Page 6 of Lethal Deceit (Hightower Security #2)

Mick

seconds after the interview hit the airwaves, the phone calls started.

Most from buddies and my crew, who took it as an opportunity to rib me even more, and for the past three hours I’ve been inundated with friend requests and messages—mostly from women—and had to set my profile to private.

Brooke has sent me a solitary message that reeks of sarcasm. You’re now the pinup boy for the Coast Guard.

She’s not wrong. I’m getting attention for all the wrong reasons, and my CO isn’t happy I’ve dragged the reputation of the Coast Guard into the fray.

I crack open a beer and settle down in front of the TV, switching on ESPN. If I’m lucky I might be able to catch some of the Gators/Tulane game.

The Gators have managed to extend their lead when music starts to play. Tinny music like it’s coming from a cheap speaker. I mute the TV and listen as I try to locate the source of the music. When it’s apparent it’s coming from close to where I’m sitting, I leave my beer bottle on the coffee table and start looking. My eyes snag on the corner of a red plastic phone underneath the cushion at the end of the sofa.

What the—? Where did this come from?

Thinking Brooke or one of my friends must have left it here, I pick it up and answer. “Yeah?”

The voice that rumbles down the line has me scratching my head.

“So, we’ve established you’re impulsive. Anything else I need to know about you?”

Silas says.

“Why is there a cell phone in my couch?”

“For emergencies,” he says.

“Yeah, but how’d it get here?”

“Trade secret. Back to your stunt on prime time. Dumb. Really dumb. For multiple reasons.”

I sink into the sofa.

“What choice did I have? You said you’d help, but you’ve done squat.”

He grunts.

“There’s a right way to do this.”

“The right way isn’t yielding results fast enough.”

Silas lets out an exasperated sigh.

“Start using the brain God gave you. She’s desperate and cornered. Two things she wasn’t before. Who knows what she’s prepared to do.”

“All the more reason to catch her as quickly as possible.”

“I told you I could help, and I meant it. The question is, are you ready to stop thinking about what you want and consider the big picture?”

“I am thinking about the big picture.”

“Really? And in this big picture did you factor in that whoever hired her now knows your name and can find out where you live?”

He may as well have sucker punched me.

“Let them come. I can deal with them.”

Silas chokes out a laugh.

“You sure about that? We managed to get a cell phone into your apartment, and you didn’t notice.”

My gut tightens, and my anger flares at the reminder.

“I’ll be more careful.”

“It’s too late for that. If you’re going to throw tantrums, you’re going to make this harder than it needs to be.”

“Who—”

“Do I think I am? I’m the person who knows exactly where she is, that’s who I am.”

My voice escapes in a hiss.

“You found her?”

“Caleb’s outside your door waiting. You have one more chance, and we cut you loose. Got it?”

Sure enough, a hefty fist pounds on my door. “Open up.”

I throw open the door, phone cradled between my ear and shoulder.

“If you really do have her location, you have my word.”

Silas rumbles in my ear.

“Swear it on your mother’s life.”

Another low blow.

“I swear. Where is she?”

“Pass the phone to Caleb.”

I shove the phone into his brawny chest, and he jams it to his ear. His forehead grooves as impatience makes my foot tap on the carpet.

His eyes lock onto mine. “Got it,”

he grunts. He tosses the phone at me.

“Time to go.”