The Eyewitness

by Nancy C. Weeks

  The screen door opened. “That’s such a sweet thing to say,” Tessa said, approaching them. “Now why do I need to be reasonable and . . . ”

  “And levelheaded.” Emersyn scooted off the table. “Just this one time, and you can kill me later,” she added, taking her sister into her arms for a long overdue hug.

  “Okay, I bite. What’s up?”

  Alec rested on the edge of the table and tugged Emersyn against his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her heart warmed. He was taking this on his shoulders.

  “You can kill me, Tessa. I invited someone for dinner not knowing you were going to be here.”

  She shrugged. “Alec, this is your home. You can have anyone—”

  “Eric Logan,” Emersyn let out in a whisper. “Alec works with him now, and I thought it would be nice to have him over since they have been keeping such long, crazy hours working the case. I”—she glanced back at Alec—“we just got the dates wrong.”

  The sound of voices in the house cut her off. Three sets of eyes peered into the family room. Her mother was laughing with a man who towered over her as they made their way toward the back.

  “Be nice,” Alec murmured. “This was my mix-up. So sorry.”

  “I’m always nice.” Tessa shot Alec a glare. “And classy enough to welcome your guest to our home.”

  The last three words were said through clenched teeth. A hard laugh bubbled up inside Emersyn. Alec must have felt it because his hold tightened around her. This was going to be fun.

  “He’s super hot, tall, and yum,” Emersyn said playfully.

  “Shut it, sis.”

  “I have to agree with Tessa on this one, sweetheart,” Alec said.

  Emersyn peered out of the corner of her eyes. The glare was back. The laugh broke, doubling Emersyn over just as her mom and Eric came through the door.

  Her mother’s stare went from Tessa to Eric and back to Tessa. She didn’t blink. “Now this is what a mother loves. Most of her chicks home and enjoying each other,” she said, taking Tessa into her arms. “How was the drive?”

  “Long. It’s Friday. But I’m glad to be here.”

  “So am I. It’s been too long,”

  Tessa stepped back but kept her arm around her mother’s waist. She faced Eric. “Hello, Logan. You look the same.”

  “D’Azzo. It’s always a pleasure. I thought you were on a case in Chicago.”

  “Keeping up with me, are you? Well, I was. Now I’m not.” She turned back to her mother. “Mom, I have a little surprise. I’m going to need the use of my old bedroom. I’m working here for a while.”

  Dread sliced through Emersyn. “Where is here, Tessa?”

  “I’ve been asked help with the sniper task force and filter through all the new information—”

  “No,” Emersyn and Logan said simultaneously.

  Emersyn pulled out of Alec’s hold. “We barely got out of that nightmare. You can’t walk in the front door.”

  Tessa approached Emersyn. “I’m going to be in some corner doing data entry on Gates and the sniper, trying to find how they fit together. I couldn’t be safer.”

  “The sniper . . . Hell, Shadow Man will know, Tessa. I need you as far away from this as possible.” Emersyn turned to Eric. “Did you do this?”

  Eric’s posture stiffened. “No. I only got word that the FBI was sending us an analyst.”

  Her mother cleared her throat. “I think it will be wonderful having you home for a while. How about you and Eric help me in the kitchen?” She moved toward the house, and they followed her. At the screen door, she stepped away, allowing Tessa and Eric to enter before her. She met Emersyn’s stare. “I’ll give you as much time as I can.”

  Her mother closed the screen door. Emersyn eased back into Alec’s arms. “What is she talking about?”

  “That was for me,” he said and kissed her forehead.

  “Did you know about Tessa’s new assignment?”

  “Of course not. I would have told you. Your mom’s cryptic message was about us.”

  “You’re talking to my mom about us.”

  He lifted her chin with his finger. “This isn’t a bad thing, Em.”

  “Yeah, it is, when you’re playing wink-wink with my mom. I had enough of that growing up in this house without you adopting the habit.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “You lost me.”

