“Now you’re mad.”

  “I’m not mad, Ethan.”

  “Then what?”

  “It’s nothing. I just need to work.” She continued moving the photo through the trays, one by one.

  She could feel his intense gaze, but he didn’t say anything else. She was glad he didn’t push harder. Spending time with him brought back the reasons she’d fallen in love with him the first time. If she were willing to consider a relationship with any man, Ethan could be a contender.

  But nothing had changed. Too much stood between them, too many shadows in her past that made her all wrong for him. They could never get together again, never, and that thought made her sad. Sadder than she’d been in a very long time.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ethan felt wrung out. He couldn’t have been happier when Jennie finally finished her darkroom work for the night and they headed back to Kat’s house. Jennie’s expression had turned so soft in the darkroom that he’d had to cross his arms and keep them crossed to stop from reaching out and holding her.

  He wanted to put space between them, but Kat ended that wish the minute they walked in the door. She called to them from the dining room, urging them to look at photos on her laptop. Now he stared over her shoulder, as Jennie stood closer to him than was good for his warring emotions. It was beyond him how he could still be so attracted to her when she worked so hard to keep him at a distance.

  Maybe he was just drawn to women who weren’t good for him. Carla was a perfect example of that. Deep down, he’d known her job was far more important to her than their relationship. So why had he stayed with her and then asked her to marry him?

  “I’ve only gotten through the first disc, Jennie.” Kat nudged Ethan and gave him a pointed look urging him to pay attention. “But these five photos deserve further scrutiny.” She opened each picture side by side as large thumbnails. “So these were all taken in Mexico?”

  “Yes.”

  “Were these pictures supposed to be in the show?” Ethan shifted away from Jennie so her bottomless brown eyes weren’t so close and drawing him in deeper.

  She pointed at the screen. “Only this one.”

  “So this might be the photo they’re looking for,” Kat said. “The big question is, why?”

  Ethan studied the screen. “There are people in the background standing by that car. Any way to enhance it more?”

  “I can work on it,” Jennie offered. “But I have to tell you, I usually shoot with a shallow depth of field, so we may never be able to clearly see the background.”

  “Explain,” Ethan said.

  “When I take pictures, I want the children to be the main focus. So I adjust the settings on my camera to center on the child and blur the background. I only keep the background in focus if it enhances the child’s plight.”

  “Such as?”

  “Remember the photos I showed you of Sonya’s family? I wanted you to be able to see the house, so I made sure the people and the house were both in focus.”

  “So this might not just be about people you captured but there could be something in the setting, as well?” Ethan asked.

  “Yeah, I suppose.”

  “I have to admit, I was mostly looking for people,” Kat said. “We’ll need to go back through the CD.” She saved the photo on her computer and ejected the CD. “I’ll review these on my office computer if you want to work on enhancing this one, Jennie.”

  “Sure,” Jennie jumped in quickly.

  Too quickly for Ethan, as if she was trying to get away from him as fast as possible.

  She sat and tugged on the neck opening of the Kevlar vest he’d asked her to wear during transport since the shooting. “Can I take this vest off now?”

  “Sure. You only need to wear it in transport.”

  She pulled the Velcro straps, slipping out if it as he did the same with his.

  “Since you’re the only one without a task, brother dear, can you order dinner?” Kat looked at him with an impish grin so reminiscent of the sweet little smiles from her childhood.

  He chuckled over the joy she took in giving him a menial task and hung his vest over a chair. “Is Chinese all right?”

  “Sounds good to me,” she called on her way out of the room. “I’ll take my usual.”

  “You still like orange chicken?” he asked Jennie.

  Her head lifted, surprise lighting her eyes. “You remember that?”

  “I remember everything, Jen.” He held her gaze, which said she remembered, too.

  “It’s still my favorite,” she said softly and faced the computer.

  “Then that’s what I’ll order for you.” He waited for an acknowledgment, but she stared ahead. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me,” he said and left the room.

  He placed the order for delivery from their favorite Chinese restaurant and settled onto the sofa where he could keep an eye on the front door. He opened a browser on his phone and typed in Sotos Cartel. The search engine returned pages of entries. He spent the next thirty minutes reading details of murderous rampages that made his stomach churn. He studied all the photos of the cartel members in case he encountered one of them in Jennie’s files.

  Finally, he entered Eduardo Sotos’s full name into the search box. An article denoting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ten most wanted criminals caught his interest. He clicked the DEA link and let out a low whistle. Sotos’s name held the number two spot. This creep was a killer of the highest caliber.

  The doorbell rang and Ethan jumped.

  “Relax,” he whispered to himself as he went to look through the peephole.

  The moment he opened the door, the tasty aroma of their food helped eliminate his sour stomach from the internet research. He tipped the delivery guy, took the bags into the dining room and set them on the table near Jennie. She didn’t even look up at him. In fact, she didn’t seem to notice he’d come into the room.

  That was good for his ego.

  He went through the kitchen and down the hall to Kat’s office.

