Page 93 of Fatal Vision

Zeb glanced out into the hall. “I’ll grab some caffeine for us.”

He disappeared and Shelby took the seat on the other side of Connor, interlacing her fingers with his. “Colton’s right. I’ve only known Sabrina for a few hours, but if she puts up with your shenanigans, she must be a ball buster like me. She’s in there fighting to come back to see you, trust me.”

Connor squeezed his eyes shut and gripped Shelby’s hand like it was a lifeline. “Tell me we have a lead on who did this.”

Shelby’s gaze met Colton’s. “Everyone’s working on it. The locals, the FBI. We’re going to find him, I promise.”

“B and the team are on it too.” As if he’d conjured her, Beatrice’s ringtone sounded from his pocket. “I have to take this,” he said, shoving himself out of the chair and pulling his cell out.

Son of a bitch. His right kidney must have taken a harder hit than he’d originally thought. Every move was like a hot knife slicing into him.

He wandered to the window overlooking the parking lot. “Hey, boss.”

“Status report on my lab tech?” He heard slurping in the background.Sloane must be having lunch already.

Colton wiped sweat off the back of his neck. His pulse was skipping. He felt lightheaded. “Still in surgery.”

“And Connor?”

“He’s a mess.”

“I expected as much. Is he controlling his PTSD?”

Colton looked back over his shoulder, swearing under his breath at the fresh pain the move invoked. Shelby was hugging the big guy now and the anguish on Connor’s face made Colton’s guts cramp. “I’ll take care of him.”

Because that’s what he did. Amidst pissing off everyone around him, he still kept his eyes on those he cared about. Made sure they were okay.

Just like he’d done at the home. He’d played big brother to all the younger kids. Made sure they did their homework and didn’t get tangled up with drugs.

A voice on Beatrice’s end signaled Rory had entered the room. Beatrice’s got softer as if she’d moved her mouth away from the speaker. “I’ve got him on the line now.” She came back to Colton. “I sent the After Action Reports with Zeb.”

Zeb had already told him. “We’re going through everything as soon as I get Shelby to a safe house. You didn’t include the anonymous report, though, did you?”

“Rory’s still tracing where it originated.” Sloane was going at her bottle with gusto from the sounds coming through the phone. No doubt about it, she was Beatrice’s kid.

Rory’s voice sounded again in the background.“Tell him who deleted the report.”

“Not yet,” Beatrice said to Rory, then to Colton, “I have reason to believe the lab where Sabrina worked on the prints from the wrapper may have been compromised and is no longer a viable safe house. But it appears the FBI has a black site between Good Hope and Broken Arrow. Shelby’s boss has already put in a request to use it for now.”

She knew this how?Better not to ask.“It’s not SFI vetted.”

“Exactly.”

In the parking lot, an older couple carrying a casserole dish made their way to the front entrance of the hospital.Two guesses where they’re headed.“So you’re okaying an FBI black site to use as a safe house?”

Shadow Force had them all over the US and a few in hot spots around the world. Rock Star clients often needed them and so did SFI operatives. Beatrice never allowed clients to be taken any place that hadn’t been approved by her, regardless of whether they were used by law enforcement. “You told me previously that you’re not sure if the killer is after you or Shelby.”

“Yeah, and?”

“We’re going to find out.”

“How?”

“Shelby’s going to the safe house. You’re not.”

“Whoa, wait. I’m not?”

“The FBI issued a warrant for your arrest two minutes ago. Let them arrest you.”