Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(24)

“Good job, boss. I assume Salazar has a few new bruises.”

Not as many as he’d wanted to dish out, but enough. “What do you think?”

“That’s he’s lucky to be breathing. I’ll get back to you soon about the situation in Mexico.”

Brent turned to Rowan. “Find the flash drive?”

She passed him the original and a blank one. “Mr. President? You’re not talking about William Martin, are you?”

His lips twitched. “You’re surprised I know the President of the United States?”

“Well, yes. You talked to him like he’s a friend.” That wasn’t normal. None of her friends knew high-powered politicians, let alone treated them like pals.

“He is. We were friends before his election.” He crossed to her side. “One of my teams rescued his daughter and grandson.”

“Oh, wow,” she whispered. “I remember Charlotte being kidnapped. She gave birth to her son during the rescue.”

Brent chuckled. “Our medic had the privilege of helping Sam into the world. He said Sam’s birth was the one bright light on that harrowing journey to freedom.”

“I’d love to meet her and Sam. I admire her resiliency and ability to be a great mother, and still represent her father. I hope I do as well with Alexa.”

“Charlotte won’t be traveling much more.”

“Why not?”

Brent figured telling Rowan about the new pregnancy wouldn’t be a problem since the news media would catch on soon enough. Besides, Rowan could use good news. “She hasn’t announced it yet, but Charlotte’s pregnant again.”

Rowan smiled. “That’s great. I’ll keep quiet about the baby until Charlotte releases the news.”

“Would you like to go with me the next time I travel to D.C.?”

“Sounds like fun. Are you sure you want me to go, though? I can’t leave Alexa behind.”

“Baby, I don’t expect you to leave your niece here, especially not now. I thought she’d enjoy playing with Sam.”

“Thank you, Brent.” She kissed him lightly.

A knock sounded on the door. Chase stepped partially inside the office. “Sorry, boss, but foot traffic is picking up and Lacey isn’t here yet.”

“I’ll be right there.” She eyed Brent. “Do you want to work here?”

He shook his head. “I’ll sit at the coffee bar until Adam arrives. Then, if you don’t mind, I will work here. I have calls to make.” Calls better conducted behind closed doors. Brent picked up his laptop and coffee, and followed Rowan to Coffee House’s main room.

Customers were lined up for coffee and pastries. The shop buzzed with conversation and the sounds of the machines used for some of the specialty coffee drinks.

Instead of logging onto his computer and copying the flash drive, Brent watched Rowan. She greeted most of the customers by name, laughed with them, made suggestions for coffee flavors for those who asked for a recommendation, provided a free small cookie for each child who came to the counter, and kept the orders going as she connected with her customers.

She was good. Really good. He’d been impressed with her since he first walked into her shop. Brent was usually one of her first and last customers of the day so he didn’t see her in action like this. No wonder Coffee House was popular.

The bell over the door rang and his operative strode into the crowded shop. Adam looked more energized than the last time Brent had seen him. Probably had something to do with him having a mission, even if the work was local. Brent’s operatives didn’t like inactivity. Most of them returned to duty sooner than they should.

A table in the corner at the back of the room opened up. Brent indicated for Adam to follow him and moved with his computer to the new location. The coffee bar was too busy and noisy for a conversation with Adam. He knew the other man needed to sit with his back to the wall. All his people were twitchy with strangers too close. Brent’s lips curved. He was just as bad, but he had a great motive for ignoring the fake spiders crawling on his skin. Rowan.

“Thanks for coming, Adam,” Brent murmured.

A snort. “You don’t have to thank me, boss. I’m happy to be off the couch. Has the doctor’s report on me come through yet?”

He shook his head. “Should be in any day now.”

“What is her problem?” Adam Walker scowled. “It’s been a week already.”

“I called her office. She’s out because of a family emergency and not expected back for another week. She left a message that she’d be working remotely on case files.”

Adam’s eyes glittered with annoyance. “Good thing I’m not sick.”

“Isn’t it? I imagine she has someone covering her day-to-day patients. Reporting results like yours for Fortress isn’t a priority.”

“They are to me.”

“Won’t be much longer, Adam.” Brent laid the blank flash drive on the table, then handed over Heather’s. “Take a look at this. The drive on the table is empty. Make a copy of the original to work on.”

“What am I working on?”

“I think it’s a list of names written in code.”

The aggravation in Adam’s gaze disappeared to be replaced by curiosity. “This related to a case?”