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the impulse to poke at the situation. No matter the reason, his gut told him to not shake Jacobs’s hand and be done with it.
    Listening to his gut had proved damn fortunate a time or two in the past.
    Today the sentries had withdrawn to more concealed locations. Slowly making his way down the hallway, Brice waited for any command to stop. When it didn’t come he simply raised his hand to knock on the door of the room. Jacobs opened it a half second later. With the door open a wave of heat made its escape.
    “Didn’t expect to see you so soon,” Jacobs commented.
    “Or at all?” Brice questioned.
    Both windows that the room offered had their curtains tightly closed against the light of day. While the remains of the storm were keeping the temperature low, that didn’t account for the level of heat that was present in the room. Brice peeled his jacket off the second he stepped inside. Scanning the room for Grace, he almost missed her. What looked like a rumpled bed was her body covered with the bedclothes from both of the room’s beds.
    “Exactly.” Jacobs spoke bluntly. “You were told the details of how we operate.”
    “She’s still sleeping?” Brice looked at his watch.
    “It takes a lot out of her.”
    The extra blankets told Brice her efforts had shoved her body into shock. Tackling her in a rain-soaked parking lot certainly hadn’t helped.
    “I need to talk to her, ask her some questions.” Brice kept his voice low.
    Jacobs slowly folded his arms across his chest. “Being family got you through the front door. Permission to question my operative will take more friends than you have. Like you were told, no questions.”
    The unyielding manner the major adopted was unmistakable. Brice considered his options. If he gave up now, he would have to be content with Paige’s return.
    And Grace’s departure.
    “So why are you still standing in my county?” he asked. “Avoiding a question is a lot easier when you aren’t on civilian ground.”
    “There didn’t appear to be a reason to worry about spending another forty-eight hours here. Maybe that was a bad judgment call.”
    Brice considered the territorial stance the man was displaying before his eyes moved to the source of their dilemma. Locked up inside the unconscious woman was a skill that could give him the edge against a creep that preyed on children.
    “I have a child abductor running around my county. It would be rather helpful to have an idea of just where to begin the search, Major. That may not be the concern of your superiors, but it sure as hell is mine.”
    Jacobs stared at him for a long moment.
    “Fine, Captain, retired, but Captain nonetheless. Give her ten more hours. But I’m not going to make it an order that she answer you. Our job ends when the target is recovered.” Jacobs aimed a pointed stare at him. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Grace can be very selective about who she talks to.”
    “I think she rather likes me.” Brice considered the way her nipples had stabbed into his chest. It was the most basic form of communication. Personalities aside, they were attracted to each other.
    A low laugh rolled out of the major’s chest again. “I’ll be sure to notify your next of kin. Crowd her and you’ll get the bad end of the deal. Don’t ask me how I know that.”
    Brice turned to leave but stood in the doorway a moment. He looked back at the bed. As much as he wanted to continue this case the physical toll this woman was clearly paying disturbed him. Brice didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he had to settle this debt.
    “I owe you one.” Brice handed Jacobs a business card. “Call me if you need any help with her.”
     
    Jacobs sobered the second the door shut behind the sheriff. If he were smart, he’d pack up and be gone before Brice Campbell noticed. His commanding officer liked to keep Grace under tight wraps. It was an opinion that he shared to a good extent. The fewer people that knew about Grace,