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serious between them, because there just weren’t any sparks. I think it was more a case of comfort rather than some great love.  They were comfortable with each other and neither one wanted to face the hassle of the dating scene.”
    “And she hasn’t been involved with anyone since this man left town?” Copper found that hard to believe. Men should be lined up at Marla’s door, beating it down, trying to get in her bed. 
      “No.  She kept saying she’d think about dating again once the school year was over.”  Natalie frowned.   “Actually today was the last mandatory day for teachers.  Students were dismissed for the summer last week.”
    “Could her attack be work related?”  Mercury wanted to know.  “We need to approach this like a puzzle with scattered pieces.  We have to look at her life from every angle until we eliminate all possibilities. It is the best way to find out who’s responsible for attacking her.”
    Natalie shrugged.  “I honestly don’t know.  She hasn’t mentioned anything about a problem child or parent this year.  Marla loves her job and she loves her students.  She was teacher of the year at her school last year.”  She couldn’t keep the pride out of her voice.
    “A coworker’s jealousy?” Copper tossed out the theory. 
    Natalie threw up her hands.  “I doubt it. Marla is friendly with most of her co-workers. She’s never said anything about having a problem getting along with anyone from the school.  I wish I had a clue as to why someone would want to hurt my sister, but I don’t.”  A loud sob punctuated her anguish. 
    Chrome stepped up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right, Natalie.” He gave Copper a hard look. “Maybe the interrogation can wait until later, obviously Natalie is upset.”
    It was Copper’s turn to give his buddy a narrow-eyed stare. “I am operating on the assumption that Marla is in danger until we find out who attacked her and why.  The sooner we have answers the sooner we can end the threat to her.”
    “Maybe it was random,” Natalie said.  Her voice was tinged with hope. She gave the men an optimistic look.
    “Maybe, but we have to assume the worse until we know the score.”  Copper wasn’t going to mince words not even for Natalie’s comfort. 
    Natalie sighed.  “Of course you’re right.  I’m too emotionally involved. I can’t be objective when it comes to my sister.  I know Marla is only two years younger than me, but I have always been the more outgoing sibling, which kind of made me protective of my sister, especially after our parents died.”  She stopped talking. Her lips visibly tightened, displaying discomfort and anger.
    She looked like she was hiding something.  Copper would dig deeper later.  He already knew how protective Natalie was of Marla. That was no big secret. It only took him ten minutes to figure that out the first time he saw the two sisters interact with each other. 
    “Your sister seems to bring out people’s protective instincts,” especially in him.   Copper planned to keep Marla locked up tight until the danger was long gone.  He didn’t care who objected to his plan. He wasn’t going to change his mind.
    “Obviously not everybody,” Natalie sadly stated.  “Trying to gun someone down in a dark parking lot doesn’t exactly say warm and fuzzy.”
    “Point taken.  I’m not sure why Marla came here, but I’m glad she did.  She’s under the Metal Cowboys’ personal protection now,” he assured Natalie.  “Keeping her safe is my top priority.”  He crossed his thick muscled arms over his chest when Natalie looked like she was about to question his motive.
    “I’m done,” Steel suddenly announced.  He’d been steadily working on Marla while the others discussed the incident itself.  He slipped the disposable gloves off of his hands and gathered up the soiled materials for disposal.  “She should be fine. I’ll monitor her