Deadly Deception by Alexa Grace Page B

coffee in there."
     
    "Are you saying you won't agree to number two?"  She asked with hands on her hips.
     
    "I didn't say that.  I agree, damn it.  Are there any more rules?"
     
    "No."
     
    "So you'll agree to go undercover with me?"
     
    She accepted Lane’s hand extended to her and shook it.  "Yes.  I'll tell Uncle Tim tomorrow after I talk to Ted about taking over my self-defense classes while I'm gone.  I also need to talk to Anne."
     
    "Why Anne?"
     
    "Ted isn't as computer savvy as Anne.  I'm hoping she'll take over that part of the business until I return."
     
    "So why did you decide to help me?"
     
    "You didn't have to help me last night but you did.  I'm returning the favor." 
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
     
    Sheriff Tim Brennan expected to see Frankie sitting across the desk from him at their 10:00 a.m. meeting.  What he didn't expect was to hear the words, "I'll do the undercover op."
     
    "Now you understand the undercover operation is with Lane Hansen?"  Tim tilted his brow, looking at her uncertainly.
     
    "I do."
     
    "This is the same Lane Hansen who shot you last year."  Tim was having a little difficulty Frankie wanted to participate in an operation with the man that shot her.
     
    "That was an accident."
     
    "And you're sure you want to go undercover with Hansen?"
     
    "Yes, I'm sure."
     
    "If you're sure, so am I.”  His smile spread ear to ear as he looked at the niece he adored.  She had the strong will and determination of his sister, her mother, and conviction of her late father along with his whiskey brown eyes.  He felt as protective of Frankie as he did of his only child, Jennifer, who was a student at Indiana University.  He didn't know what he would do if anything happened to either of them.
     
    Frankie picked up one of the many framed photos of Jennifer on his credenza.  "I miss her.  I should have stopped in to see her when I was in Bloomington a couple of weeks ago.  Is she coming home for the weekend soon?"
     
    "Not likely.  She says she has a lot of tough classes this term and spends all her time in the library, weekends included.  Her mom and I haven't seen her in a couple of months." 
     
    “Sounds like she’s really busy,” said Frankie.  "So what's the next step for the undercover thing?"
     
    Tim picked up the receiver to his phone.  "Let's see if Hansen is in."  He touched a button on speed dial.  "Hansen, can you meet with us?"  He hung up and moved over to a small round conference table near a window and motioned for Frankie to join him.  Within seconds, Lane sat across from her.
     
    "Hansen, Frankie has agreed to join you undercover."  His tone was even and he made an effort not to frown at Lane.  Just because Frankie agreed to do it didn't mean he had to be overjoyed about it.
     
    Lane reached across the table to shake Frankie's hand.  "Thank you." 
     
    "I have a little lecture that I want you two to take seriously.  Keep things between you professional not personal.  I've seen too many operations go to hell in a hand basket because a cop got emotional.  Because he let things become personal.  Keep emotions out of it.  Do you understand?"
     
    Both Lane and Frankie nodded solemnly. 
     
    "For the next seven days, you're in training — starting now.  Your first assignment is to be done as a couple.  In fact, moving in together immediately is not a bad idea.  Adjust to doing things together.  Get to know each other better so you can identify each other's strengths and weakness.  Learn to balance each other out.  Your first assignment is to find out everything you can using all of your resources about Dr. Eric Caine and his adoption agency.  You've got until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. when we will meet in my office.  When I see you again, I will have your new identities and the house where you will stay in Bloomington.  Now get out of here.  You have a lot to