Page 37

Two days after the shooting, Daniel’s leg was swollen and throbbing, but he kept the pain at bay with over-the-counter medication. He couldn’t lose focus with so much on the line. His team had gathered at the ranch, sequestering themselves in his father’s old office to discuss the case. Not that they were any closer to figuring out where Lena had hidden the evidence. But reviewing what they knew might uncover new leads…. At least, he hoped so.
“When the FBI swept in, they threw the entire operation into chaos.” Jackson scowled, a two-day growth shadowing his jaw. Dark circles marred the skin under his eyes. He likely hadn’t slept a wink since the attack at Ellie’s house. “They arrested the gunmen and have refused to share any information with us. Maddox won’t even confirm who the men were working for.”
Jonah popped a peanut in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “How did we miss the FBI altogether? They came out of nowhere.”
“After the initial break-in, once they learned that Iron Fist and Tobias were looking for me, they bugged my house,” Ellie reasoned. She sat on the couch with Daniel, his injured legpropped up on her lap, her hands lightly stroking his socked foot with absentminded tenderness that felt as natural as breathing. “When Tanner and Maddox picked us up, they were in a surveillance van. Could’ve been five miles away with backup on standby. That’s how they got to the house so fast. It would’ve been impossible for you to spot them ahead of time.”
Lieutenant Rodriguez frowned. “You can bet we won’t make that mistake again.”
Cole scoffed. “Everywhere we step, there’s a SNAFU. Ellie was ignored when she used the emergency line. Mr. Broken Nose hasn’t shown up at any hospital. No one has found him or the guy with the busted kneecap. The blood we recovered from the church parking lot has gone ‘missing’”—he used air quotes around that word—“from the lab. The FBI just happened to have your house under surveillance during our operation and, oh, they arrested the gunmen but refuse to share information with us about them.”
He prowled the room like a caged tiger. “Stinks of a cover-up to me.” He glowered. “And so far, the common denominator is Special Agent in Charge Vincent Maddox.”
The lieutenant held up her hand. “Tread lightly, Cole. I don’t want to accuse anyone of being a mole until we have hard evidence of their guilt.” She sighed. “I've initiated an investigation into the lab screwup, but so far, we haven't uncovered when the blood went missing. The lab can't even confirm they received it. The entire day's record was wiped from the computer and the backup systems. It's created a mess that'll take weeks to sort out.”
“We don’t have weeks.” Daniel felt it in his gut. Since the shooting, things had been quiet, but it felt like the eye of a hurricane. He was waiting… bracing… for the other half of the storm to hit. “Have we learned anything new about Lena?”
Jonah sat up in his chair and tapped his iPad. “Nothing significant. Born April 22, 1997. She grew up in Briarwood, Texas, which is a tiny town about four hours from here. Mom was a truck driver; dad left the family when Lena was a baby. No siblings. She was raised by her mother and grandmother. Won a capture-the-flag—that’s a hacking competition—at sixteen and got some notoriety from that. Left home at eighteen to attend college on a scholarship. She caught the eye of Gideon Voss when she won a state cyber challenge later that same year. It’s unclear when their romantic relationship started, but Lena dropped out of college in her sophomore year.”
“It started almost immediately.” Ellie sighed. “Lena was brilliant, but growing up in a small town, she was also very sheltered. Then here comes this handsome, rich man who wined and dined her. Gideon was married, but he told her they were separated.”
“A tale as old as time,” Daniel muttered. “Poor girl.”
Ellie nodded. “She was in deep before she discovered the truth about who Gideon was, and by then, he controlled her. Who she saw, who she talked to.” Her expression darkened. “He opened bank accounts in her name, linked her to criminal activity. Used her hacking skills to shelter and launder his money. She was terrified of him, and didn’t think she could break free and go to the police until I approached her.”
The room fell silent. Lena’s story weighed heavily on them all. She’d tried to do the right thing in the end and had paid the ultimate price. Daniel reached for Ellie’s hand. “Do you have any thoughts on what the message enclosed in the bracelet means?”
“No. It could be the code to open the flash drive, but where the drive is, I don’t know.”
“It could also be a clue,” Jonah offered.
“But… leading to where?” Ellie frowned. “The numbers don’t make sense. It’s not a phone number, not a zip code, it’s not even a set of coordinates?—”
A knock on the office door interrupted her. Marta entered, carrying little Owen on her hip. The baby wore an adorable firetruck outfit complete with matching socks. He grinned at the sight of Ellie, and Daniel quickly moved his leg off her lap so she could take him.
“Sorry to intrude, ladies and gentlemen.” Marta passed Owen over with a smile. “But dinner is ready. Can you put crime on hold for thirty minutes? Otherwise, my arroz con pollo will disappear before you can get to it. I love my kids dearly, but they can eat like wolves.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Cole bolted for the door, colliding with Jonah, who was also racing to be first. They squabbled for priority until Jonah planted an elbow in Cole’s gut and slipped through the doorway. Cole winced but followed a second later.
“Excuse my rangers, Mrs. Perez,” Lieutenant Rodriguez said, rolling her eyes. “They clearly left their manners at home.”
“Not all of them did.” Jackson rose to his full height and extended a hand toward Daniel, his expression tight with a flicker of guilt that didn’t go unnoticed.
“Stop feeling bad, Barker. It’s not your fault.”
Daniel accepted the assistance, letting Jackson take most of his weight as he got to his feet. His leg throbbed in protest, but he limped into the hallway, trailing behind his mother, the lieutenant, and Ellie as they chatted about how boys never grew up. The scent of chicken and spices made his stomach rumble painfully, but his heart melted when Ellie glanced over her shoulder and said, “Sit in the recliner. I’ll fix you a plate.”
“You’ve got a good one there.” Jackson clapped Daniel on the shoulder. “Don’t screw it up.”
Before he could respond, Jackson disappeared after the food. Daniel headed to the living room, which was packed with his siblings and their families. A cartoon played on the television. Several of his nieces and nephews presented him with colorful drawings to help aid his recovery. And when Ellie arrived with his food, he shifted in the giant armchair so she could sit next to him.
He wanted her near. Was coming to the conclusion that he needed her near.
And he had no idea what to do about it.
Daniel still hadn’t shared his past with her, the truth about his failures, his divorce, and losing his child. The more time that passed, the harder it seemed to find the words. But it wasn’t fair. The sweet place they’d found—the one with longing looks and physical closeness—couldn’t last. The sooner Daniel ripped off the Band-aid, the better for everyone.
If only he could bring himself to do it.