Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(8)

“A small form lying down or huddled somewhere in the house or nearby.”

“Give me a minute.”

“You have access to a satellite?” Rowan asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m Zane. Who are you?”

“Rowan Scott.”

“Nice to talk to you, Rowan. Would you be the famous Coffee House Rowan?”

Brent’s cheeks heated. Looked like Claire would be a widow soon because he planned to kill his longtime friend. “Shut up, Murphy.”

A chuckle came over the speaker. “Yes, sir. Satellite images are up. Lots of activity around the house and neighborhood. Looks like you have a cop or two searching the house, Taylor. No small forms. From what I can see, Alexa is not in the residence or hiding outside. I don’t know anything about kids, but is it possible she wandered away? If so, how far can she walk?”

“Alexa’s mother said someone took her daughter.”

“I was afraid of that. What else can I do to help, boss?”

“Tap into the security system. See if you can get a picture of the person who took Alexa.”

“Copy that. I’ll get back to you as soon as I find something we can use.”

“Can he really hack into the security system?” Rowan asked, her eyes wide.

Brent’s lips twitched. “Zane is a man of many diverse talents, but he is a first rate hacker. He should have results for us soon.” He glanced at Taylor. “Doubt Maxwell would leave his phone here unless he didn’t want to be tracked by it.”

“Agreed. Simmons didn’t see Maxwell in the house during his search for Alexa.”

And he and Rowan as well as the cops would have seen the man if he’d been in the front yard. That left the back. “Backyard been checked?” he asked his friend.

“Doubt it. Let’s go.”

The three of them traipsed downstairs to the patio. Brent breathed easier when he didn’t see a pool Alexa could fall into. Taylor turned on a powerful flashlight. “Not Metro issued, buddy.”

A snort. “I prefer the Fortress equipment. So sue me.”

Brent chuckled. “Glad I can equip one of Metro’s finest. If you’d give up the fame and perks, you could play with these kinds of toys all the time.”

“Yeah, yeah. I hear you. I’m also ignoring you for now. Stop nagging me.”

“You won’t be able to resist forever, Cal.”

The beam from the flashlight swept the yard.

“Hold up.” Brent pointed to the right. “Go back.”

Taylor redirected the light and stopped at the corner of the yard, near a row of bushes. He hissed, then turned to Rowan. “Stay here.” He jogged across the remaining distance to the bushes.

Since his friend hadn’t issued him the same order, Brent followed. Dread grew in his gut as he drew nearer. A body. Taylor checked for a pulse, glanced at Brent, shook his head. After patting down the victim, the cop pulled a wallet from the vic’s pants pocket.

“Jay Maxwell.”

He crouched beside Cal. “Please tell me you don’t need Rowan to identify him.” The head shot hadn’t left much to identify Maxwell with and he didn’t want her to have that memory.

Instead of answering, Taylor reached into another of Maxwell’s pockets and pulled out a cell phone. The last call that came in showed it was from a private number.

Brent recognized it as Taylor’s. “Good. Guess we have our answer without subjecting Rowan to this horror.” Looked as though Brent wouldn’t be having that talk with Jay Maxwell after all. At least Rowan and Heather didn’t have to worry about being safe from this clown. “I assume this will now be your case since there’s a homicide involved.”

“Would have been anyway.” Taylor stood and tossed Brent the flashlight. “See if you can find Alexa out here. Try not to trample any clues in the process.”

“Right.” He stood and retraced his steps to Rowan.

“Who is it?” she whispered, her gaze clinging to his.

“It’s Maxwell.”

“Oh, no. How am I going to tell Heather?”

“Don’t worry about that right now. Taylor wants me to search the yard for Alexa. Will you be okay right here?”

She looked at the detective, still crouching beside Maxwell’s body. “Do I need to identify him or something?”

“Not necessary. In fact, you’ll want to stay as far away from the body as possible so you don’t contaminate the scene.”

Rowan eyed him a moment. “That bad?”

Smart woman. He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. “Not something you need to see, sweetheart.”

“I want to help you look for Alexa. If she’s hiding, she might not come to you.”

With a nod, he laced his fingers through hers and began the search of the outskirts. Despite Rowan calling Alexa’s name and their careful search, he and Rowan didn’t find the girl.

By the time they returned to the patio, the crime scene team had arrived as well as the coroner. Across the yard, Taylor looked his direction. Brent shook his head. The detective said something to one of his co-workers and walked to the patio.

“No luck, Cal.”

He sighed. “Guess I don’t have a choice but to call in the feds.”