A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(20)

The assassin would search for another way to get to him, possibly using those he cared about to lure him.

Having acquaintances and contacts on both sides of the law had its rewards. One being that, in many things, he was in the know almost from the moment a decision was made. Few knew how high or how low his contacts stretched. Each had their advantages, but trust in them went only so far.

Over the years, he had found more people he could rely on. Some of them he could even call friends. But there was only one person he had total faith and trust in. He no longer questioned the oddity of that uncompromising faith. Irelyn Raine was many things, and loyalty was at the top of the list. Considering how they’d begun their relationship, she should be the last person he trusted. But Irelyn had proven herself a thousand times over. He no longer doubted her.

Irelyn.

Grey expelled a disgusted sigh. He’d messed up again. Instead of having a conversation with her, possibly getting her agreement to come home, he’d handled it wrong. His only thought was to protect her. Irelyn didn’t do anything halfway. If she got involved, she wouldn’t stop until the culprit was identified. And then, she would go further. It was the further part that bothered him. He’d do anything to protect her, including alienating her. But he’d hurt her again, and that hadn’t been his intent.

Yes, he could call a half-dozen people who would tell him where she had been or where she was headed. A couple could even pinpoint her location right now. If it came to that, he would do it. Yeah, it’d piss her off, but when it came to her life, he didn’t give two shits about pissing her off. A pissed-off Irelyn was a damn sight better than a dead one.

For now, he had an enemy to identify.

Sitting at his desk, he reviewed the names of the people who had attended the awards party last night. Grey judged that it was a good twenty minutes from the time he’d offered Lacey a ride home to when they’d left. Plenty of time for someone to notify the shooter so he could get to another location.

Just over five hundred people attended the event, not counting the wait staff. Most of them could be eliminated from the suspect list in a matter of moments, but that still left a lot of people to research. At the top of that list was Joe Morrissey. He’d been the one to deliberately seek Grey out. Had he done so with the intent to delay him? That was something he intended to find out.

Though Morrissey was at the top, he was just one of many who would need to be checked out. With a resigned shrug, he divided the names up and sent the lists to his investigators.

His personal cellphone chimed, and his heart went into overdrive when he saw the caller was Kathleen Slater, Eli’s wife. Clicking on the answer icon, he said, “What’s happened?”

“Lacey’s awake.”

Grey allowed himself a giant, relieved sigh. He had stayed all night at the hospital with the Slaters. The doctors had advised them that the surgery to repair her internal bleeding had been successful, but the next few hours would be critical. Lacey finally waking up was a huge step.

“Is she able to talk?”

“Not yet. She’s still intubated and pretty groggy. They’ll take the tube out soon, but said she’d be in and out of consciousness for the next twenty-four hours.”

“How’s the family holding up?”

“We finally convinced Eleanor to go home and rest. Jonah and Gabby are with her. Eli and I are heading home. We’ll spend some time with the kids and then head back to the hospital.”

“I’ll come by this evening.”

“Wyatt Kingston is here.”

Her careful tone told him more than the words. Grey had called the man himself and told him about the accident. Even though Kingston had been in Frankfurt, Germany, Grey wasn’t surprised that he’d flown home immediately. The on-again-off-again relationship between Lacey and Kingston was no longer a secret to her family. Not that it would have mattered. He knew Wyatt well enough to know that nothing would stop him if he thought Lacey needed him, including the disapproval of her overprotective brothers.

“Everyone getting along?”

“So far, so good. I think he’s going to want to be in on the investigation.”

“I’m sure he will. Thanks for the update. I’ll see you soon.”

Grey ended the call and leaned back in his chair. He was tired, but figured he had a few more hours left in him. He clicked on the list of names again, making notes as he went through them. Which one of them hated him enough to pay big bucks to take him out? There were plenty on the list who likely hated him, but who had taken it to the next level?

The intercom on his desk buzzed. He pressed a button. “Yes?”

“It’s Nick. We need to talk.”

“Be right out.” He sprang out of his chair and headed to the door. The instant he saw who was waiting with Nick, he knew he wasn’t going to like the news. Charlotte “Charlie” Nolan was his top tech analyst. If she had something to tell him, he knew it was big.

“What’s wrong?”

“Have you talked to Irelyn lately?” Gallagher asked.

“Yes. A few hours ago. Why?”

“She give you any indication what she’s been up to?”

“Spit it out. What’s going on?”

Gallagher shot a glance at Charlie. She nodded and said, “You asked me to keep an eye on Hill House. Let you know of any new activity.”