Page 38 of Storm Warning

“So either no one is looking for you, or they’re as good or better at computer work than you and Zane.” Andre frowned. Was that possible? Of course. Fortress hadn’t cornered themarket on computer geeks. Made him wonder yet again if the break-in had something to do with Riley’s kidnapping. But how could that be possible?

“Talk to me.” Brent’s attention locked on Andre.

“This is the second time Riley’s been targeted in the past two days. Both times, the perps seemed to hunt for information.”

Riley shrugged. “Could be a coincidence.”

“You know it isn’t a coincidence, not in our business. Someone is looking for information, Riley, and they believe you have it.”

“I have access to a lot of information, sir. Some of it is classified. How am I supposed to know what information they want? The kidnappers didn’t tell me, so I can’t narrow it down for us just like I couldn’t narrow it down for them. What gets me is they would have hurt me for this knowledge, but they weren’t willing to give me enough clues to have the faintest idea of what they want.”

“Someone is desperate,” Andre said.

Brent gave a slight nod of agreement. “Since none of my other operatives are targets, we can assume this information is something only you know, so not something known company-wide or within Echo and Artemis. So tell me, Riley, what information do you have that is worth going to all this trouble and risk for?”

“I don’t know.” She threw her hands up. “I wish I did.”

“You wanted to go through your house again, this time more slowly. Do it now. I’ll keep watch out here since I have some phone calls to make. Once the crime scene team arrives, leave the house and stay away until they finish their work. If you need a safe house, you’ll get it. For the moment, your house is off limits to you and your teams.”

She flinched. “Yes, sir.”

“Get your stuff together, Riley.” He glanced at his phone. “You have five minutes before the crime scene team arrives.”

“Let’s start in your bedroom,” Andre said. “We’ll pack a bag before you check for missing things.”

“All right. From there, we’ll go to my office. That’s the next most likely place they’d take something besides my computers. The rest of the house has nothing worth stealing.”

“Weapons? Every black ops agent worth his or her salt has a stash of weapons at home for protection and to have options on missions.”

“Office.” Riley led him down the hall to the last room on the right and walked inside.

She shook her head, glaring at the mess strewn everywhere in her bedroom. “This will take forever to clean up. I don’t understand. Why do this?”

“They’re after something.”

“What?”

“That’s what we need to figure out.” Andre used his elbow to turn on the closet light. He scanned the interior and plucked another duffel bag from the pile of debris on the floor of the closet, then handed it to her. “Here. Pack what you can. We’ll pick up the rest as you need it.”

“Right.” Riley grabbed clothes and underthings from the piles around the room. “Unbelievable. Not only did they dump everything from the drawers, they mixed up the piles so I’ll have to sort, then wash, fold, and put away.” She shuddered. “I’m tempted to toss all of my clothes and buy new ones. This feels like too much of a violation to tolerate.” Riley’s hands fisted around the clothes she’d picked up. “Strangers touched my stuff. I don’t know if I can get past that to enjoy wearing the clothes again.”

“Let’s wait until the crime scene team finishes processing your house, then gather up your clothes and launder them at myhouse. If you still feel the same way, give the clothes to a charity and buy what you need.”

She studied him for a minute. “It doesn’t bother you I want to ditch all these perfectly good clothes?”

He shrugged. “Makes sense to me. Besides, if you’re uncomfortable wearing them because a stranger touched them, you’ll be distracted and let down your guard. I don’t want that.”

“Thank you.”

Andre bent and brushed her mouth with his. “I will always have your back, Riley, even in buying a new wardrobe.”

Another male voice from the front of the house sent Riley hustling into the bathroom to pack what she needed from there. She returned a minute later. “Done.”

“Good. Have you noticed anything missing here?”

“Nope. Let’s go to my office before the crime scene people kick us out.”

They crossed the hall to the room with a large table and one rolling chair. Chords attached to nothing littered the table and floor. Must be Riley’s workstation. She also had a desk pushed up against the far wall with another rolling chair behind it.