Edge of Midnight (McClouds & Friends #4)(90)

“No,” Sean broke in. “I don’t want Miles involved.”

Con grunted. “The kid’s got to get some experience. He’s bright, and hungry, and already in place. I think he’s even taken classes from that chemistry professor, what was the guy’s name? Beck?”

“No,” Sean said vehemently. “He can hack. That’s all. I do not want him seen asking questions. T-Rex would wipe Miles out.”

“Speaking of getting wiped out. We raided the gun safe in your condo and brought you a few pieces of your arsenal,” Connor said.

“That’s great news,” Sean said fervently. “Oh, yeah. Nick, could you run some prints on T-Rex’s Beretta?”

“Do I have yours for comparison somewhere?”

“Actually, it was Liv who got hold of his gun and emptied the clip. You’ll need her prints, too.”

The silence was broken by an appreciative snicker from Tam.

Davy cleared his throat, and gave Liv an appraising glance. “She does look a hell of a lot better than you, now that you mention it.”

“T-Rex looks pretty bad, too,” Sean said defensively.

“Bad enough so he would seek professional medical help?”

“No more so than us,” Sean replied. “Some stitches and he’ll be ready to rock. He got my blade in his ass, a bad bite on the wrist—”

“You bit a guy?” Con grimaced.

“Not me.” Sean jerked his chin at Liv. “Her. Stabbed him through the cheek with a rusty nail, too. I’m telling you, the chick is lethal.”

“Was this before or after she emptied the clip at him?” Nick asked.

“Before.” Sean grinned, proudly. “Don’t get on her bad side.”

“I missed,” Liv broke in. “By a mile. So it doesn’t count.”

“Bullshit,” Tam said briskly. “You just need the right gun.”





Chapter 18



“W hat do you mean, no? Why not?” Miles realized that he was yelling into the phone. He shoved against the stained basement wall with his feet, sending the wheels of his desk chair bumping and rattling angrily across the concrete floor. “No means no.” Con’s voice was steely. “Sean doesn’t want—”

“Sean thinks I’m a snot-nosed idiot. We’re not talking about rescuing hostages, or rappeling out of a helicopter! We’re talking about asking fat-ass Professor Beck what Kev was doing at the Colfax! I aced the guy’s classes. I know how he likes his ass kissed. What’s the worst that could happen, if I mentioned this Midnight Project to him?”

Con snorted. “And how do you propose to justify your curiosity?”

“I could say I found Kev’s research notes,” Miles improvised. “I could say I’m reconstructing some work he was doing for his thesis.”

“A two-hundred-and-fifty pound gorilla stuck a sharp knife under Sean’s girlfriend’s ear yesterday and asked her questions very closely related to the ones that you propose to ask Beck,” Con said. “Look into who sold the building. That’s all. Take this dead serious, hear me?”

Miles blew out an explosive breath. “Sure, I hear you,” he said. “I hear that you all think I’m a f*cking infant. And I’m fed up with it.”

“No, we don’t, and I’m sorry you feel that way.” Con’s voice was calm and even. “How’s the other project coming along?”

“OK,” Miles said sullenly. “Jared’s hot to meet Mina, but she wants to get to know him better before she risks a face-to-face. She’s wary, been burned before. Shy fawn, and all that. I emailed you a transcript of last night’s chat. Seen it yet?”

“No. I was at Davy’s all night, working on this other thing.”

Miles practically snorted. Typical McCloud, to refer to an investigation into his brother’s murder as “this other thing.”

“Gotta go, Miles,” Connor said. “Watch yourself, OK?”

“Why should I bother?” Miles said bitterly. “No one ever lets me participate.” He slammed the phone down.

“Wow, aren’t you sweet tempered today.”

He spun around with a yelp. Cindy leaned in the door. A bomb-shell, in cutoffs that showed off an endless expanse of tanned thigh. A pink halter top that showcased her pointy little tits. Her hair hung loose and glossy down her back.

His mouth went dry. “Could you knock, for once in your life?”

“I would have, but the door was open,” she said. “Your mom told us to come on down. You should clue her in as to my status in the doghouse. She still seems to think that I’m your good buddy.”

A gangling kid with curly black hair and huge black eyes peeked in after her. “This is Javier,” Cindy announced, dragging him inside.

“Oh. Yeah.” Shit. He’d been so wound up arguing with Connor, he’d forgotten all about giving in to Cindy’s bullying yesterday. He waved them in. “Go sit down,” he said sourly. “I’ll get stuff set up.”

“Were you, uh, in a fight, or what?” Javier asked.

Miles touched his sore, swollen nose. He looked pretty scary, with his nose all puffed up. He rummaged through his equipment, gathering cables, mikes, jacks, DAT. “I guess you could say that,” he mumbled.