Murder in the River City(47)
“I agree. If we don’t get what we need, we still have Butler inside. But if you want to back out, let me know.”
Though she had mixed feelings, she wasn’t going to back out now. “I’m okay.”
“Melanie is five foot seven, with blond hair and brown eyes. She’ll knock on your door and ask if she can borrow milk. If you can’t talk, tell her you don’t have any. If all is well, invite her in.”
Agent Hooper continued. “Just be yourself. Austin Davis knows everything about you—you were friends. He knows about Jason Butler, he knows you’re long-time family friends with Sam Garcia, who put Butler in prison, and he knows you’re worried about the robbery at your grandfather’s bar. Respond like you would if you were on a real date with him.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay. I can do that.”
She hung up and Sam approached with her brother Mike. “Thanks for coming, Mike,” she said. “Dooley thought you had to work.”
“I got another doctor to switch days with me. Means I’ll have a thirty-six hour shift next weekend, but this was important.”
She spontaneously gave her brother a hug. Mike frowned. “What’s that for?”
“Just thankful for my family.”
Mike felt her forehead. “Are you okay?”
She hit his hand away and he laughed. She glanced at Sam, who was watching her very closely. Had he told Mike? She blushed, remembering last night. Of course he hadn’t told her brother. Mike would find out, but Sam wouldn’t just go up to him at a funeral and say I had sex with your sister.
Mike eyed her again quizzically, then Sam said, “Detective Black just came in. Maybe he has some good news.” He kissed Shauna on the cheek, whispered, “I love you,” then walked across the bar floor.
Mike narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on?” he said.
Did he suspect she was involved with Sam? Or that she was playing spy for the FBI?
“You can’t lie to me, Shauna. Tell me the truth. Now.”
Mike would have a fit if he thought she was in danger, and even though she trusted the FBI to be prepared, they had warned her to tell no one. Even family.
“Is this about Jason Butler being back in town? Is Sam giving you a hard time?”
“What do you know about that?”
“Dad told me he offered you a job. Sam wasn’t happy.”
“Sam and I have an agreement.”
“I doubt that.”
“I haven’t decided what to do about the job. I can’t think about it today.”
Mike sat next to her and stared at her intently. “Shauna, I know you better than anyone.”
“Don’t pull big brother on me.”
He didn’t say anything. He wasn’t going to let this go. Then he’d go to Sam, and Sam would obfuscate, and he’d know something was up.
A version of the truth was going to have to work.
“I’m going to the charity ball with Austin tonight.”
“What the hell for?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Fuck that!”
She widened her eyes. Mike never swore. “Just as friends, it’s important to him, a charity thing—”
He cut her off. “I don’t like him. I never did, and I think you’re making a big mistake.”
“It’s nothing.”
“You need to break it off cold turkey, Shauna.”
“I did!”
“Did not. You broke it off, but had with coffee with him on Monday? Dooley and I always thought he was much too possessive of you, like after a couple dates he could order you around. And don’t say it’s because I’m your brother and no man is good enough in my eyes. I actually liked Jason, until I found out he was a criminal.”
She wanted to tell Mike the truth, but kept her mouth shut on that, saying instead, “Jason and I are still friends.”
“You need to make it clear to Austin Davis that after tonight, he can’t expect you to drop everything to be his escort. I’d rather you go out with … with … Jason!”
“Sam wouldn’t like that,” she mumbled before she realized she was talking out loud.
“Since when do you let Sam decide who you date or not—oh, God, no.”
“What’s wrong?”
Mike blushed this time. The curse of fair Irish skin. “You—and Sam?”
“You can’t tell me you haven’t seen this coming.”
Mike didn’t say anything.
“Mike, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. It’s just—” He blushed crimson. “Oh, God, I can’t think about it. It’s too weird.”
“You can think it’s weird.”