Page 39 of Storm Warning

Riley covered her hand with the hem of her shirt and opened all the desk drawers, glancing at the contents before going on to the next one. When she closed the last drawer, she said, “Nothing’s missing except the computers.”

“Check your weapons safe. If they got past your security system, they might have broken through the security there too.”

“You’re right.” Riley hurried to the bookcase on the other side of the room. She stretched to reach a copy of The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. After she pushed the volume further into the bookcase, Riley stepped back.

The bookcase slid to the left, revealing a blank wall. She pressed the right side, and the false wall slid to the right. After entering two sets of passcodes, Riley opened the safe. “Allpresent and accounted for.” She added more weapons to her duffel bag, then closed and reset the locks.

Brent came to the door. “Time to go. The crime scene team is ready to get to work, and they want you gone before they start.”

“Yes, sir. We’re ready.” Andre picked up Riley’s duffel bag and slid it over his shoulder.

“Safe house. Yes or no, Riley?”

“Yes.”

Andre turned. “You could stay with me.”

“I don’t want to bring trouble to your doorstep. For safety, I’d rather go to a safe house. If they track me down there, at least it’s not your home.”

Made sense. Andre didn’t like it, though. He wanted Riley in his home, in a place he knew like the back of his hand.

“You need a security team,” Brent folded his arms across his chest. “No arguments. Choose now.”

“Andre, Elias, and Iona.”

Thank goodness. No matter what happened, Andre wasn’t leaving her to deal with this alone. He meant what he had said earlier. He had her back. Always.

“Andre is on medical leave.”

“That’s why I asked for Elias and Iona. Without his injury, I would have requested Andre and Elias. They could handle security without Iona. With Elias and Iona along, Andre will rest and recuperate.”

Brent pulled out his phone and sent a message. “I just sent both of you the address of the safe house. Have Elias and Iona meet you there. If you need anything, ask. We’ll make sure you have what you need. Report every four hours. Zane will be your tech and communication support since he’s already invested in what’s happening.”

“Thank you, sir.” Andre escorted Riley from the office and through the living room where the crime scene team was gearingup to start work. Riley grabbed her Go bag and slipped it over her shoulder as she walked from the house.

On the porch, Riley glanced at him. “Talk about having strangers touch my things.”

“At least they’re the good guys.”

“True.” She sighed. “Time for me to quit complaining. I know some of the crime scene team, and they’re careful in how they handle items.”

Andre took Riley’s Go bag, unlocked the SUV, and stored her bags in the cargo area with his own gear. He climbed behind the wheel, cranked the engine, entered the address of the safe house into the navigation system, and drove away from Riley’s home, now lit up in every room.

He called Elias. “I need a favor.”

“Name it.”

“I need you and Iona to help me with Riley’s security. Someone broke into her house while we were gone.”

“Oh, man. Address?”

He rattled off the address of the safe house. “We’ll meet you there.”

“Watch your back, Andre. Don’t know what’s going on, but someone wants your woman.”

His woman. Andre liked the sound of that. Didn’t know if Riley appreciated the moniker, though. “I will. See you soon.” He ended the call and made a second call, this one to Iona. Once he explained what they needed, she agreed immediately.

“Thanks for helping, Iona,” Riley said.