On Her Master's Secret Service (Masters and Mercenaries #4)(18)

“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot of good things about that company you started with Taggart. You have some serious contracts. Is it true you’re working with the Secret Service?”

They had been consulting on certain details of travel, but they’d signed a metric shit ton of non-disclosure agreements. “I have no knowledge of that.”

A knowing chuckle came over the line. “Got it, man. I told Eddie he should call you when the campaign heats up in a couple of months. You know he’s going for the nomination.”

Edward Petty. Senator from Oklahoma. Warren’s brother had his eye on the White House. He’d been in the senate for the last six years. Alex remembered when Eddie was just a fresh-faced kid who had lucked into a congressional seat. “We’re close enough. We can certainly handle his security and run background on everyone surrounding him. He can’t take that seriously enough, you know.”

A low chuckle came over the line. “Oh, I know. I think Eddie has learned that lesson along the way. Everyone wants something from him. Alex, it’s so good to hear from you.”

Because he hadn’t called his old partner in forever. Their friendship had been one more victim of Evans. “Well, I have a favor.”

“Anything.”

“Have you got new information on Evans?” He hesitated to mention what Kristen had discovered. He didn’t know her yet, couldn’t trust her.

Warren sighed, a low sound. “Man, you need to let that go. I know how much you want this guy. God, no one knows more than I do. I know what happened, but I promise, I’m doing everything I can to find Evans. The f*cker seems to have disappeared. I’ve gotten some CIA intel that he’s working somewhere in South America with a cartel.”

Narcoterrorists. It fit with what Kristen had told him. “I can’t let it go and you know why. I have some connections now. I might be able to give you some insight. Could you just let me look at the new intelligence? I know it’s not protocol.”

“I could bring you on as a consultant, Alex, but do you really think that’s a good thing to do? You’re still with Eve, right? Does she know you’re looking into this?”

He didn’t want to talk about this shit. “Eve and I are fine. She isn’t particularly interested in this case. I’m just looking around. I’m curious. You would be, too. If this happened to Alice, you would always want to be in the loop. You know it.”

A long pause came over the line. “I know. I don’t want this case to go cold. It eats at me.”

“I know, man.” Warren had been by his side after Eve had been taken, staying up late helping to look for her. “I just want to look at the new information.”

Maybe there was something in there that would jump-start his brain and put him in the proper mindset. He had the original files practically memorized, but there was five years of information he hadn’t been privy to, including all the files on Evans’s escape. He’d been out of the loop by then because his wife had become a victim.

“Things have tightened up around here. I have to get you clearance. I’m sorry, but I’m about to be under a lot of scrutiny because of Eddie.”

Damn it. Bureaucratic red tape. And Warren was right. The minute Eddie threw his hat in the nomination ring, the press and Eddie’s opposition would scrutinize every member of his family, especially his FBI brother. “Do what you can. I understand.”

It could be weeks or months before he got the information. He was more dependent on Kristen than he liked.

“I’m sorry, but, damn, man, it’s good to talk to you. Any chance you’ll be in DC soon?” Warren asked.

“Probably not, but I bet you’ll come out to Oklahoma City in a couple of months.”

“Absolutely, can’t miss little brother’s kick-off speech. I’ll be sure to stop in Dallas. I would love to see your operation. See how the other half lives. Maybe I’ll even get out of government work one of these days. You know the pay is shit.”

The pay at McKay-Taggart was much better and they could choose the cases they worked. Warren was a longtime agent, and he had deep political connections thanks to his brother. He would be a welcome addition. “Any time you want to talk, my door is always open. And anything you can do to get me those files would be appreciated.”

He didn’t want to trust Kristen’s hacked files. He wanted to look at the same thing Warren looked at. It might not tell him anything he didn’t know, but maybe studying them would keep his head in the game.

“I’ll see what I can do. Hey, is Evie…I don’t know, how is she really doing? You know I think about her a lot. I just…I wish I could catch him, man.”

Warren had been the first of his friends to get to the hospital. Ian had been on a plane the second he found out, but Warren had been there when Eve had come out of surgery and the doctor had informed them of all the damage. He’d been the one to stand outside the room while Alex cried over his wife’s body. Warren had kept everyone off him. “We’re still standing.”

It was the best he could say about them. And they might not be standing when Eve found out where he was going and why. He wasn’t sure what would be worse—Eve being pissed or not caring at all.

“All right. Give her my love. We all miss you, man.”

A knot sat in his chest. He’d really loved working with those guys. For a long time it had been him and Warren and Tommy and Leon. Tommy and Leon were gone now. They’d been a tight-knit little family, but when the chips had fallen, he’d come back to Ian and Sean.