  “Dinner’s here,” he said from the door of the small room overflowing with books.

  He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” She looked up, her eyes narrowed. “This is going too slow. If I make a copy of the disc, can you take your laptop to the darkroom tomorrow and look at some of these, too?”

  “Sure.” He hadn’t had to think twice before agreeing. He’d have a good reason to sit outside the darkroom instead of next to Jennie.

  Kat stood and came around the desk. “Your research turn up anything of interest on Sotos?”

  “He’s on the DEA’s top ten list.”

  “Whoa,” she said.

  “Jennie doesn’t need to know about this, so let’s keep it between us.”

  “The more we find out about Sotos, the more worried I get for her.”

  “As long as we bring our A game, we’re able to protect her, Kat.” His tone was confident, but the feeling didn’t travel to his gut.

  “Nice try, brother, but I know you.” She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and started for the door. “You’re trying to hide it, but your face holds a healthy dose of concern.”

  He shrugged and hoped by the time he got back to the dining room he’d manage to put on his game face for Jennie. “There is no better skilled team to protect her than the Justice team. Remember that.”

  “We are the best.” She looked up at him. “But even the best sometimes fail.”

  “Let’s not think that way, okay? And especially don’t let Jen hear that kind of talk.”

  “No worries there. I’d never spook a client like that. Just wanted to let you know what I was thinking.” She gave him a quick hug. “So let’s eat.”

  She preceded him into the kitchen. Her phone rang and she looked at the display. “The detective in charge of the case.”

  Ethan hoped this was good news for once. As he gathered plates and utensils, he listened to her side of the conversation. Sounded as if they were talking about Ashley and that she was on the mend from the darkroom shooting. He couldn’t wait for Kat to get off the phone and confirm it.

  He took the first load of items into the dining room. Jennie didn’t move, not even after he let the silverware clang to the table. When he returned to the kitchen for drinks, it sounded as if Kat was ending the conversation.

  He took sodas into the dining room and Kat joined them. “Good news, Jennie. Ashley’s going to be okay.”

  Jennie looked up. “Really?”

  “Really,” Kat answered. “She came through surgery fine and the bullet didn’t do any damage they couldn’t repair.”

  Jennie’s answering smile was dazzling. She’s always been completely unaware of the captivating picture she made, but Ethan didn’t miss it. His heart turned over, and he gritted his teeth until he could control the emotions.

  “Was she able to identify her attackers or give the police any leads?” he asked Kat.

  “Not yet. But they’re still working with her, hoping as she regains her strength something will come back to her.”

  “Make sure you follow up with them.”

  Kat nodded and turned to Jennie. “Any luck with the picture?”

  “It’s a little better, but I can’t improve it any more.”

  Ethan moved behind her and looked over her shoulder. Better, but still not clear enough to identify the men in the background.

  “Maybe if we talk about the day you shot this, something will come to mind.” He handed a plate to Jennie. “Do you remember that day, Jen?”

  “Yeah. It was the first time I met Nola.”

  “I’m amazed you remember all these children by name,” Kat said.

  Jennie shook her head. “Not all of them. But Nola’s name made her stand out. It’s short for Manola and means ‘God is with us.’ I was touched that this family, who had nothing, was sure God was with them and that He’d take care of them.”

  “So what’s her story?” Ethan joined Kat in opening the take-out boxes and releasing a mixture of tangy spices into the air.

  Jennie reached for the rice. “I’d gone to Progreso that day. I was on my way out of town and saw Nola sitting on a crumbling wall, her knees tucked under her chin. She was crying. So I went to talk to her.”

  “I’m guessing that means you speak Spanish,” Kat said, scooping a large spoonful of chicken onto her plate.

  Jennie nodded. “Nola told me her mother had died a few days ago and she didn’t know how her abuela—grandmother—was going to take care of them. Her grandmother was crippled and couldn’t work.”

  “What about the father?” Ethan asked.

  “Nola said he’d taken off years ago and no one had heard from him.”

  Kat grabbed a soda and took a seat. “So what did you do?”

  “What I always do when I find a child like this. I asked her to take me to see her abuela.”

  “And did she?” Kat asked.

  “Yes,” Jennie continued. “We walked for a long way along the river dividing the U.S. and Mexico. She and her grandmother live in a tiny run-down shack in the middle of nowhere. Her grandmother was out front sitting in a rickety chair. I explained my program and asked if I could take Nola’s picture. That I’d pay her and enroll Nola in a subsidy program. Her grandmother sobbed and thanked God.”

  “And then you took these photos.” Ethan heard the sadness in his own voice. Sadness for the child, but if he was honest the heartbreaking look on Jennie’s face made him feel sadder.

  “Yes,” Jennie said, then forked a wedge of orange chicken in her mouth.

  “Anything unusual happen?” Ethan asked, hating that he had to keep her memories pinned on an event that was obviously painful to her.

  “Oh, my gosh.” Her fork clanged to the plate. “I can’t believe I forgot about this. Where’s the disc?”