  “Mom used to wink at my dad when she needed me to know something but didn’t want to be the one who brought down the ax.”

  Alec let out a deep chuckle. “This isn’t that. I mentioned to Grace that you and I are getting used to each other and taking things slow.”

  “There is nothing slow about us.”

  “What I mean is that we’re very comfortable with each other and keeping things simple until the crazy parts of our lives level out.”

  A new kind of dread shoved out the frustration. Emersyn swallowed her need to react. Instead, she took in a deep breath and rested her head on his shoulder. “And?”

  “Things aren’t settling down.”

  “But we’re still good?” She lifted her chin and met his stare. “Right?”

  His stance tensed, and Emersyn held her breath. The ax. It was coming, and she couldn’t stop it.

  “I also spoke with Father Anthony.”

  Emersyn dropped her arms and took a step back. “Okay, I’m trying like hell to give you a chance to get whatever is on your mind out. But, Alec, you’re scaring me.”

  He tugged her back to him. “Sorry. This is harder than I thought it would be.”

  She’d never been the bury-your-head-in-the-sand type of person . . . until this moment. She leaned against his chest. “They’re just words, Alec.”

  “Okay, since things aren’t changing, we need to change.”

  “Then we’ll change.”

  “Sweetheart, this isn’t a bad thing,” he said, chuckling.

  “Well then spit it out. How do you need me to change?”

  Alec lifted her into his arms, sat her back down on the table, and, like before, spread her legs so he could ease in close. “I never want you to change, but we can’t keep doing what we’ve been doing. I hate being away from you, you here every night and me alone at the townhouse.”

  “You’re the one who has a problem with being with me here. I’ve practically begged you to stay.”

  “It’s out of respect to your mom and dad. That can’t change. So we have to.”

  “How? This is a rock and a hard place. I can’t leave my mom alone right now. It’s too soon.” She paused. “But I guess with Tessa here, I can. Is that what you wanted to suggest? I’m all in.”

  For exactly one second, Emersyn’s world was right again. Then Alec spoke.

  “I’m not. You living with me is just as disrespectful as me living here.”

  Tears of frustration burned the backs of her eyes. “Then what, Alec?”

  “This.” He opened his palm.

  Emersyn gaped at her parents’ wedding bands. “Those are . . . ”

  “Joe and Grace’s rings. Grace removed her ring for you and gave me Joe’s. She knows that with this ring on my finger, I’ll always strive to be the kind of man he was. If you would rather find something all ours, we can do that too.”

  This can’t be happening. “You want this, now?”

  “Very much.”

  “Alec, you don’t know what you’re asking. I’m this crazy, happy person early in the morning. It drives everyone nuts. And I can be such a bitch when I’m hungry. When I’m over tired or in a hurry, Mom complains that she can follow my route through the house. I drop as I go, and—”

  “I know all this about you. I love you. And for the record, I promise to keep you well fed. You like my cooking.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  He eased in closer. “You want this, just say yes.”

  Excitement like she’d never experienced flowed through her. An instant later, a tidal wave of nerves took
up house, shoving the excitement out the window. What in the hell did she know about being a wife, Alec’s wife?

  The idea of living with Alec had occupied her thoughts for weeks. She would slowly move in, giving him time to get used to her. But this was much more thrilling—no, intimidating. He was proposing, and she was scared.

  “I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered. “Maybe the question would help.”

  “Okay.” He lowered to one knee.

  Emersyn pulled him back up. “No, please. I need you right here.”

  “I’m here. If I’m rushing us, if you’re not ready, I’ll understand, Em. I need you with me. This is one answer.”

  Silence filled the outdoors. The wildlife, insects, and wind seemed to have stopped what they were doing to spy on them. Emersyn moved her arms over Alec’s shoulders and nuzzled his neck. How could she fear a lifetime beside this man? He was a rock, her rock. The nerves died a quick death and joy filled her. “The question?”

  “You’re not making this easy, sweet Emersyn.”

