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Jackson shared a look with his brother and understood Luke’s silent communication. He was allowing Jackson to take the lead and determine what to tell English and what to leave a mystery for now. Only once Jackson started talking, all of the details fell from his lips unchecked. From interviewing Traci about her relationship with English, to Reagan’s existence, to speaking with Deb and Garth, to trying to track down English’s handler, and with their suspicion of English’s attack having to do with his last case as Legend.

English nodded as he listened but kept his eyes on the laptop monitor. When Jackson finished, English motioned to Luke.

“Play this again for me.”

Jackson was low on patience as the video played again, the staticky audio grating on his frazzled nerves. They were getting nowhere. English’s memory lapses were temporary, the doctor said, a side effect of his coma and surgery. They were still waiting for the results of his scans, bloodwork and other tests, but the doctor didn’t seem concerned that the prognosis was anything but a full recovery.

“Stop it right there.” English pointed to the screen at the point of the video where the assailants had fled the alley, leaving him alone with the instigator. “There was a siren. That’s what made the others run. He didn’t, almost like he was sure the siren wasn’t meant for him.”

“Maybe we should check with the police logs and see what call the cops or paramedics were responding to,” Luke suggested to Jackson, but English shook his head.

“No, it’s not that. It’s what he said before he stabbed me. Something about knowing my secrets and taking what was mine.”

“We already knew he somehow found about Reagan. We figured he must be someone from your past. Then when he left, you said ‘Ray’ loud enough for the audio to pick it up. Becky knew you were talking about Reagan.”

English continued to stare, but he threw the brothers off with an abrupt change in subject. “Where is Becky, Ben and Easton?”

“Easton was staying behind with Deb and Garth. He wanted to question Garth without Deb running interference, but Garth suffered a heart attack. Last I heard, he narrowly escaped being thrown in jail for attempted murder and was trying to convince Deb that he didn’t cause Garth’s heart attack,” Luke explained.

“Becky’s in the waiting room. She’s anxious to see you, but she knew it was important we talk to you first. Ben is watching Reagan. She’s waiting for her mother and stepdad downstairs.”

“I was supposed to.” Ben interrupted by bursting into English’s room. “Reagan’s not in the lobby. She bolted. Again.”

“No way. She wouldn’t. She knew Traci and Randall were almost here. She wanted to wait for them, and we were going to talk about her going home. She said Randall had connections and could arrange a protection detail.” Jackson stood, his idea of questioning English forgotten. “You overlooked her. She was probably in the bathroom or something.”

“You don’t think I checked?” Ben returned. “I’m telling you. She’s not there, and she’s not in the lobby with Becky.”

“Holy shit!” English suddenly exclaimed. “Luke, start this damn thing over again.”

“English—”

“Jacky, wait a minute! Luke, hurry up. I need to see this again. It’s important.”

The video replayed, but this time, Jackson sensed English’s urgency. The confusion had cleared from his eyes. He remembered. Jackson couldn’t be sure how much he remembered, but it had to be enough for them to act. He stood torn between wanting to find out what happened to Reagan and wanting to hear what English had to say.

“I’ll be damned,” English hissed slowly. “It’s TJ. Shit! I never thought…Traci.” His eyes darted up to pierce Ben with an earnest stare. “Traci and Dunlap. Where are they?”

Ben glanced at his watch. “Alex’s people should have them here now. They’ll bring them to the waiting area on this floor. Aren’t you wondering about Reagan and what happened to her?”

“He has her. And he’ll go after her mother. You’ve got to get to her. This isn’t about me or Reagan. It’s all about Traci!”

Jackson didn’t wait around. He had more questions, but he didn’t have to know the details to know trouble had found them. It was on his watch, and he’d dropped the ball with the investigation and the protection detail. All of that was about to change.

He caught up to Alex where he was waiting with Becky. She stood quickly, English’s name on her lips. Jackson shook his head to let her know the older man had not taken a turn. He signed to Alex, his movements jerky and too fast, but his friend understood.

“Check in with your people. Reagan’s missing. Traci is the target.”

Alex nodded and fired off a specialized text that would ring into his men’s phones and simulate a voice call. It would spur a quicker response than a traditional text. He studied his phone screen, and within seconds, he flipped it around to show Jackson. Undeliverable.

“Can you track them?” Jackson asked, foregoing the signing.

Alex opened an encrypted app on his phone and went through the three-factor authentication before it would unlock. The tracking app was connected to all of his employees, and he zeroed in on the two escorting Traci and Randall to the hospital. His partner, Turner Drake, peered over his shoulder.

“It shows they’ve stopped about ten miles east of the hospital. Off County Road 12.”

“There’s nothing around there but curves and big drop offs,” Ben stated what his brothers were already thinking.

“Alex, you—”