Read The Evasion for Free Online Page B

card and handed it over.
    Gabe stood, smacked his hands together. “We’re all set here then.”
    “We are indeed,” Jo said. “Thank you, Sheriff. I’m sure we’ll get this wrapped up quickly and you’ll help us put a smuggler behind bars. I have no doubt.”
    She charged down the church—sheriff’s office—steps and hooked a right. “Come with me.”Jo was already twenty yards in front of him and picking up speed. “We need to get over there before he calls Miss Ellie.”
    Gabe hustled to catch up. “You’re gonna piss this guy off. What’s this about an appointment at the Port?”
    She stopped walking and faced him. “I lied about that. And I don’t care if I piss him off. Staring at my boobs is one thing. Little lady? That , I won’t tolerate. The sooner we get on this, the sooner we find Martinson and get home.”
    For once, in the interest of expediency, he wouldn’t argue with her about wanting to be involved. Investigating on their own would land both of them in hot water. Something neither of them could risk after the lambasting they’d received six weeks ago when their investigation ended with Jo stuck in a burning building and Gabe threatening a witness. Not a stellar day that one.
    Gabe held his hand up. “I’m all for busting this guy and getting the hell out, but we need to be careful, do it quietly.”
    “Excellent. We need a plan.”
    “Lucky for you, I’m a quick thinker. Follow my lead.”
    Two minutes later they re-entered Ellie’s store. The doorbells jangled and she wandered from the back room.
    “Hello again. Back so soon?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He glanced down at Jo, brushed his fingers over the back of her neck, stroked the warm skin with his thumb and made goo-goo eyes at her.
    Ellie let out a little sigh. “Y’all are so sweet.”
    Figuring he’d laid it on thick enough, Gabe gave up on goo-gooing. “I adore this woman.” Not a lie. “She is, in fact, the love of my life.” Also, perhaps not a lie. “And I think she needs another Barelli bag. In a different color.”
    He glanced around, knowing from his earlier study of the premises, there weren’t any other bags in the front of the store.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. That’s the only color I have.”
    “Oh, shoot,” Jo said.
    Gabe gave her neck a squeeze. “Don’t worry. Something tells me Ellie will get you another.” He turned back to Ellie, offered up one of the smiles that, more times than not, helped him score with a woman. “How about it? Will you make my girl happy?”
    Ellie bit her lip. “Well—”
    “I’ll make it worth your while. As you can see, my girl is well dressed. She enjoys shopping. A lot. Just ask my credit card company.”
    She seemed to consider this a moment, staring at him as his meaning drifted, drifted, drifted and—bull’s-eye—her eyes flew open. “Let me make a call.”
    Cha-ching. You do that, sweetheart.
    In a rush, Ellie spun and headed for the cash register toward the back of the store. The two of them followed and watched her flick through her Rolodex, one of those old circular ones with cards busting out all over. Jeez, they still made cards for that thing? After finding the card, she picked up the cordless and dialed.
    Jo stared up at Gabe and blew him a kiss. Heh . She seemed to be enjoying all of this PDA, considering they didn’t get to do it in New York. Not if they didn’t want the old ladies on Gabe’s team talking shit all day. And one thing Jo didn’t deserve was a bunch of guys making crude comments, ribbing Gabe day and night because he was banging the sexy attorney. Plus, he’d wind up killing someone and that would be bad for both their careers.
    Ellie clicked off the call. “There’s no answer at my supplier. I got the recording. How about I try them in the morning? Maybe y’all can stop back?”
    Gabe nodded, but he wasn’t leaving yet. Not until he got a look at that number on the phone. “That’s too bad.” He gave Jo another squeeze.