  “Just a taste of what living with me is going to be like. Make sure you want me before you ask.”

  His lips found hers, moving gently at first, and then the world disappeared. He filled her with his love, and she returned it with gusto. He broke the kiss and cupped her bottom with both hands, tugging her tight against him. “Yeah, I want you, Emersyn D’Azzo. So, marry me, make a life with me, and nothing will come between us.”

  Emersyn wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m in. There is nothing I want more. So, yes, Alec Pearce. I’m going to marry you and make you so happy, you’re going to walk around with this silly grin on your face you can’t hide.”

  “I can live with that. And the rings?”

  “Perfect, like you.”

  “I’m far from perfect, but you’re my life. Things aren’t finished with your dad. I won’t stop until I find who tore him from your life.”

  “Dad was taken from us.” She took his hands in hers. “We’re going to finish this together. But it can’t consume us. It took years for me to realize all Dad wanted from me was to be safe and happy. Wherever he is, we’re going to ease his mind by enjoying each other and not allowing anything to come between us. “You, me, our family, it’s everything.” She turned toward the door where her mother and sister stood quietly, tears welling in their eyes.

  “Ah hell, Em. Why are they crying? I thought they would like . . . ”

  Emersyn brushed her lips over his, cutting off his question. “Those are happy tears.”

  He studied them for a moment then asked, “How do you tell the difference?”

  “It’s okay, Alec. I have the next fifty years to teach you all you need to know about women and our crazy ways.”

  He tugged her into him. “Only fifty years? That’s all I get?”

  “That’s all I’m demanding. Then you get to ask me to marry you again.”

  Acknowledgments

  There are so many amazing people I need to thank for helping make this book a reality. If I forgot anyone, I’m so sorry.

  In The Eyewitness, I ventured into the incredible world of forensic science. To Timothy J. Curtis, Metropolitan Police, Washington D.C., retired, thank you so much for sitting down with me and allowing me to pick your brain. Your comments and clarifications in the numerous emails we shared were so helpful in developing The Eyewitness’s storyline. I’m very grateful for your time and have such respect for what you do. You, and all the men and women in the field of forensic science are the example of unsung heroes. You have my deepest gratitude.

  To my amazing editor, Julie Sturgeon, thank you for your fantastic edits. I don’t know how you do what you do, but I appreciate you so much. I send you a manuscript and you send back what I think of as our book. I hope we can do this again many times in the future.

  And a huge thank you to all the wonderful, talented people at Crimson Romance who work so hard to get this book into the hands of readers. I love our partnership.

  To my best friend and the love of my life, my husband. You ground me and keep me sane. There would be no book without your amazing encouragement. You have taught me in so many ways what true love means. I love you and thank God every day you are in my life.

  To my kids, Martin and Megan, my heartbeats, I love you so much and can’t thank you enough for your laughter, support, and endless patience. And can I just say how amazing I think you both are? You truly inspire me.

  And, finally, I can’t write a book without my daily therapy from my dear sisters, Terriann, Mary, and Elizabeth. You know what you mean to me, what we mean to each other. ILYWOSMH!!!

  About the Author

  Nancy C. Weeks has loved happy-ever-after romances since she was in her early teens. While still in college, she met and married her hero. She spent the next several years honeymooning and working overseas. Today, she lives in suburban Maryland with her husband of more than thirty years. With her two grown children out of the nest, she loves spending her days on her deck writing as the local bird population keeps her company.

  Where you can find more about Nancy C. Weeks:

  Website: http://nancycweeks.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyCWeeksAuthor

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyCWeeks

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7009278.Nancy_C_Weeks

  Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nancycweeks/

  Turn the page for an excerpt from

  In the Shadow of Greed

  Chapter One

  March Noran Defense Systems, Annapolis Junction, Maryland

  This is agony—self-inflicted agony.

  Dr. Sarah Tu sat at her terminal and combed through the project’s test results one more time, trying not to yank her hair out. Something was off with the test, but she just couldn’t see it.

