Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(38)

Not that it was his fault that the two shifters had been allowed to escape from this building. Or that his lead scientist had gone AWOL with their most sensitive research. Or that the damned shifters had threatened him with information they shouldn’t have.

Still, he’d been in the military before joining the SAU. When he took the job of Director, he understood that it meant he would take the blame for any screw-ups. Period.

Which was why he was in his office at this hour, instead of home with a good bottle of bourbon and his dogs.

He tapped an impatient finger on the top of his desk, watching as Richard Grant entered the room. The head of security came to a halt just inside the door.

Dressed in camo, the man had a square face that was emphasized by his buzz haircut. He had a handgun in a holster strapped around his waist, and no doubt several more weapons hidden on various parts of his body.

“Have you located Talbot?” Markham demanded, not bothering to offer the man a seat.

His office was like the Director himself. Large. Meticulous. Without any unwelcome clutter.

It was designed to be functional, not inviting to guests.

“No.” Grant grimaced. “It’s like he fell off the grid. No cell phone calls, no texts, no bank transactions, no activity on his computer.”

“Damn.”

When Markham had fired Dr. Frank Talbot, his head of research, he hadn’t anticipated that the bastard would be able to use the chaos during the prisoners’ escape to sneak away. Like the damned coward he was.

And, in truth, Markham wouldn’t give a shit what happened to the traitor if it weren’t for the fact that he’d taken information that could potentially destroy the SAU if it fell into the wrong hands.

“I think we should work under the assumption that the shifters have him and that he’s been compromised,” Grant said, clasping his hands behind his back and standing at attention as he waited for Markham’s orders.

A perfect soldier.

Markham gave a sharp nod. He’d held out hope that they would be able to track Talbot down and quietly dispose of him. Now, time was running out.

They had to take action before disaster hit.

“Have all the locks on the building changed and back up all the computers to a secure location. Once you’re sure we have the files copied, I want the computers in this building wiped clean,” he said in decisive tones. “I don’t want a damned government oversight committee coming in here to try and claim animal abuse or some other bullshit.”

Grant nodded. Everyone who worked at the SAU knew that they weren’t universally loved. In fact, there were several congressmen who hoped to earn the votes of the bleeding hearts by shutting the SAU down.

They’d use any excuse to nail his ass to the wall.

“You got it,” Grant said.

“Oh, and tell the nerd herd to scale back on our testing until we can be sure we aren’t being watched,” he continued.

Grant made a sound of frustration. “We’re going to lose weeks of research.”

Markham narrowed his gaze. “Do you want to be hauled before Congress and interrogated?”

“Hell, no.” The man shuddered in horror. “What I want is to know how the hell those shifters got their hands on those files.”

Grant wasn’t the only one who wanted answers. Markham, however, wasn’t going to share the fact that he’d been contacted by someone who might be able to provide the information he needed.

“You just worry about-” Markham’s words were cut short by a shrill beeping sound that abruptly reverberated through the room. “What the hell?”

Grant pulled out his cell phone to glance at the screen that was flashing.

“Our perimeter alarm has been triggered.”

“Shit.” Markham shoved himself to his feet. What now? “Get a team and check it out.”

Grant pulled out his gun, turning toward the open door. “I’ll report back when we locate the intruder.”

“Grant.” Markham halted the man’s exit. “If it’s one of the animals, make sure you take them alive,” he commanded. “I have questions I want answered.”

Grant offered a grim nod then headed out of the office and jogged down the hall.

Left alone, Markham dropped back into his chair. Then, yanking open his bottom drawer, he pulled out a bottle of bourbon and a small glass.

It was going to be another long night.

****

Nicole hunkered in the thick brush, watching the humans as they scurried toward the back gate where she’d deliberately tripped the alarm.

Silently, she counted each guard and noted which exit they used to leave the building. At the same time, she kept a close eye on the spots that were left unattended as they rushed to the unseen threat.

A narrow side gate was the most obvious hole in their security, but she couldn’t be sure there weren’t cameras keeping watch on it. There was also a small shed built outside the grounds that was close enough for a wolf to use to leap over the barbed wire that protected the top of the high fence.

Intent on determining the best means of entering the headquarters, she once again failed to catch the scent of the man who she’d encountered just an hour ago. Not until he was squatting directly in front of her.

“What the f*ck?” he snarled in low tones, his beautiful face tight with fury.