Or the other one Sajan said was the same.
“Margaret?”
The other one.
Nalchek.
It could be a mistake. Sajan was confused, and she hadn’t been able to clarify anything in the short time she’d had to work with him.
But the image she’d gotten from him was definitely Nalchek. The power, the tiger ferocity, the sleekness.
“Margaret.” More impatient now.
Trust her own instincts? Or Sajan’s jumbled memory?
In the end, she always had to trust herself. If she was wrong, she was now prepared to deal with it.
“Here!” She stepped out of the trees. “It’s about time you got here.” She strolled toward him. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Then you should have told me where to find you. I guess that didn’t occur to you.” He was frowning. “The officer I had watching you told me you were still in your room at the hotel. It took a little while to determine you’d given him the slip.”
“And you came immediately here.”
“I told Eve that this was where you’d probably be.” He shrugged. “But there was a chance that I might be wrong since she’d asked you to bring her suitcase.”
“No problem. Eve travels light.” She nodded down at the small flight bag she was carrying. “And Joe Quinn evidently never unpacked his luggage when he got here. It’s probably still in his rental car.”
“Are you going to tell me why you slipped away from my officer? If you’d insisted, he would have brought you back here.”
“Not necessary. I met a college professor in the coffee shop, and he offered to give me a lift.”
“That’s no answer.”
“It’s all you’ll get from me.” Then she shook her head. “That was rude. I’m a little on edge.” More than a little, she thought. As usual, she was experiencing a multitude of emotions at being this close to him. Nalchek was all power and keen intelligence, and she was drawn to both. And now there was added the chilling uncertainty of what she’d learned tonight. Forget it. She’d made a choice. She’d chosen to trust herself … and Nalchek. Deal with the consequences. Which meant dealing with Nalchek. She met his eyes. “I don’t like to be watched. I’m sure your officer is very courteous and only doing his job, but he made me uneasy. I won’t permit anyone to be able to put his hand on me at any given time.”
“Why?”
She smiled. “My nature? Or something more devious? I’m sure you’re busily trying to find out.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why? Because you’re a police officer, and you don’t trust me or what I am?” She nodded. “That would be reasonable … if one looked only on the surface.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She hesitated. Back off, or respond as she usually did. Backing off would be more suspicious. Nalchek was very sharp. “Because you’re not what you appear to be, either.”
“You’re wrong, I’m exactly what I appear to be. My public record is open for anyone to read. I couldn’t have been elected to this office if I were hiding a shady past.”
“Really? Everyone hides something. At least, everyone interesting. Animals are different. They’re much simpler. Except felines.”
His gaze narrowed on her face. “I don’t believe we’ll change species in this particular conversation. Just what do you think I’m hiding?”
Probe a little. “I don’t know. Not your military career, you were a hero. Not during your college days. You were too intelligent to get involved with drugs or all that nonsense.”
“Then do you think I’m a crooked cop?”
She slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so. That would be an opportunity for corruption, but you grew up with a father who had strict values and believed in the law. That would have rubbed off. I’d bet you’re well thought of by your officers as well as the people who elected you.”