anything while you’re on duty.”
Linc harrumphed. “It takes a lot out of you to evade the police, huh?”
“Dodging you wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”
“They why did you do it?”
“Frustration, I guess. I got tired of being treated like a criminal and decided to rebel a little.”
“Not a good idea.”
She sighed again, this time more loudly. “Yeah. It seemed kind of okay at the time. At least until the shooting.”
Pacing her by shortening his strides, Linc remained silent and waited to see if she’d confess more. Instead, she gave him a cynical glance and said, “I really goofed. I liked it better when you and your cohorts were hiding and just shadowing me.”
“You may have seen us once or twice, but most of the time we were out of sight.”
She laughed.
Linc was not amused. “Are you insinuating you knew we were keeping you under constant surveillance?”
“Absolutely. For one thing, the fact that I was being watched made me edgy, made my senses tingle the way a hare reacts to a hungry coyote.” Pausing, she blushed. “Why do you think I started keeping my blinds closed?”
“Because you were hiding something.”
“Yeah, my private life.”
“We watched the doors for signs of your brother. We weren’t peeking in your windows.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. You don’t have a very high opinion of our Security Forces, do you?”
They had reached Zoe’s four-story apartment building. She stopped at the foot of the concrete walkway to answer. “I think the police, both civilian and military, do an amazing job keeping order and tracking down criminals. What I don’t like is being considered one of the bad guys.”
Linc had to admit she had a point. Assuming she was innocent, of course. He nodded in tacit agreement. “I get that. I do. But suppose you were positive a student pilot was unstable. Would you allow him or her to fly or would you wash them out?”
She made a face. “I’ve washed out more than one.”
“Because that’s your job as a flight instructor.”
“Yes.”
“Then bear with me here,” Linc said. “Watching you for clues to finding your brother, Boyd, is my job. Even if you haven’t been helping him since he escaped from prison, you can’t be certain he won’t show up looking for you. We know he or someone mimicking him has been on base or we wouldn’t have had threats and killings identified by red roses and predictable notes.”
He sensed he was getting through to Zoe. “Do you plan to spend the rest of the afternoon at home, Sergeant Sullivan?”
“Yes. As soon as I send the babysitter home, Freddy and I are going to play a few games.”
“All right. I’ll go up with you and check the place over.”
“Seriously? You want to search my apartment?”
“Unless you refuse permission. If you do, that points to culpability. My CO can always ask for a search warrant.”
“I know. Actually, given the morning I’ve had, I’d almost welcome it. Just don’t scare my little boy. Or the babysitter.”
“I’ll try not to. I was kind of surprised to see who you got to watch him.”
“Portia Blackwood, you mean?”
“Yes.” Linc had been shocked to see Justin’s daughter show up. “Does her father know she’s here?”
“I assume so. Captain Blackwood posted a notice asking parents to consider Portia for babysitting to give her something constructive to do now that she’s living with him. I called and left a recorded message and she got back to me.”
“I can’t believe Blackwood gave her permission to sit for you in the first place, considering the possibility of your brother showing up.”
“Oh, dear. I didn’t think to ask when she called. Maybe she went behind his back.” Zoe lowered her voice. “I’m not sure she’ll work out anyway. She didn’t seem very enthusiastic when she arrived.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. My Freddy normally spends a lot of his time at the day care and preschool on base and he’s perfectly happy there.”
“I can’t understand why you called Portia in the first place.” Following closely, always on alert, Linc climbed the stairs to the second-story apartment with Zoe and Star. “I hear the captain has his hands full with her.”
“Well, that’s to be expected,” Zoe countered. “He wasn’t on scene often until Portia’s mother passed away.” Linc saw her cheeks redden. “Sorry. That sounded too harsh. I shouldn’t be gossiping. I don’t know the facts firsthand.”
“I’m sure my captain did the best he could in a difficult situation.”
“I’m sure he did.”
Linc noted she had not locked her apartment door and remarked on it. “I’d really be more careful if I were you.”
“I usually am. I guess I figured Portia would lock it when I left.” She stepped inside and called, “I’m home!”
Linc saw a barefoot child hurrying toward her, arms open wide as if he hadn’t seen her in months. The little boy’s grin was a mile wide, and his hazel eyes that matched Zoe’s twinkled. His hair was curlier and more blond than light brown, but otherwise he was the spitting image of the staff sergeant.
When she dropped her groceries to scoop the toddler up in her arms, Linc was oddly touched. This was a personal side of her he had not noted. The mutual love was so evident, so strong, it seemed to fill the tiny living room.
Zoe kissed Freddy’s cheek as he wrapped his pudgy arms around her neck and shouted, “Mama!” Seconds later, he noticed the dog and started to squirm. “A puppy!”
“Whoa. Hold on, honey. That’s not a puppy you can play with. That’s a member of the air force, just like Mama is. The dog is working right now.”
“That’s right,” Linc said. “Star and I are going to go check your house while you and your mother wait right here. We’ll be back in a few minutes and then I’ll introduce you. Okay?”
The eager child was nodding. “Uh-huh.”
“Good.” Linc looked around. “Where’s your babysitter, Sergeant Sullivan?”
“Beats me.” She turned to her son. “Where’s Portia, Freddy?”
“She has time-out.”
Zoe
