Page 52 of Fatal Vision

Salisbury whined again.

Working on a lead. Stay alert.

Connor sent him a thumbs-up emoji.On it.

Colton texted the images of the shoe print to Rory at SFI headquarters, asking him if he could match the faint images to a type of shoe. Rory responded with a similar confirmation.

At the same moment, Colton’s phone rang. Beatrice’sEspionageringtone echoed in the cavernous house.

“Yo, boss,” Colton answered. “Didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

“No go on the autopsies,” she said. “You’ll have to explore another option.”

“That’s it? You didn’t press?”

In the tense silence that followed, Colton could feel her irritation at his insolence. “There’s a reason they’re putting up blockades on this, Colton. I’d prefer not to push the wrong person and have it backfire on us.”

That didn’t sound like Beatrice at all. She liked pushing the wrong people—and getting answers.

“I need those reports.”

“And I need to make sure neither you nor I end up in a military prison.”

“That’s a little dramatic.”

Another pause. Her irritation bordered on anger. “One thing I am not known for is being dramatic. Logical, sensible, strategic, yes. Dramatic, no.”

True. But he couldn’t help himself. The dragon was awake. “So you’re saying the great Queen B can’t get ahold of a couple of autopsy reports?”

“These men died by a sniper and the Navy is covering up the why of it. It’s suspicious and clearly linked to Agent Claiborne’s shooting. But someone very high up the Navy chain of command wants to make sure this case goes away. I suspect you know why and you’re keeping the information from me. So until I get straight answers from you, and your complete cooperation, do not expect me to put myself and SFI on the line.”

“You offered to help me in any way I needed.”

“I’m attempting to keep you from getting your ass shot at, or ending up in prison.”

“You’re just worried about SFI getting shut down.”

“And rightfully so, but Iamconcerned about you, Colton. Do not underestimate just how much.”

He dropped the phone by his side for a moment, taking a deep breath. It was damn hard to let people into his life. Hard to accept that he meant something to them.

Don’t blow this. SFI meant everything to him. Shelby and SFI.

He put the phone back to his ear, mentally telling the dragon to go fuck itself. “I apologize. I’m hitting dead ends and it’s frustrating.”

“Understandable.” The tense air between them eased. “What are you keeping from me about these dead veterans?”

He blew out a long, slow breath. “They were all involved, one way or another, in Connor’s rescue.”

Salisbury decided he’d had enough sitting and took off out the door.

“Wow.” She didn’t sound wowed so much as curious. He heard the sound of fingers tapping computer keys. “I didn’t see that one coming.”

“That makes two of us.”

“You think this is the work of 12 September?”

“Seems like the most obvious answer, but it doesn’t feel right for them.”