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her policy of leaving work outside the confines of her home. “I need to whip up a dessert. Remember we’re all invited to Jacob and Barbara’s tonight.”
    “I’ll have a headache.”
    Danika refused to give up that easily. “Won’t you reconsider and go with us?”
    Sandra narrowed her brows.
    “I hate to beg,” Danika continued. “But you know how uncomfortable it is for me there. And you’re my rock.”
    Sandra crossed her arms over her small chest and shook her head, her black ponytail accentuating her response. “God is your rock, not your nanny. Besides, Lucy will be there.”
    “I know seeing your employer at a social outing can be awkward, but do you detest her that badly?”
    Sandra lifted her chin. “You’re my boss. Lucy just writes me a check.”
    “I understand, really I do. Sorry I pressed you.” Danika didn’t want to spend an evening at the Morales home either. Jacob’s temperament had steadily declined since Toby had died, and to make matters worse, he was highly critical of Barbara and their children. The way he treated them was appalling. Add to that his overprotectiveness of Danika and Tiana, and it made for an unpleasant evening. Tiana steered clear of him, and she couldn’t hear a word her uncle said. In this case, her daughter’s deafness was a blessing. But Tiana must sense the animosity in the home. Whenever the agents were together, Jacob huddled over her, breathing down her neck like a dragon as if he were her guardian.
    The other agents laughed at his domineering attitude, but not Danika. She’d earned a reputation of being a good agent by clawing her way to prove herself in a mostly male-dominated role. Repeatedly she’d told him to back off. She could do her job and converse with the other agents without his permission. Toby had been his brother, but that didn’t give Jacob the right to supervise her life.
    While waiting with Livi at the hospital, Danika realized she wasn’t any closer to solving Toby’s murder. Or was she? She suspected today’s shooter probably knew more about Toby’s killer than she did, and that frustrated her. Tomorrow she’d do a little more investigating—read the reports one more time and look for a lead.
    An hour later, Danika lifted a fresh blueberry cobbler from the oven and scooted it into an insulated bag. She pulled a huge platter of avocados and tomatoes from the fridge and grabbed a bunch of green onions and jalapeños. She set the vegetables on the table to free her hands.
    “Ready?” she signed to Tiana.
    Tiana looked around and signed for Sandra.
    Danika shook her head. “She’s staying home. Just you and Mommy are going to the barbecue at Uncle Jacob and Aunt Barbara’s.”
    Although Danika was certain Tiana understood, the child appeared perplexed.
    Danika bent to her level. “You’ll have fun with your cousins.”
    Tiana frowned and signed, “No.”
    Another member of the family who didn’t want to make an appearance at Jacob and Barbara’s. Danika hid her exasperation. Couldn’t really blame Tiana or Sandra. But Jacob and Barbara were family, all the family either of them had—at least the ones who acknowledged them.
    “I’ll go,” Sandra said, walking toward them from her room.
    Danika released her appreciation in a soft sigh. “Thanks so much. We’ll make it a short night.”
    “That’s my condition. The last time nearly did me in.”
    “Jacob or Lucy?”
    “Both.”
    “Once Tiana starts reading lips, we’re going to have to watch what we say.”
    Sandra picked up the plate of fresh vegetables. “She already knows too much. Remember what you told me? Most of our communication is body language.”
    Danika stifled a laugh and stared at her precious little girl, then glanced back at Sandra. “Okay. If the heat rises, we’re out of there.”
    “My kind of woman.” Sandra always amazed her with something she said or read.
    “Let’s make a deal. If Lucy corners you—and I know she likes to