Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(57)

There were three other possibilities. A reckless driver, a coincidence he didn’t buy. The shooter who killed Nolan White, maybe concerned Brent and Rowan saw too much. The third possibility was Carstairs had somehow tracked him and Rowan to the Maxwell place and tried to exact a little revenge.

No tracking devices on his SUV. Brent had checked before they left. If it was Carstairs, that meant the former employee had done an excellent job trailing him. Possible, he admitted to himself, but not likely unless Carstairs had enlisted help from his buddies.

Once he was sure they weren’t being followed, he called Zane. “Hack into the traffic cams.”

“What am I looking for?”

“Dark colored full-sized truck on Mead Lane. The truck tried to run us down ten minutes ago.”

Zane growled. “Rowan, are you all right?”

“As soon as my heart rate drops into normal range, I’ll be fine thanks to Brent.”

“Close your eyes a moment, sugar.”

She frowned, but complied. “Okay, my eyes are closed.”

“Picture the truck in your mind. What do you see?”

“Headlights bearing down on us. Lots of chrome.” Rowan paused. “Black rims.”

“Good job. Boss?”

“Yeah.”

“I assume you’re driving.”

“Yeah.”

“Got an address as a starting point?”

His lips curved. This was why Zane was one of the most valued members of his company. Brent rattled off the address where the truck appeared to be waiting for him and Rowan.

The sound of keys clicking could be heard over his sound system. “Got it,” Zane said a moment later. “Navy blue or black pickup backed into the driveway not long after you and Rowan crossed the street and headed toward a neighbor’s yard. Waited for you to reappear. I’m checking the license plate now.”

“How can he do that so fast?” Rowan asked.

“Magic fingers and much experience.” Brent wove through traffic as he headed for the Interstate and the safe house. Rowan needed to rest. Tomorrow would be a long day.

“Brent, the truck was reported stolen early this afternoon.”

Of course it was. “And the homeowners?”

“No owner. The home is in foreclosure.”

In other words, a dead end. “Track the truck as far as you can. Let me know if anything pans out.”

“Copy that. Rowan?”

“Yes?”

“Claire and I will see you tomorrow. Later, boss.” Zane ended the call.

“Is he serious?” Rowan asked.

“He never says anything he doesn’t mean.”

“But why? He and Claire didn’t know my sister.”

“They know you. That’s enough for them.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“No need to say anything, honey. They want to be there for you. Let them.”

More than an hour later, he parked at the safe house’s back door. A light glowed over the doorway, a signal that at least one of his operatives was waiting inside.

Before he turned off the engine, the door opened and Remy Doucet stepped out. He walked around to Rowan’s side and opened the door. After a quick perusal to be sure she wasn’t hurt, Remy said, “Lily’s waiting for you inside. We have a light meal and some hot tea ready. Try to eat. You need the nourishment, sugar.”

Rowan glanced at Brent. When he gave a slight nod, she grasped Remy’s outstretched hand, accepting his help to exit the SUV, and made her way into the house without a backward glance.

Brent exited the vehicle and met his operative at the front of the hood. “Talk to me.”

“Zane did some checking on Carstairs and his buddies. All of them are missing except for Johnson, the kid who returned to his training in Otter Creek.”

Johnson was the only one of the six men who had been kicked out of Fortress several months before for taking steroids that had cleaned up his act and asked to be readmitted to PSI. “Cahill verifies his presence at PSI?”

“Yep. Says the kid is doing great and has some real potential.”

Good to hear. Brent had liked the young man. “Is there any indication Carstairs and his group are involved in this latest incident?”

“Not so far. You know if they’re responsible for scaring Rowan, they’re stupid enough to brag about it. Z will ferret out that information.” Remy turned toward the house. “How is she holding up?”

“She’s amazing.” He couldn’t imagine anyone holding it together so well in light of the danger and repeated attempts on her life. Most would have been running for the hills, screaming in terror by now. Not Rowan. His woman wouldn’t run.

The operative slid him a look. “You keeping her?”

“What do you think?” Only a fool would let Rowan Scott slide through his fingers. He wasn’t a fool.

A grin. “Does she know?”

“Hey, I just convinced her to date me. Didn’t want to scare her off before I have a chance to cement the deal.” During his watch overnight, he’d plot strategy. He didn’t want to go through the rest of his life without Rowan. She was the light in his darkness. He sighed. And now he sounded like a total sap.

A chuckle from Remy. “I never thought I’d hear you say that, boss.”