growing up, Dani had been a trouble magnet. She was invariably swept up in the middle of whatever conflict developed anywhere near her, mostly due to her acting on her dratted premonitions. Maybe she had cursed them once too often. Today her Gypsy mother’s gift of foresight had all but failed.
Or had it? Maybe it had taken a different form with that pressing need to get out of the house on a day when sane people stayed inside. And that sudden notion of opening an account for the baby had struck her like a hammer just after breakfast. Had that foresight guided her here to stop the robbery?
Maybe she shouldn’t have come to Ellerton in the first place, but how could she stay away when Carol had a brand-new baby, Dani’s very first nephew? It wasn’t as if she was likely to have any children of her own any time soon, maybe ever.
Once again, she reminded herself why she had no business envying her sister the adorable baby, devoted hubby and the white picket fence. Mommies weren’t supposed to carry weapons and go looking for danger, like she did for a living. Like she enjoyed doing. It was not a life to be shared with innocents.
But what if she hadn’t come? Ben Michaels would probably be dead right now, as well as whomever else the robber would have held hostage instead of her.
She glanced in the mirror again, examined the new bruise on her head and pulled some of her bangs down to cover it. Out of sight, out of mind: one of those sayings that didn’t quite work in this case. Later, she’d cover it with makeup, but it would still ache like crazy.
To distract herself, she thought about Michaels as she made herself presentable. It took a certain kind of person to settle down in Smallville and be content. Someone like her sister and Bud, her brother-in-law. And this Benjamin Michaels, big bad bank manager. He had been unexpectedly cool under fire.
The thought made her wrinkle her nose. Hero material, sucked into life as a bean counter. How the devil had that happened? She pushed away from the sink and went back outside. Maybe she would ask him.
He stood near the front door, waiting for the police. From some back office, probably the employees’ lounge, she could hear the blond teller weeping dramatically and the other guy mumbling.
She crossed the lobby to Michaels. “So, could you reverse the transfer and get the money back?”
“No. I—” Sirens and the screech of tires interrupted. The police hadn’t had far to come. You could span the whole town in about five minutes.
The small bank filled with people. Three uniforms, six emergency personnel and a couple of plainclothes carrying satchels, probably doctors or crime scene techs. Who would guess there were this many people in Ellerton to respond to a call like this? It was comforting to see, given that her sister and her family lived here.
A pleasant-looking, heavyset man in a cheap suit entered and approached them. He removed his hat, revealing a silvery crew cut and a tan line on his high forehead. His bright blue eyes snapped with energy. She recognized him immediately and cringed.
“Hey, Ben,” the police chief said, glancing in the direction of the office where the paramedics were hovering. “Everybody okay?”
“Everybody but him,” Michaels said, gesturing idly toward the body.
The chief looked at her, head cocked to one side. “Miss, I’m Chief Talbert with the Ellerton police.” He cleared his throat and squinted. “Don’t I know you?”
Dani shrugged and tried to look innocent.
The chief’s eyes narrowed farther. “I need to interview y’all separately. Ben, you want to scram? I know you got things you need to do, calls to make and so forth, and we can talk later.”
“I do at that.” Turning to her, he said, “I’ll see you later. I’d like to speak with you again before you go.”
Dani nodded. His low-timbre voice had a newscaster quality to it, softened by a distinct Virginia accent. Nice, she thought. Exceptionally nice, when he wasn’t cussing or threatening. That tone matched his polished appearance.
Amazing, how unruffled he looked now. The only evidence of the altercation were his skinned knuckles and minute spatters of blood on his shirt. The man obviously had a tough side, one he masked well. Dani consciously made note of the fact that it was a really good-looking mask. No wrinkles, not even any laugh lines. Smooth. Almost mannequin smooth. She wondered if he was vain enough to be into Botox.
Her budding fascination must have shown as her gaze followed him, because the chief cleared his throat yet again, this time to get her attention.
Dani ignored him for another few seconds as she watched Michaels head for the other unoccupied office. She liked the way he moved, how he led with his left, leaned forward and swung one arm in a John Wayne kind of stride. But the Duke on his best day had never looked that good. She allowed herself a silent little whew before she looked away.
“Okay, here you go.” She reached into her pocket, fished out her badge folder and handed it over.
The chief took it and examined it closely. “Uh-huh. So you’re a special agent, division of Homeland Security.” His smile looked wary. “Wait a minute. Weren’t you with the FBI?” She saw recognition dawn. “I remember you now. Whatcha doing here in Ellerton this time, Ms. Sweet?”
“On vacation.” Again, she thought, but didn’t add the word. “Visiting my sister, Carol Whitman.”
Surprisingly, his smile turned friendly. “She and Bud had the baby yet?”
“A boy.” Dani went on to explain why she was at the bank and gave him the details of what had happened. Then, just to be polite, she added, “Can I be of help other than as a witness? If I can assist in the investigation in any way…”
He smirked a little, obviously recalling the last time their paths had crossed and how she had stolen his thunder. “No thanks, I think we can handle this one. So you’re with the COMPASS outfit now? We got some directives down a couple months ago about cooperation and interaction and such. Part of that special team, Sextant, aren’t you? Counterterrorism?”
“Yes, we’re an adjunct to Sextant.” She smiled. “Look, Chief, could you maybe keep my name out of things? I’d consider it a big favor. We like to keep a low profile.”
He nodded. “Sure thing. Okay, that about does it. Thanks.”
Dani followed him over to the door of the office where the EMTs were bagging the body.
“Well, Ben took care of him.” He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Pretty cut-and-dried, I guess. Bank job gone bad. I need to go question Ben and the others. Maybe you should stick around until I’m finished, in case I come up with any more questions. You mind?”
“Glad to,” she replied, in no great hurry to face her disapproving sister with the news of her latest adventure.
A little while later, Ben Michaels returned to the lobby. He managed a more pleasant expression than any he had shown before. She registered again how perfect he looked. Short dark hair expertly cut. Nice, smoothly arched brows. Steely gray eyes rimmed with long black lashes. Lips that really made her pause to stare. Nose every plastic surgeon must aim to duplicate. Cheekbones that hinted at Native American genes beneath his pale skin. Except for a few hairline scars, nothing marred the mask. How benign he looked now. Great camouflage. She
