No. Declan didn’t need the added complication of a relationship when he was facing some unsettling feelings about the toll his job was taking on him. He had four days off, and a decision to make. One that had to be all about him and what he wanted for the future. It didn’t need to be about a cute brunette with serious eyes, who was just doing her job.
The medical examiner’s van pulled away, followed by the sheriff’s Jeep. Her teammates took a little longer, idling for a minute in their car before they trailed after the others. That left his rental and her car.
“Time to head out?”
Portia Finch nodded. “Two-hour drive back to the office, then a whole lot of work to do to sort out this mess.” Her gaze snagged on something over his shoulder. “I—”
Before he could ask her what it was, shots rang out.
A bullet smacked the tree beside her. Portia ducked and rushed to another tree for cover, whispering a prayer for protection. Where that inclination came from, she didn’t know. And now wasn’t the time to figure out why she was praying after so long.
She scanned the area and searched for the shooter. Declan had found a tree ten feet from her and huddled behind it, his gun held in a loose aim. Ready. She could appreciate a competent man she didn’t have to coddle.
The next shot hit the tree beside him.
Not good, but it gave her an approximate location for the shooter. Portia raced toward the origin, moving in an arc that would put her on his right flank. Another shot rang out in Declan’s direction and she heard him return fire.
She caught sight of their assailant then. Dark blue jacket. Ball cap. Caucasian. Forties, maybe. She couldn’t get a good enough look at his face.
“Drop the gun!”
He swung it toward her.
Portia fired, then dived. Forced to hit the ground as the shooter did the same. She heard his muffled cry of pained alarm, then footsteps cracking branches and shifting leaves. She’d hit him.
“Portia!” Declan raced toward her while the shooter got away. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Go get him!” Nothing bruised but her ego, she stood and brushed leaves from her behind while she ran after him.
An engine fired up, and what sounded like a diesel truck roared away.
“He got away.”
Like she couldn’t see that for herself? “I don’t suppose you managed to see a license plate?”
Declan shook his head. “Tan truck. Chevy.”
“Older model, diesel.”
His eyebrows lifted.
Portia shrugged one shoulder and headed for her car. “It chugged a little before the engine turned over. Could just be cold, but more likely he has a clogged fuel filter.”
Silence. “He was holding his shoulder. I think you hit him.”
She nodded. Listened to his footsteps bringing up the rear. Shame this wasn’t a leisurely hike through the park. Not that she did anything in a leisurely way, but she enjoyed recreation. So long as no one pestered her with comments or questions, she could get along quite nicely with whoever accompanied her.
And yes, she realized that at thirty-four she likely shouldn’t be quite this set in her ways. But she was who she was: the daughter of a marine gunnery sergeant and single father who not only taught her how to shoot but also taught her everything he knew about cars. Tears were unacceptable, unless they were angry tears—in which case she’d been sent to the garage to work out her frustration on the heavy bag.
She was also the youngest female senior field agent NCIS had. Declan might be a hotshot Secret Service agent, but she’d fought every day to garner the respect she’d earned along with her seniority.
She stared him down over her shoulder. “You’ll need to come in to the office and give a statement.”
“I can do that.” His footsteps sped up until he walked alongside her. “Why do you seem super calm, and not like you just got in a gunfight?”
She put her weapon away. Was it just adrenaline, or was this man the most cooperative witness ever? “The shooter got away.”
Declan shook his head. “That was fast. Like, seconds and it was over.” He blew out a breath. “Things don’t happen that quickly at the White House. We see it coming, and we respond in the applicable way. Then we do hours of paperwork while the person is processed and interviewed, then sent to jail.”
“In that case, about the only similarity between our jobs is the paperwork.” She shot him a look, and he smiled.
“Why does that not surprise me?” He paused. “Are we going to inform the sheriff of what just happened?”
“We are on his turf. But until I know that wasn’t related to my case, there’s no need. It’s my investigation.” And that guy had stuck around purely for the chance to shoot at a second person. Declan. “Not at me.”
“What was that?”
“He wasn’t shooting at me.” Portia slowed beside his rental car and said, “He wasn’t even interested in me until I called him out. That man wanted you dead.”
“You think he’s the one who shot my...your victim.”
“Could be he thought that was your brother and he killed him. He might have it in for both of you.” And why would that be? “Anyone you know who might want to hurt the two of you?”
Declan swallowed.
Portia waited.
“I’d like to hold off on story time until I know it’s necessary for me to tell you.”
She folded her arms. “It’s necessary.”
He didn’t back down. “Still. I’d like to maintain my privacy until I know it’s related to your case.”
Sure, throw her words back at her. Portia said, “That won’t fly for long.”
“Just until I know for sure.”
An uncooperative witness was the last thing she needed. Portia turned to her car, then said over her shoulder, “I expect you at the office, giving your statement on the shooting that just occurred, as well as your description of the truck. Soon as you get there.”
She’d get the rest of the story out of him then. As well as have her people dig into Declan Stringer’s background to find out everything there was to know.
“I’ll check into a hotel and come straight over.”
“Fair enough.” She could accept the fact he wasn’t a
