someone tried to kill her because of something she saw, we may not have time to let her feel safe.”
“I’m working on that part.”
“Yeah. Okay. I guess we don’t have a choice. Stay low and keep your head down until I get back to you.” He paused. “In the meantime, you find her that safe quiet spot to heal. The faster the better.”
“Already thought of that.”
“I thought you might have. Where will you be?”
“Wrangler’s Corner. It’s small and close-knit. If any strangers show up, I’ll know it.”
Ben fell silent. “That might not be a bad idea. Plus, you have law enforcement friends and family there.”
“I do.” The law enforcement friends were in-laws, but he counted them as family.
“All right. But let me know immediately if she remembers anything. She’s not safe if she can’t tell us who did this—and why.”
“I know, Ben.”
“I know you do,” his friend said. “This thing’s got me rattled. I never saw this coming.”
“I didn’t either.” Toby kept his head on a swivel, goosebumps pebbling his arms, the air shifting. “When I get back to the hotel, I’m going to send you a picture of a guy. See if you can identify him, will you?”
“Sure.”
“Look, I’ve gotta go. I don’t like being out in the open like this. Talk to you later.”
“Be safe.”
“That’s the plan.” Toby hung up and placed his hand on the door handle.
A footfall sounded behind him. He started to turn when something hard pressed against the base of his skull.
Toby froze. The man had been watching. Waiting for him to get off the phone, then striking quickly.
“Where is she?” a low voice demanded.
“Who?”
“You know who. Robin Hardy. Where is she?”
“Who wants to know?”
The gun pressed harder. “I’m not playing, man!”
“I’m not either.” Toby bent his knees and dropped in one controlled movement. The gun slid away from his head. In a crouched position, he spun and kicked out, connecting with the man’s knee.
His attacker yelled but instead of pulling away, he surged forward and struck out, catching Toby on the cheek with a hard fist. Toby’s head snapped back and pain vibrated through him, but he kept his feet beneath him.
“What’s going on over there?”
The shout startled him and he stumbled back two steps, just in time to avoid the second punch headed for his face. He grabbed the swinging arm and shoved. The man went to his knees, rolled to his feet and bolted toward the back of the parking lot.
Pounding footsteps from the opposite direction grabbed Toby’s attention. A man in a uniform reached him. Another swept past him in pursuit of the fleeing attacker. “Are you okay?”
Toby touched a hand to his cheek. “Yeah, I think so.”
“What happened?”
“I got jumped. Let your partner know the guy is armed.”
The officer did so while backing away from Toby. “If you’re okay, I’m going to go give him backup.”
“Go.”
“I’ll be back to take your statement,” he called over his shoulder.
Toby didn’t plan to be around for that. He snagged his keys from the asphalt, climbed into his vehicle and headed for the motel. If whoever was after Robin had found him, it was very possible they would soon find Robin. Time to run.
Robin had dozed sitting upright on the bed, her head against the cushioned headboard. When the door opened, she jerked awake, setting off a pounding in her skull. Ignoring it, she swung her feet to the floor and tightened the sash on the shin-length robe.
Amber stood at the door and hit the deadbolt after Toby shut it behind him. “Did you get what you needed?” Amber asked.
“Yes, but we’re going to have to take off. Someone attacked me in the parking lot of the store.” He set an overnight bag on the bed.
Robin gasped. “Your cheek! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but if they found me there, it’s possible they could track us here.”
“How?” Amber asked.
“I don’t know. I checked the truck for tracking devices, but I could have missed it.”
“Not you,” Amber said. “What about your phone?”
“It’s not traceable.”
“Everything is,” she said. “Even that one.”
He frowned. “That would take some pretty high-tech equipment.”
“And until we know who you’re dealing with, you need to assume they have access to that equipment. You need to ditch it. We’ll stop and get you another one on the way.”
His frown stayed put, but he nodded.
Robin watched the exchange with a curious detachment. They were obviously good friends.
“Are you a cop, too?” she asked Toby. “I mean, Amber told me she used to work for some government agency, but what about you?”
Toby stilled. “No. I’m not a cop. Although...” He paused. “I have a lot of friends with the FBI.”
“Why do I have a feeling it’s more than that?” she murmured.
Amber lifted a brow and shot Toby a look Robin couldn’t decipher.
Toby sighed. “Although I’m not with an official law enforcement agency, I’ve—we’ve—both had some training. And we’re going to keep you safe, all right?”
She nodded, but something flickered in her midsection. Not fear of Toby, but more of a wariness...an anger? But why? He’d saved her life and was continuing to do so. The feelings didn’t fit. Or was her subconscious trying to tell her something?
Toby motioned to the bag that held her clothes and other items she’d requested. “Hurry, we need to get going.”
Robin grabbed the bag and slipped into the bathroom. She found the clothes and pulled them on. They weren’t a perfect fit but close enough. Next, she downed one of the prescription pills for pain and used the brush to gently force her hair into some
