Page 20 of Defending Love
“The pepper spray. I hoped you’d have it at the ready.”
“Yeah, Becky almost got a taste.”
Eli chuckled as he turned the SUV around.
“Tell me about the reporters,” I said.
“They’re fishing for information. I didn’t say a word to them.”
“Did any of them look suspicious?” I asked. “Was it overkill to whisk me out the back door?”
“At this moment, nothing is overkill,” Eli said as he steered the SUV around to the front driveway of the rehab facility. The grounds near the front doors were still filled with people with microphones. I saw a TV crew from WFTV News 9 filming. “I don’t trust any of them.”
My pulse kicked up as I briefly scanned the crowd. “I hate living like this.”
“You can hate it, Dani.” His sunglass-shielded stare shifted to the rearview mirror. “You just need to keep living.”
I laid my head back against the seat, trying to make sense of my thoughts as Eli navigated the Florida area traffic. Within the Villages, the large black SUV stood out among the vast number of golf carts as we pulled up to Mom’s villa.
Once we were parked in Mom’s driveway, Eli spoke, “Let me do an inside sweep, and then I’ll come to get you.”
My nostrils flared as I nodded. In only a few weeks, I’d grown fatigued of the routine that showed no signs of stopping soon. When Eli got out of the driver’s seat, he left the engine and air conditioning running.
I watched as Eli entered the villa. A short time later, he returned, turned off the vehicle, and escorted me to the front door.
Inside, the absence of my father caused my steps to stutter.
“Dani?”
I inhaled, refusing to discuss my feelings. “I’m fine. Let me look for the things on Mom’s list.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded.
While I searched to fulfill Mom’s requests, Eli walked room to room, surveying every outlet, corner, and picture frame. Next, he sat down at their computer and inserted the same thumb drive he had on my laptop. I filled a beach bag with various items, opening drawers and going through their closet.
The sight of Dad’s clothes within their closet returned the lump to my throat. His golf bag was next to Mom’s in the garage along with their bikes and golf cart. Running my finger over the bicycle handlebars, I remembered how hard Dad had worked to regain his health after his heart attacks. It was then that I thought about their dog.
I hurried back into the house. “I should go next door and check on Hoosier.”
Eli’s gaze went from the computer screen to me. “What’s a Hoosier?”
“A person from Indiana. It’s also the name of Mom and Dad’s dog.” The villa seems too empty without Mom, Dad, and that little dog.”
“You said the dog’s next door?”
“When we came down right after the shooting, I made arrangements with Carol next door. She was happy to help.” I narrowed my eyes at Eli who was scanning the monitor of my parents’ computer. “You don’t think Jack or any of the other people assigned to this case would have already checked their electronics?”
His lips quirked up in a lopsided grin. “I prefer to do things myself. That way I know they’re done right.”
“Did you find the same virus you found on my things?”
“According to Ben, it was already found.”
“While we’re alone… tell me what it does?”
He shook his head.
“Why?”
