“Winters.”
“It’s Trevor.”
“Hey, Trevor.” Trace didn’t bother asking how the man got his number. “What’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“Hospital.”
“Is Emma with you?”
“She’s in Mac’s room. I’m out in the hall. Why?”
“I just got off the phone with Eric West. He wants Emma to meet him at the ME’s office.”
“Emma?” Why the hell did the detective want Emma to come to the ME’s office?
“He’s on his way there from the scene of a body dump. Said he thinks they just found our bomber.”
“He’sdead?”
“Maybe.” Trevor blew out a breath. “Prints came back to a Todd Branson. Derek’s running a deep background now, but it’s going to take some time. That’s why Eric wants Emma to meet us. The guy’s description fits, but he needs a positive ID from their eyewitness. Since Emma was the one who spoke to him...”
Shit.Trace rubbed the muscles at the back of his neck and sighed. “Couldn’t West just send her a picture instead?”
He hated the idea of her having to make an ID in person. Not that she couldn’t handle it. She’d already proven to be one of the strongest women he knew. Hell, as far as he knew, she hadn’t even broken down over the whole bomb scene yet.
The other women he’d dated would’ve been a blubbering mess the second the explosion happened. Not his Emma.
You’re not dating, dipshit. And she sure as hell isn’t yours, so knock that shit off.
“Winters, you still there?” Trevor’s voice broke through his wild thoughts.
“Yeah.” Trace cleared his throat. “I’m here.”
“I’ll text you the address. Until we know for sure it’s our guy, I’d like you to stick close to Emma. Just in case.”
“Copy that.”
“If you leave now, we should get there at about the same time. I’ll see you there.”
Ending the call, Trace looked back at the room’s open door. His phone dinged with Trevor’s text as he stood there, listening as Emma laughed with her brother and Mac.
His heart swelled at the enchanting sound. Then it began aching at the thought of what he was about to ask of her.
Walking back into the room, all heads turned toward him.
Sensing the change in his mood, Coop asked, “Everything good?”
“That was Trevor. He said Detective West just called him.”
“And?”
Trace slid his gaze to Emma. “They think they found the bomber.”
“Really?” Her eyes grew wide. “That’s great!”
“Nah, there’s something else.” Coop eyed him closely. “Something you’re not telling us.”