Page 25 of Fatal Intent

“He’s a loose cannon, and he doesn’t want to follow orders. I wouldn’t work with him.”

“Why does Webber put up with him? He seems like a capable leader who should know plenty of other operatives to slide into Cartwright’s place.”

“We’ve only seen him on bad days. It’s possible Cartwright isn’t like this in the field.”

Elias glanced over his shoulder to look at Grant. “If he behaved like that in the field, Cartwright would be dead.”

“Or his teammates,” Andre chimed in. “He never would have made it in Special Forces.”

“The military has a way of stripping away egos,” Elias agreed.

The teams entered Fortress headquarters through a back door and rode an elevator to the executive floor. “The boss’s office is too small for all of us to crowd in there,” Iona said. “We’ll wait for Rayne and Grant in the small conference room. Once their meeting with Maddox is finished, we’ll make plans for the afternoon.”

“If we aren’t taken into custody,” Rayne murmured. She was afraid that’s exactly what was ahead for her and maybe for Grant as well.

“The detectives would be wise not to push their luck,” Seth said. “They’re in enemy territory. The boss will make sure you’re covered. Go. Get this done and report to the conference room.”

“Yes, sir.” Grant led the way to the executive suite of offices and walked to the reception desk. “Bowen and Weatherly to see the boss.”

The older woman glanced up and smiled. “Go right in. He’s expecting you.”

Rayne knocked on Maddox’s door and twisted the knob. She pulled up short when she noticed Detectives Conner and Sanders sitting in the visitor chairs in front of the boss’s desk.

Maddox waved Rayne and Grant inside. “Close the door. Sorry to interrupt your training.”

“Our teams are waiting in the small conference room.” Grant eyed the detectives. “We have more training this afternoon.”

“Understood.” He inclined his head toward two chairs set off to the side of his desk. “Have a seat. You’ve already met Detectives Conner and Sanders. They have more questions for you both.”

Rayne’s stomach tightened into a knot as Grant escorted her to the empty chairs. She wished that she was anywhere but in this office. Rayne would gladly submit to intense training rather than put herself through answering more gut-wrenching questions about things better off left in her past. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be possible with the way things were shaking out.

When they took their seats, Grant said, “We know about Dante.”

Both cops scowled. “How is that possible?” Conner asked. “We only found out ourselves an hour ago.”

“Friends with tech skills.”

Sanders pulled out his notebook and pen. “Did your friends tell you where Dante’s body was found?”

“In a hotel in Hartman. I don’t know which one.”

Conner’s smile resembled a shark’s grin. “The Jade Garden Hotel.”

Fantastic. Not. Rayne sighed. The hotel was two miles from Grant’s house. She passed it every morning when she met him at his home for a run.

Once again, Rayne wondered if the Hartman detectives were planning to arrest her or Grant on suspicion of murder. This wasn’t good for either of them. She and Grant had the three big things detectives always look for. Means, motive, and opportunity.

No question that she and Grant were more than qualified to take out targets and had several weapons at their disposal to get the job done. The motive was obvious. The detectives could make a case for Grant being afraid of losing Rayne if she found out about his past with Selena.

As for Rayne, the detectives would point out that she wouldn’t want Selena taking off with her man. As if. The opportunity was the real kicker. If Selena and Dante had stayed at home instead of coming to Hartman, Rayne and Grant wouldn’t have been suspects in their murders.

Grant stiffened. “The Jade Hotel? That’s close to my house.”

“Then you shouldn’t be surprised that we have more questions for you,” Sanders said.

He wrapped his hand around Rayne’s. “Ask. We’ll help if we can.”

“For your sake, I hope so, Mr. Bowen. At this moment, you and your girlfriend are the prime suspects for the murders of Selena Baker and Dante Rivers.”