Evasive Action (Holding The Line Book 1)

Espinoza a sharp glance. He wouldn’t go that far. “Look, Meg. I’m going to get a security system installed at my house with cameras. I’ll do the same for this house.”
Her eyes bugged out. “Because you think this will happen again?”
“No, no, but it’s not a bad idea, is it?” Clay turned to April and rolled his eyes.
Espinoza cleared his throat. “Ma’am, since you live here, can I ask you a few questions about any unusual activity you may have seen in the neighborhood starting yesterday?”
“Of course.” Meg pointed a trembling finger at the box on her porch, roped off with yellow tape. “Is that it?”
“It is. We’ll have it out of here shortly.” Espinoza touched Meg’s upper arm. “Can we talk over here?”
Meg followed Espinoza to his car.
“Well, that wasn’t too bad.” April scratched Denali behind one ear. “Were you ready to take her on, Denny?”
Denali’s tongue lolled out of his mouth as his big eyes, one blue, one brown, looked adoringly at April. He clearly remembered her nickname for him, which Clay hadn’t used since she left.
Clay coughed. “When everyone’s out of here, I’m not comfortable leaving you and Meg on your own.”
Hitching a thumb in the front pocket of her jeans, April said, “Does that mean you’re going to assign Denali to guard duty?”
“That means I’m going to hang around for a while, if that’s okay. I don’t think you’ll see any more trouble. I didn’t, but a member of a drug cartel knows where you live and decided to put a severed head on your porch.”
“I do still have my gun at the house.” She tilted her head at him. “And I know how to use it because a hotshot Border Patrol agent taught me.”
“It probably needs to be cleaned. Do you even have bullets for it?”
“He taught me how to do that, too, and I’ll look for the bullets or buy them.” She fondled Denali’s ear. “But I wouldn’t mind the watchdog.”
Clay leveled a finger at her. “You’re going to take the bodyguard along with the watchdog.”
“Before, you asked me if it was okay if you stayed—now you’re telling me?”
“I didn’t think you’d reject my offer. I’ll even pick up dinner for you two.”
“You’re going to make Meg very, very nervous.”
April gazed past his shoulder, and he cranked his head around to watch Meg, body stiff, arms waving around as if casting a spell. She probably would cast a spell on April if she could.
“Let me handle Meg.”
“Better you than me.”
An hour later, the last official vehicle pulled away from the house, leaving behind the yellow police tape and some fingerprint powder on the gate and the porch.
Meg strolled down the two steps, making a wide berth around the spot where April had found the box. “When are you getting those security systems, Clay?”
“Tomorrow. I’ll install yours first and then mine. I’ll get some advice, but I’m thinking cameras, motion-sensor lights, the works.”
“Can you get one of those setups where I can tune in on my phone and watch what’s going on?” Meg glanced at April.
“Don’t look at me. I’m not going to be hanging around Paradiso much longer.”
Her words pricked his heart.
“April’s going to go back to Albuquerque to get the rest of her stuff, and I’m going with her.”
Meg’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you hightailed it out of there to help a friend in trouble. You’re actually moving from Albuquerque?”
“Yes.” April grabbed Clay’s arm. “Clay has offered to buy us dinner tonight, Meg. I accepted on your behalf.”
“I’m not going out. I’m exhausted.” She jingled her keys. “I am going to move my car into the driveway, though.”
“We’re not going out, either. I’m getting takeout. Any preferences?”
Meg’s gaze shifted from his face to April’s, a crease forming between her eyes. “Because you’re worried?”
“Let’s just call it cautious.” He held out his hand. “I’ll move your car around, and then I’ll get some Chinese.”
“Chinese is fine. I’ll eat anything, but I’m not liking this. I’ll feel better when we get the cameras up and running.” Meg poked April’s arm. “Are you going with him, or are you going to stay here?”
“I’ll stay here—me and Denali.” April hunched forward and patted her thigh. “C’mon, boy. Let’s go inside.”
As Clay swung through the front gate, he made a half turn. “Kung pao chicken and orange peel beef for you?”
“Absolutely. You remembered.”
The two women disappeared inside the house with Denali at their heels.
Clay let the gate slam behind him and murmured, “I remember everything.”

Chapter Eight
Once inside the house, April rummaged through the bags she’d brought in earlier. “I did some shopping in Tucson and bought a few things.”
“Seeing that head on the porch must’ve been horrible for you.” Meg leaned her hip against the arm of the couch. “I’m sorry you found it.”
April ducked her head inside one of her bags. “Would’ve been worse if you’d found it.”
“Because I didn’t see my mother murdered?” Meg clicked her tongue. “That doesn’t make you immune to atrocities, April. I would think it would bring back memories and stress you out.”
“Better to have all that stress going to one person instead of spreading it around.” April popped up and shook out a blouse. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, pretty.” Meg shook her head. “How did the reunion with Clay go?”
April sat back on her heels, her lips twisting into a smile. “Not as well as the reunion with Denali.”
The dog, hearing his name, thumped his tail but didn’t move from his spot in front of the empty fireplace.
“Can you blame him?” Meg kicked off her shoes and padded into the kitchen on bare feet. “I need a glass of wine after that horror show. You?”
“What goes with Chinese food?”
“All I drink is white, so I guess white.” Meg pulled open the fridge and emerged with an open, corked bottle of wine. “Did you ever give the poor guy a reason why you ran out on the wedding? Did you have a reason?”
Nobody but Adam knew the real reason, and April didn’t plan