Deadly Testimony (Safeguard #2)(40)

“I’ll let him know.” Funny how Nguyen didn’t seem concerned.

She stayed silent and waited.

Nguyen sighed. “I’m aware of the possibility of a leak internal to either my organization or the police. I don’t think they’d set up their own to be shot and I can tell you I haven’t found any sign of a leak in my organization. Can’t blame you for being wary but I’m telling you it’s not a leak.”

Could be true. But then again he could be wrong.

“There’s the possibility the shooter was canvasing the area and spotted Austin and Weaver based on their driving pattern. It’d explain why Decker wasn’t shot but he was probably observed when he didn’t react the way any normal person would witnessing the incident.” Another reason she didn’t want him reengaged. Having the deputy marshal sitting a short way from their new location, establishing his line of sight, would be like placing a big neon sign indicating their location. “If that’s the case, they’re good. And they know Decker’s face.”

“I almost prefer there be a leak.” Nguyen shook his head.

“No you don’t.” An internal breach in security was any organization’s worst nightmare. Suddenly, one of the people you rely on to watch your back could literally be the one to shoot you. Gabe had found that out the hard way.

Speaking of which.

“Ballistics report is still something I want, but quick question.” She finished off her drinking chocolate. “Did they identify what kind of rifle fired those shots?”

“An AK-101.” Nguyen stared at her, intent on catching whatever tells her expression would give him.

Not the best news she’d heard all day. But it wasn’t definitive. For one thing, Jewel didn’t smoke. Not even e-cigs. A sniper who also set small explosives didn’t necessarily mean it had been the former Centurion.

Jewel preferred to be unpredictable. Too much about what had been in the building she and Kyle had visited that day had been predictable. Boring.

No one who’d ever worked in the Centurion Corporation could be described that way.

“Were you all called in for the explosion in the elevator earlier today?” She’d figured he would be. It’d been too close to their initial location to ignore.

“If that was you, we can’t ignore it.” A warning note entered Nguyen’s voice.

She shook her head. “I was there and I took a look at the top floor. I did not place any explosives.”

Silence greeted her.

“Forensics should take a close look around that top floor.” Pressing on seemed like a good idea.

She and the Safeguard team had managed to operate within the letter of the law within city limits thus far. But eventually, any job could push a person into questionable circumstances. This was one of those days where she had to choose her words carefully.

She hadn’t placed the explosives, but she had triggered them.

“Anyone hurt?”

It was another few long seconds before Nguyen answered her. “No. A few very frightened people and one seriously confused security guard, but no one physically harmed. Forensics teams found a lot to occupy them on the top floor.”

She nodded. Good.

During the time they’d been there, Kyle hadn’t touched anything. Something she’d noted and been grateful for. She hadn’t wanted to have to wipe down after him, potentially obliterating other evidence. Their predecessor had handily blown all the dust away from the floor making it very unlikely either she or Kyle had left footprints either.

Forensics might get lucky and if they did, her job would be easier. But she was guessing the sniper was too professional to have left enough to identify himself or herself.

She was more interested in the police reaction to the finding.

“I’ll look forward to the findings along with the rest of the information I requested.” She slid off the stool and stood.

Nguyen offered his hand. “Working solo isn’t easy. You have to sleep sometime. What do you do with him when you do?”

A few choices images popped into her head.

“I’ve considered several options to keep him secure.” It was all she would admit to Nguyen.

“If you change your mind about backup, let me know.” A wry smile spread across the federal marshal’s face. “But I hear from Safeguard that you do well on your own.”

She shrugged. “I’m alive.”

Nguyen’s smile broadened. “Exactly.”

He might be complimenting her. It wasn’t something she was proud of.





Chapter Fourteen

“What are you doing?” Lizzy’s voice was a hissed whisper.

Kyle hadn’t heard her return at all. A feat, considering the way most hotel room doors eased close with a rather loud click. Then again, exercise was his form of meditation in many ways so maybe it wasn’t so much of a surprise that he’d stopped paying attention to his surroundings. He completed his set with two more push-ups and stood to face her. “Exercising. Again. What else is there to do in this room?”

A pause. There were several possible answers to his question and the sight of her expressions as she obviously thought through some of them made him grin. He was standing in nothing but his boxer briefs, after all. The rose flush rising up on her cheeks was incredibly intriguing.