Free Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

stirred feelings she battled daily—fear and vulnerability. Nothing new. Not since last year. Not since Brent Howard.
    Declan hopped up on the edge of Finley’s conference table. “Whatcha two up to?”
    “Trying to hunt down a missing package,” Griffin said.
    “Great.” Declan clapped his hands together. “I’ll help.”
    “Help with what?” Parker asked as he strode in.
    “We’re apparently searching for a missing package,” Declan said.
    “Don’t worry about it,” she said, trying to settle the unease churning inside from the mere thought of Brent Howard. “I’ll check with the rest of the staff tomorrow. I’m sure it’s here somewhere.” Hopefully it didn’t hold anything too time sensitive.
    “Chinese is ready in the lounge,” Declan said.
    “Great.” Finley placed a hand over her rumbling stomach. “I’m starved.”
    And she hoped the food would settle the queasiness. She’d had another night terror last night, no doubt triggered by the finding of Jane Doe’s body. She had to get over this. It was her profession, and she refused to let Brent Howard affect her love of her job. He’d already stolen her peace. She wouldn’t let him have any more.
    Please, Lord, let this case be straightforward from here on out. Don’t let it turn into another Howard case.
    But she knew in her heart this case was going to be anything but straightforward. God seemed to think her way stronger than she was.

    Griffin entered the lounge to find a tall, slender blonde waiting.
    “Everyone, I’d like you to meet my photographer, Avery Tate,” Parker said, swooping in behind him. “Avery, this is Chief Ranger Griffin McCray.”
    She nodded at him with a smile, and Griffin returned the gesture.
    “And this”—Parker clamped Declan on the shoulder as he entered—“is Federal Agent Declan Grey.”
    Avery looked between the men, and her eyes narrowed with a twinkle. “ The Griffin and Declan?”
    Declan smiled. “So you are telling stories out of school again?”
    “Like I said, only the good ones.” Parker winked.
    Great . Griffin sighed. He had no desire for a walk down memory lane.
    “And this . . .” Parker said, “is the renowned Dr. Scott.”
    Avery extended a hand. “It’s a pleasure, Dr. Scott.”
    “Finley, please.”
    Avery nodded.
    “Now that we’re all acquainted, how about we eat?” Griffin said, hoping to keep any story sharing to a minimum.
    Two brown paper sacks sat on the lounge table. He reached in and pulled one red-and-white container out after another.
    “Griff, you wanna say the blessing?” Declan asked once they’d all fixed their plates.
    “Sure.” He bowed his head.
    “Thank you, Father, for providing for all our needs. For this food we are grateful, and even more so for keeping Finley and me safe today. Thank you for not allowing us to be shot. Amen.”
    All eyes shifted to him.
    Declan arched his brows. “Something you want to tell us?”

    The ranger was good. Clearly there was more to him than met the eye. Only someone with a similar skill set could have caught sight of him. He placed the Dragunov in his case—cleaned and ready for next time. And there would be a next time. But first it was time to find out exactly whom he was dealing with.

12
    D o you think he followed you there?” Parker asked, taking a bite of kung pao chicken.
    “But how could he know we’d be there?” Finley asked, pinching her lo mein noodles with her chopsticks. “Unless he was one of the men we spoke to.”
    “I doubt it’s that easy,” Griffin said, popping a steamed dumpling in his mouth. Stranger things had happened, but finding Jane Doe’s killer at the first shooting range they’d visited seemed far too easy. And he couldn’t ignore the feeling that the man had been stalking them ever since they’d uncovered Jane Doe’s body.
    “Another possibility exists,” Parker said. “Someone you talked to could have let him know that you were poking around, asking