“Thanks.” Claire let out a sigh and ended the call before opening her car door.
“Hey there,” Agent Alvarez called out.
Claire swung her legs out of the car, pulling her bag behind her. “Hi.”
“In a hurry, Miss Cooke?” Agent McCoy asked, crossing his arms.
She wanted to be careful with her replies. “It’s a busy time for me, Agent McCoy.”
He smiled, following her to the front door. “We won’t take up much of your day. Do you mind if we have a chat?”
Claire was just about to unlock the door. She stopped herself, putting her keys back into her purse. “Sure. What can I do for you?”
Agent Alvarez flashed a smile at her. “How about we go inside and have a seat?”
Aha.Claire had spent far too many years working with lawyers to fall for that one. All the agents needed was to catch a glimpse of something suspicious inside the cabin and they’d be able to get a warrant to do a search. She was not interested in that. “Let’s not,” she said. “It’s a mess in there.”
Agent McCoy took a step closer. “We don’t mind.”
“We can stay out here and chat,” she said with a smile.
The smile faded from Agent McCoy’s face. “I’m getting worried about you, Miss Cooke.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. He didn’t look worried. He looked scary. She wondered what he had on her. Not enough to get a warrant. At least, not yet.
“Why is that?” she asked.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Because I know you’re keeping a secret. I know it’s weighing on you.”
She frowned. This guy would be a great psychic. He was quite convincing. “I don’t think you know much about me, Agent McCoy.”
“Oh, I think I do.” He took a step closer. “This is the last chance I can give you. Talk to us now. Let us help you. Don’t let yourself be duped by a con man.”
Claire was only inches away from him, studying the lines in his face. He was older than his partner. Surely he’d seen a lot. She appreciated that he was convinced she was in trouble.
If only she could tell him the truth.
If only he’d believe it.
Agent Alvarez cleared his throat. “Please, Claire. We want to help.”
He was looking at her much more sympathetically. It didn’t seem like an act to Claire. He seemed like a sweet guy.
She gave him a half smile in return. “Like I said before, I will contact you if there’s anything I can do to help you.”
“Tell me, Claire,” Agent Alvarez said in a low voice. “Are you in danger?”
Oh, bless him. She shook her head. “I am not. Thank you, gentlemen, but I have to run.”
As much as she didn’t approve of Lucy’s plan – or being left out of it – Claire was now quite thankful for her quick thinking.
She smiled at them both before slipping into the darkness of the cabin.
