She grasped at straws. “Couldn’t they have hired someone to do it?”
Shane’s answer didn’t surprise her. “Highly doubtful. For one, it’s not like the haul was enough to split with someone else, and there was a high level of emotion there. A thief is going to get in and get out. They won’t take the time to unleash a mega temper tantrum.”
Neve bit her thumbnail.
Shane braced his arm above her head. “Have you given any more thought as to who it might be?”
She looked up at him. “What about a jealous lover from Reece’s past who’s not happy about his and my … who’s not happy and decided to get revenge?”
Even in the murky hallway, the skepticism in his eyes was noticeable. “I don’t know of any lovers from his past.”
She mustered skepticism of her own. “Do you know everything about his past?”
“No, but we’ve been best friends a long time, and I’d know if he was seeing someone—especially someone with aFatal Attractiontendency. The revenge play doesn’t make sense.”
So Shanedidn’tknow about Chelsea. Neve tucked that little factoid away.
“Besides,” he continued, “you were targetedbeforethe Vegas trip.”
“Thank you for saying that so tactfully.”
He grinned down at her. “Anytime, Doc.”
“Hey, what’s going on back here?” Reece’s voice was low, curious, but the edges held some sharpness.
Shane pulled back and glanced over his shoulder. “Just bringing Neve up-to-date on some of our latest findings.”
Reece took cautious steps toward them. “Such as?”
“I’ll let her fill you in.” He smacked Reece’s arm and ambled back to the party.
Reece got right into her personal bubble. “So?”
She shot him a look. “Isn’tGermainelooking for you?”
“Possibly, but I don’t want her finding me. Where did you leave things with Leo?”
She tilted her head. “Are we doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Acting jealous?”
“I can only speak for myself, and yeah, I definitely thought Cantrell had no business standing that close to you. I didn’t particularly like Shane hovering over you either.”
A burst of happy bubbles fizzed in her chest. “He wasn’t hovering.”
Reece trailed a fingertip along her jawline. “You gonna tell me what Deputy Dawg had to say?”
She filled him in on the news about Lauren and Jimmy Culbertson.
“You sound disappointed. I would’ve thought you’d be pleased it wasn’t Lauren.”
“It’s not so much that I wanted Lauren or Cully to be the ones responsible. It’s more that I want to know who’s doing this.” The specter of someone out there watching, waiting, and hating unsettled her to themarrow of her bones. Better to know your enemy and see them coming than having to look around every corner, anticipating the next blow.
He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “As long as I’m around, no one’s getting to you.”
“As long as I’m around.”
