Zod barked from behind the door and darted out as they walked in. Eliza watched him sniff around the yard before reliving himself. She slipped out of her shoes at the door but instead of tucking them off to the side, she tucked them inside the coat closet. There was no use tempting the dog into misbehaving.

Gwen played the messages while Eliza set the guns on kitchen counter so she could clean them.

There was one hang up, a message from Sam inviting them for lunch on Saturday, and a message from Karen asking for a call back.

Gwen decided to shower and remove the gunpowder from her skin, and Eliza called Karen back.

"Stanly was more nervous than a teenage boy on his first date."

"He's sweet."

"I understand why you'd want him to find the right woman and not the woman for now."

"So you agree he needs to have a real wife and not a temporary one?"

"I do. If he were twenty years younger I'd take him for me," Karen said.

"Twenty?"

"Okay, thirty. Aunt Edie might be too much for him, but it's worth a shot."

Eliza couldn't be happier. "Did you meet the kids?"

"No. We met at a coffee shop. I think his driver was on the phone with someone while he waited, so my guess is the kids know he met with a younger woman."

She hoped Stanly's kids were sweating. "Should I ask Stanly if he wants to meet your aunt, or are you going to do that?"

"I asked if he would have dinner with Aunt Edie and I on Thursday."

"Does he know it's a set up?"

"I don't think so. But I noticed the relief in his eyes when I told him I couldn't see him romantically and suggested we have a nice dinner with my aunt."

"Which is for the best. His Viagra prescription is probably expired."

"Ewehh," Karen said laughing. "He's so focused on teaching his kids a lesson that we agreed to get together Thursday to keep them guessing. When I told him about Aunt Edie's Risotto, he couldn't resist."

"What will you tell your aunt?"

"Only that I'm bringing a friend for dinner. She's used to that."

"I want a report first thing Friday morning."

"Sure thing."

Chapter Fifteen.

"This is becoming a habit, detectives," Carter leaned against the doorframe of Dean and Jim's office and crossed his arms over his chest. "And I'm not taking another shoe-chewing dog home to Eliza."

Jim stood and thrust out a hand for Carter to shake. Dean followed.

"Thank you for coming."

Like before, they ducked into a conference room for privacy.

"How's Zod working out?"

"Other than the shoe thing, he's fine. Eliza won't make him go places with her, but he is at the house."

Dean and Jim exchanged a look.

"What is it?"

"We assume Eliza told you why she needs the dog."

"She told me."

"Did she tell her friend, Mrs. Harrison?"

"Samantha is Eliza's best friend. What do you think?"

Again, the two cops looked at each other.

"Do you know if Mrs. Harrison has any connection to her father?" Jim asked.

"The one in prison?" Carter hadn't seen the question coming.

"Yes."

"They've been estranged since his conviction according to Blake. Why?"

When Jim glanced over to his partner again, Carter waved a hand between the two of them. "Why?" he demanded.

"Mrs. Harrison's father is jailed in the same place as the man responsible for Eliza's parents' death."

"Sam has nothing to do with her dad. I don't see how this is a problem."

"Just because Samantha doesn't want anything to do with her father, doesn't mean her father isn't interested in what is happening with his daughter. We know for a fact that wedding photos have made their way into Mr. Elliot's cell. Can you see where this is going, counselor?"

Carter's pulse leapt and he felt an uncharacteristic urge to scratch his palms. "Eliza was a child when her parents were murdered." Even as Carter voiced the words, he knew these men would shatter any hope he had of their fears being for nothing.

Dean opened a folder he'd brought into the room and handed Carter a photograph. In it was a woman who looked exactly like Eliza snuggled next to a robust man in his forties. Beside them was a young girl with her dark hair in a ponytail and a missing tooth within her silly smile.

"Not only does Eliza look like her late mother, she sounds like her too."

Carter ran his finger over the photograph. Eliza was a beautiful girl, even then.

"If Eliza insists on staying in her current life, she has to be better protected."

Carter's mind was twirling. He hardly registered the noise beyond the door of their conference room until it opened and a familiar furry face walked in.

"This had better be good," Eliza walked beside Zod and stopped talking when she noticed Carter sitting in the room. "What are you doing here?"

"We asked him to come," Dean said, closing the door behind her. He gave the dog a pet and pulled out a chair.

Carter stood and gravitated closer to Eliza. Her dark hair slid over one shoulder and looked like silk. He reached for her hand and linked his fingers with hers. The itchy palms faded with her touch.

"What's going on?" Eliza's cocky smile faded as she looked at the expressions in the room. "What happened?"

"Nothing...not yet," Jim said.

Dean tucked his hands in his pockets. "You need tighter security."

"Why? Cujo here is doing a great job."

"Only if he's with you. I'm told you leave home without him."

Eliza glared at Carter, and he knew what a snitch felt like after getting caught by his friends.

"Big scary dogs with huge teeth and biting tendencies aren't welcome in many places."

"Which is why you need a bodyguard."

"I have a killer security system and a roommate with good aim. I think I'm good." In all her tough talk, Carter felt her damp palm squeeze his.

"It's not enough."

Eliza was shaking her head, and Carter felt her denial before she could say the words. "I'm not going to have someone tagging around behind me, Dean."

"What about me?" Carter asked.

"Don't you have an office to get into? You can't be my personal bodyguard."

The hell I can't.

"It's a bodyguard or you have to disappear," Dean's tone shifted from informative to direct. "This isn't a joke."

Eliza shook her head.

"Dammit, Eliza!" Dean yelled. Everyone jumped, even the dog.

Carter let her hand go and stood in front of the other two men. "I need a minute alone with her."

Jim stood and made to exit the room.

Dean glared. "Fine, but think about this before you say no again." He pointed a finger at her. "Your picture was found in Ricardo's cell."

Dean slammed out of the room with Jim in tow.

When Carter turned around, Eliza's face had grown white. Her eyes glossed over, and she didn't look at him when he knelt beside her. He grasped both her hands in his and held tight.

"Is he lying?" she asked.

Carter couldn't be sure, but Dean's words were floating around in her head and making her think. "Why would he?"

"To get his way."

"Dean seems to care about what happens to you. I don't think he'd lie to make you bend to his will."

She blew out a long-suffering sigh and squeezed her eyes shut. "Damn," she whispered under her breath.

To Carter, the key to fixing the problem was simple. All he had to do was convince Eliza.

"I have the perfect solution."

"An underground bunker in New Mexico?"

He was already on his knee so he took a chance. "Marry me."

Her eyes sprung open. "Haven't we been over this before?"

It wasn't a no.

"Sure, but that was to help me get into office. Now it's to protect you from a crazy man who is responsible for your parent's deaths. We can take care of both our problems with one signature."

Eliza's eyes took on a softer edge. "Getting married will screw up your love life with other women."

She still hadn't said no. Carter's palms went damp.

"The lady I'm currently dating won't think I'm cheating on her."

Eliza gave a painful smile. "You're out of town all the time. How can you be my bodyguard?"

"As my wife, I can arrange security fit for the president."

"I don't know..."

"Is it me? I thought we were doing rather well. Didn't you like the flowers?"

"I loved the flowers."

"My skills with the crab fork turned you off?"