Page 52 of Ground Zero

She remained composed as she said, “I’m afraid I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation.”

Kyle stepped closer, invading her personal space just enough to make her uncomfortable. “Look, Agent Mendez, we know Maverick. He’s like a brother to us. If he’s in trouble, we want to help.”

“The best way to help him is to let me do my job.”

“Have you found anything that proves he’s innocent?” Hudson pressed. “Because we know he is. Maverick would never betray his country.”

Something in Hudson’s tone made Sheridan look at him more closely. An urgency that went beyond normal concern for a colleague.

It was almost like he needed to know what she’d discovered.

“I really can’t share details about the investigation,” she said again.

Kyle and Hudson exchanged a look—quick but loaded with meaning. The same kind of silent communication she’d witnessed between Ty and Colton earlier.

“Of course.” Kyle’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “We understand. We’re just worried about our friend.”

“Naturally.” Sheridan moved to step around them. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to?—”

“Agent Mendez,” Hudson called after her. “When you do find Maverick, remember that he’s one of the good guys. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”

The words followed her down the hallway as she walked back toward Ty’s office. Her skin crawled with the sensation of being watched.

Something about that entire interaction had felt wrong—too practiced, too deliberate.

One of those men knew more than they were letting on.

The questions were: Which one, and how much?

She thought about the USB drive in her pocket, about the perfect evidence that painted Maverick as a traitor.

Then she wondered if she’d just met the person who’d planted it there.

CHAPTER 29

Sheridan drove back to the empty beach house, her mind churning over everything she’d discovered.

She’d changed her mind about talking to Ty and Colton concerning what she’d discovered. Instead, she’d told them the drive was empty. Both had looked skeptical, but neither had argued with her. They both knew the device was now in FBI custody. Maybe they were even relieved. The men were hard to read.

Now the USB drive burned a hole in her pocket. That device held evidence that would either prove Maverick’s guilt or prove this was an elaborate frame job.

She needed to talk to Maverick, needed to see his reaction when she told him what she’d found. She’d quickly grabbed a couple of sandwiches at a local restaurant call The Crazy Chefette before returning to the house. She figured Maverick would be hungry, and having him venture out was risky.

She slipped through the unlocked front door of the house where she and Maverick had slept last night and scanned the area.

There were no signs of life. No Maverick in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. No Maverick on the couch with his laptop.

Everything was quiet.

Lifeless.

She checked each room.

Nothing.

Had something happened to Maverick?

Panic clawed at her chest as worst-case scenarios flooded her mind.