  She leaned back in her chair and scanned her computer lab. Her team was out celebrating, and with their absence, gone was the constant noise, panic-charge energy, and chaos. There was almost an eerie, pin-drop silence left behind. The only sound came from the constant hum of cooling fans behind the row of servers.

  Sarah took a moment and closed her tired eyes. Between the flickering overhead lighting and the glare off her computer monitor, all that registered was a dance of white spots. She rubbed the strain from her temples, shook off the exhaustion, and opened her eyes, focusing her attention on the screen.

  The new computer virus propagated across the test environment’s virtual network. In the test, the command and control servers of the QUALNTO botnet were being infected much faster than the live results seemed to suggest.

  “Why aren’t the tests the same?” she muttered to herself.

  An alarm from her cell phone filled the silent room. She glanced at her wristwatch and cringed.

  Shit. I need just a few more minutes.

  She refocused her attention on the computer monitor. “It’s not replicating fast enough.” She raked both hands over her face. “But, is that the fault of the test environment—or did we mess up?”

  “You didn’t mess up, Dr. Tu. You’re just being your obsessive self,” Henry Norcross, the CEO of Noran said from the doorway.

  Sarah jerked back from the terminal and faced the lab’s entrance. She had been so engrossed; she never heard the whoosh of her lab door open. “Hi, Henry,” she said, trying to smile, but she knew it never reached her eyes. How could she muster a smile when all she wanted to do was hit something?

  “Sarah, what are you doing back here? Your team is working their way through my liquor cabinet.” He raised his cell phone. “And your sister is tearing up my phone with texts.”

  Heat spread to Sarah’s cheeks. “Sorry, Hanna shouldn’t be bothering you.”

  “Hanna and I made a pact.”

  “Oh, good grief,” she moaned, cross her arms around her waist, and pinned her boss with a glare. “What kind of pact?”

  “We’ve decided since you seem incapable o
f having a little fun, we would force fun on you.”

  “I know how to have fun.” She lifted her hands and her gaze scanned the abandon lab. “This is fun.”

  Henry shook his head and strolled further in the room. He took a moment and studied the line of code on her laptop. “You’re as bad as a young mother who follows her kindergartner’s bus to school.” He nodded at the screen. “You worked months on this project. It’s amazing, brilliant even. All you have to do is step away and let it do its job.”

  “But . . . ”

  “No buts. Get the hell out of this lab. Celebrate with your team, or better yet, with your sister on the warm sands of Myrtle Beach and drink yourself silly.”

  “I just need fifteen minutes to go over the specs again and I’m out of here.”

  Henry let out a noisy sigh. “Fine. Cross your T’s. Just remember, I made your sister a promise. Don’t make me break it.”

  This time Sarah did smile. Henry Norcross was her best friend, the greatest mentor anyone could ask for. He had Sean Connery’s physique and Ernest Borgnine’s smile, the perfect grandfather figure, and she adored him.

  He moved toward the door and turned. “Sarah, your life is out there,” he said, pointing beyond the lab. “It’s not in this sterile lab. And please don’t keep Hanna waiting for too long. I hate what that does to you.”

  “Fifteen minutes, twenty tops.”

  • • •

  How could she do this to me again? I’m going to kill her.

  Hanna Tu wiped a nonexistent stain from the kitchen table with a damp towel and glanced at the wall clock for the tenth time in five minutes. Her gaze turned to the luggage, pillows, and grocery bags filled with various calorie-laden snacks that littered the floor of the small foyer. Everything five young women would need for a week at the beach.

  Three angry blasts from a car horn followed by two more honks resounded in the apartment. Hanna peered through the kitchen window. The parking lot a story below was bathed in vibrant rays of red, orange, and yellow sunlight streaking across the evening sky.

  She glanced at the clock again, guilt eating away at her gut. She and her friends should have been sitting at an outdoor patio table overlooking the ocean while gorging themselves on fabulous, greasy Buffalo wings and margaritas.