didnât get the impression she had a lot of money.â
âShe works hard, but sheâs had some problems with her two kids.â
âDo you know where they live?â
âShe told me her son, Nate, was going to move to Dallas. He should have by now. Her daughter lives in San Diego.She was getting married, and Alicia didnât like the man. She said he was trouble.â
âWhatâs his name? The daughterâs?â Daniel pulled out his notepad.
Seeing him write something on the paper, Melora glimpsed the patrons in the café. Two others were in the restaurant and had been there since they had come in. The coupleâs attention remained on each other. âPedro something. I donât know his last name. Her daughter is Bella. You think Alicia went to one of her children?â
âPossibly. I need to check everything out.â
âIt was just a break-inânothing taken,â Melora