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Kash scoffed and Foster sighed.
“Not without being up front about it, first. And only with lives at stake. And I’d leave them out of this and march over to the sheriff’s station and get in Sheriff Thompson’s face if Chase hadn’t shared that bit about Greer’s concern regarding security.”
Kash nodded. “You think Thompson’s involved somehow?”
“It’s possible. He did brush off all those incidents my father reported. Or it could simply be Greer didn’t want anyone knowing what she’d uncovered in case it got out. That rumor mill Chase commented on. But we’ll err on the side of paranoia, just to be safe. Which means ensuring Greer isn’t left without protection.”
Kash slapped him lightly on the chest. “Guess you two are spending the night in the ICU.”
Foster sighed when Nyx growled a second before a voice sounded from the doorway.
“Or, you could let me handle that and you two can go home and get some rest like your doctors ordered.”
Chapter Nine
Foster snapped his head around, staring at the man standing in the doorway. He was large, maybe an inch or two shorter than Foster but what Foster guessed was easily the same weight. And the man carried himself in a way that clearly broadcast he could handle himself without being overt about it. Add in short hair and a scruff, with black boots, black cargo pants and a black hoodie and vest, and the guy screamed ex-military.
He nodded at Foster. “Even if Atticus hadn’t described you, it’s obvious you’re Foster Beckett. You’re the spitting image of your dad.” He extended his hand. “I’m Bodie Page.”
Foster took the few steps separating them then grabbed the man’s hand. “You’re the ex-ranger, right?”
“Ten years until an IED put enough shrapnel in my right leg I can set off the metal detectors from twenty feet away. I eventually got the mobility back but…” He shrugged. “I’m sorry about your parents. They were good people.”
“Thanks, and yeah, they were. Why didn’t you come by the house and let me know you’d been providing security on the place?”
Bodie coughed. “John didn’t tell you?”
“Not a word.”
Bodie shook his head. “That’s odd because he swore he was going to call you — talk it all through. Though, that was right before the accident so maybe he hadn’t gotten the chance. But I assumed you knew and you’d stop by my office if you had any questions. When you didn’t…”
Bodie shoved his hands in his pockets, finally looking at Mac and Kash. “Where are my manners? You must be Mackenzie. Your dad talks about you non-stop. And you’re either Kash, Zain or Chase.”
Kash gave Nyx a scratch, still eyeing the guy. “Kash. The guy on my left is Chase and Zain’s in the other bed. So, Atticus called you?”
Bodie smiled as he motioned toward Mac. “As soon as Mackenzie kicked him out of the exam room to attend to that emergency, he gave me a ring. Thought you might need some extra security, though he didn’t elaborate.”
Mac snorted. “Only my father would assume none of this was purely an accident.”
“Based on what I heard when I walked in, neither do you.”
Foster sized the man up. He’d missed being played once before and he was not going to make the same mistake twice and trust someone simply because they’d been a soldier. “What we said?”
Bodie held up his palms. “I only caught the last part about keeping an eye on Greer. But you wouldn’t be worried about her safety unless you thought those accidents had been manufactured, and she was still at risk.”
Foster glanced at Kash, and he knew his buddy was thinking the same thing. That this could be Stein and Adams all over again.
Bodie alternated his gaze between them, finally blowing out a rough breath. “I get it. You guys are coming off a rescue, your adrenaline’s high, your friends are hurt, and here I am, barging in, just offering to help right out of the blue. But you don’t know me, and you certainly have no reason to trust me. So, call Atticus. I ran a few JSOC missions under his command before getting medically discharged and I’ve told him he can be as candid as he likes. And, if I check out to your satisfaction, I’m hoping you’ll let me at least watch Greer for you. She’s my friend, too, and with half your team injured, it looks like you could use some backup.”
Mac jumped when her phone went off a second later, the noise overshadowing the constant beeping in the background. She grabbed her cell, shaking her head as she stared at the screen. “I swear, it’s like simply mentioning his name out loud conjures him in one form or another.” She swiped the screen, motioning that she’d take it in the hallway. “Dad…”
Foster inhaled, curbing his urge to follow her out. Have her six despite the fact she was only a few feet away, her left side still visible through the doorway.
Bodie chuckled.
Foster focused on him, again. “Something funny?”
“Nope.”