Page 6 of Tango (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #4)

Outside, sirens sound. It looks like Simmons got the call.

Alice pales further.

“You need to tell me what’s going on,” I demand as I release her.

She’s quiet as she looks out the window. Slowly, she turns back to me and closes her eyes. After a beat, she opens them again, and even with everything going on around me, I’m captivated by their crystal depths. “Fine. But you have to promise to keep my parents safe.”

“I will.”

“Then give me a second. I need to get something from my room to show you.”

An inkling of unease trails up my spine. She’s going to run. I can feel it in my bones. “And what makes you think I’m stupid enough to fall for that?”

She doesn’t even try to deny it. “I don’t think you’re stupid.

You’ll find me again. If you’re as good as they say you are.

But if you don’t let me go, they’re going to toss me in a cell where Web Safe will send more people like this to take me out.

The truth will never come out unless you trust me now. ”

I stare at her, trying to discern whether she’s telling the truth or not.

She’s beaten. Bloody. And the two bruisers here certainly helped her case by coming after her parents.

“Alice, you can’t run. You’re injured,” her mom says. Jemma’s lip is split, her eye blackening, but otherwise, she looks okay.

Her husband, Fred, took a few hits but still stands with his arm around his wife. “Ali, let the police help.”

“Dad, they can’t help. Not until I have proof.”

“Proof of what?” Jemma presses.

Alice shakes her head but steps forward. “I love you both so much. I thank God every day that He blessed me with the two of you.” She smiles at them, and they hold on to her for a moment before releasing her.

“I will find you,” I tell her. “I give it forty-eight hours max.”

Alice smiles softly, though it doesn’t quite reach her pale eyes. “I guess I’ll see you then, Mr. Hunt.”

“This is quite a mess you’ve got here,” Detective Simmons comments as he watches Olean and Marsh get hauled out to cruisers in front of the Sterlings’ house.

Both Jemma and Fred are currently talking to the police now, giving their statements, including how their daughter showed up and then took off again.

“You’re telling me.” The two of us stand in silence for a moment. “What do you know about Web Safe?”

“The cyber company? The LAPD contracts with them, but that’s about all I’ve got. Why?”

“Alice Sterling—the daughter? She works for them. She and her friend Ramiro Caine fell off the grid two days ago; then this happens.”

Alaric arches a brow. “What are you thinking?”

“Just that it seems fishy. Olean said something too, he asked if Ramiro was self-defense too.”

“Self-defense? You think she killed him?”

I shake my head. “I know she didn’t. But she did say that she killed someone else in self-defense. Someone they referred to as Josh?—”

“Aah, well, that answers that one. Joshua Pollinger. We’ve collared him a few times on theft and assault.

Found him impaled on a piece of rebar in an alleyway after a woman called 9-1-1 to report it.

She refused to give a name, but I’d bet my paycheck it was Alice Sterling. ” He runs his hands over his face.

“Then that definitely fits with self-defense. Cold-blooded murderers don’t tend to call 9-1-1.”

“You’d be surprised,” he replies. “But I listened to the recording, and she was frantic when she called. Terrified.”

And if Web Safe is somehow involved, they have their hands in the LAPD cookie jar. Which is likely why Alice didn’t want me to call the police.

“She had bruises around her throat and was pretty banged up.”

“Which also fits the self-defense angle.”

I nod.

“Man, I have no idea what you walked into here, but it’s a mess.”

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure thing, what?”

“Hold off on putting out an APB on Alice Sterling if you can. Give me a twenty-four-hour head start.”

Alaric hesitates for just a moment then nods. “I can give you that.”

“Great, thanks.”

“Just let me know when you find her, okay? Keep me in the loop, and I’ll do the same.”

I hold out my hand to shake his. “Agreed.”

My cell rings, so I withdraw it from my pocket and answer when I see Bradyn’s name on the caller ID. “News travels fast even across state lines, I take it?”

“Elijah called. Said he tried you but you didn’t answer.”

“I was briefing Alaric.”

“What happened?”

“Two bruisers were working over Alice Sterling’s parents when I got to her house. I managed to put a stop to it.”

“Any sign of Alice?” he questions.

I hold up a finger to Alaric then step out of earshot. “She was here when I got here. Bruised, scared—I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but whatever it is—it’s big.”

“Where is she now?”

“In the wind—for now.”

“She got away?”

“I let her go.”

Bradyn is silent for a moment. “Any particular reason why?”

“She was adamant that Web Safe is behind this. That she’ll be arrested and tossed in a cell, where they’ll send someone after her just like they did her parents.”

“Do you believe her?”

“She believes it,” I tell him. “I’ll find her again, and then I’ll decide what to believe.” I take a moment, trying to decide how best to word this next part. “There’s more.”

“What is it?”

I hesitate, hating what I’m about to say. “I believe that Ramiro Caine is dead.”