  “In the office,” Kat answered.

  “Can you please get it?” Her eyes held a glint of determination.

  Kat left the room, but Ethan kept his focus on Jennie. He’d always loved seeing her so strong and resolute. Whenever this look captured her face, she achieved whatever goal prompted it.

  It reminded him of the day his mother had asked to see Jennie’s dress for his parents’ anniversary dinner.

  Years ago, when she’d stepped into the room, he could only gape at the stunning picture she’d presented. His mother had stared, too, but she didn’t think the dress was appropriate, so she’d offered to buy Jennie a new one. They’d argued and Jennie had said she’d either wear her dress or not come to the party. Jennie won.

  Kat returned and gave the CD to Jennie. “So what are you looking for?”

  Jennie slipped it into the computer. “Two men came around a fence to get into a car when I was shooting Nola’s picture. They caught me by surprise, and I remember lifting the camera while clicking. I know I got a shot of them before they moved out of sight.”

  “I’d have remembered a car so I’m certain it’s not in the pictures I’ve gone through,” Kat said.

  Ethan joined Kat behind Jennie and watched as she started scanning through pictures. He heard the back door open and close, and he reached for his gun.

  “I hope that’s Chinese I smell.” Dani’s voice came from the kitchen.

  Ethan hissed out a breath and smiled at his sister as she entered the room with a plate in hand. “So you want to hear about my little chat with Linda?”

  “You know we do,” Ethan answered.

  Dani spooned rice onto her plate. “After talking to her for a while, she broke down and confessed she was paid to make the call to the newspaper.”

  “Really?” Jennie peered at Dani over the laptop.

  Dani nodded. “She agreed to leak the information to the newspaper in exchange for drugs.”

  “And did she ID the person who gave her the drugs?” Ethan asked.

  “Said she didn’t know his name. He was a friend of a friend.”

  “Then we need to—”

  “Interview the friend?” Dani sat down. “Linda’s story didn’t play with me, so I’ve already talked to the friend. She claims Linda is lying. She doesn’t know any dealers and never hooked Linda up with one.”

  Ethan sat next to Dani. “You think the friend is on the up-and-up?”

  She shrugged and chewed. “Seems like it. More so than Linda, anyway. I can look into her background, but I think we’d be better off tailing Linda to see if she leads us to her connection.”

  “You volunteering?” Ethan made eye contact with her.

  “You know I am.” Her eyes held enthusiasm mixed with the rush that came with solving a law-enforcement puzzle.

  He hated the idea of letting his kid sister tail someone without backup. Still, he wanted to change his overprotective attitude and was committed to letting her do her job. “Then you’ve got the assignment. Coordinate with Derrick and Cole to schedule a break.”

  She gave a quick nod, but as she bent forward to fork up a bite of food, he saw a quick smile tug at her mouth. He turned back to his own food, as did Kat, but Jennie kept working on the computer file. She needed to keep eating. He pushed her plate closer and considered telling her to eat, but she’d likely just balk at his suggestion.

  “There,” she said and turned the computer to face him. “I’m guessing these are the men we’re looking for.” There was no mistaking the grim edge to her voice.

  Ethan looked at the screen. The child Jennie had told them about sat in the foreground, but off to the side and so ragged and dirty, his heart twisted. He looked beyond her to the men and SUV in the background. Jennie had said they’d be in focus, but they were still too blurry. “Can you improve the focus?”

  “Maybe.” She turned the laptop and started clicking the mouse. “You should go back to your dinner. This is gonna take a while.”

  He picked at his food. The photo had taken away what little appetite he’d once had. If Jennie couldn’t produce a clear photo tonight, he’d contact his buddy Jack at the FBI. The bureau had state-of-the-art equipment, and if anyone could enhance the photo, they could. Ethan only prayed that these men weren’t even more dangerous than the two thugs they’d already identified.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jennie softly closed the darkroom door, hoping Ethan wouldn’t hear the click. At least today, he’d opted not to join her but had spent all morning sitting outside the door. He’d said it was so he could review more of her photos on his computer, but she got the feeling he was also relieved not to share close quarters with her.

  After hours of printing photos, she’d planned to take a break and ask if his FBI contact had made any progress in enhancing the photo from Nola’s shoot. Jennie had done more work on the picture last night, but it wasn’t clear enough to run through facial-recognition software. So Ethan had emailed it to his friend at the FBI, and she really wanted to know the status. But when she’d peeked out and caught the grim look on his face, she’d decided it wasn’t a good time to talk to him. When he heard something, he would tell her.

  A quiet knock sounded from the door.

  “Jen, did you need something?” Ethan called out.

  He’d heard her. Of course he had. He missed nothing. Not the worry eating at her last night, not the anxiety she felt when wearing the bulletproof vest on the ride over here and probably not the way her heart started beating a little bit faster whenever she laid eyes on him.

  “Jen?” he asked again.

  She opened the door. “I just wanted to ask if you’ve heard anything from the FBI, but I got one look at your face and decided you might want to be left alone.”