Page 32 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

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G age and Stacey waved as Celeste and Lewis walked into the airport.

Two weeks had flown by and now his parents were returning home.

While Gage was sad to see them leave, he was relieved at the same time.

He knew, as did his teammates and Stacey, that things were nearing endgame.

He and Stacey turned from the gate and made their way toward the exit.

God Gage hated using the cane, it only slowed him down.

“Oh, quite pouting. Only a few more days and hopefully you can ditch it.” Stacey chuckled.

“Ha. Ha. Laugh it up.” Gage grumbled. “I so can’t wait to go back to work tomorrow.”

“I bet.” Stacey whispered as they entered the elevator for the parking garage.

Gage mentally cursed. “Stace...”

“Gage, it’s fine. I mean we knew...”

“Let’s get in the truck to continue this conversation. Alright? We’re too public here.”

Stacey merely nodded. The last two weeks, a part of Stacey had been worried about them returning to work.

Sure, they knew they had too, but the silence of their stalker the last two weeks had her a bit worried.

As they entered the garage, she and Gage casually looked around, checking out their surroundings.

Celeste had been right. Once Stacey just gave in to her new heightened senses, it did feel like a good fit.

A few minutes later, they were in his truck and Stacey was pulling out of their parking place.

Once they exited the garage and were heading to her house, she spoke.

“So, tomorrow we return to the public world?”

“Yeah, we do. The plan is for you and me to go about our normal routines. Tony and Elias are still trying to nail the geographical profile on this asshole. That filter he’s using is making things slow going. Ethan figures that if we both go back to work, we can use that to our advantage.”

Stacey frowned as her mind processed what he was saying. “Wait, you mean not let on that we know he’s actually after you and not me?”

“Yes, exactly. If we can, by not tipping our hand, we can get ahead of him and figure out his next move. Since I’m stuck with this stick, I’m obviously not doing anything other than paperwork for the next few days. Ethan was going to talk to your boss in the morning about security for you.”

“But wouldn’t that draw suspicion?”

“No, not really. This guy knows that Blackout is involved, he said so on the call. To him, this would be a logical move after what happened to me. Babe, you need to play the part. We need you to not give any clue about what we know. Let him think, that you think, you’re still his target.”

Stacey fell silent as she continued to drive.

They wanted her to pretend to be fearful for HERSELF and not Gage.

To pretend that she did not know that this guy was really after the man she loved.

Could she do that? She tightened her grip on the steering wheel as she turned onto her street.

God, she hated this. Hiding and being a victim went against everything in her nature.

She was a fighter, always had been. She was nobody’s victim.

“Gage...”

“Honey, I know this is chapping your ass, hell it’s chapping mine.

You and I are not victims. We fight. But if we want to stop this guy, this may be our only way.

He’s proved that he’s not afraid to take chances.

When he blew up my house, there could have been civilian casualties.

That tells us that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his endgame, whatever that is. ”

“I’d say, it’s seeing you dead.” She hissed, pulling into her drive, and putting the truck in park.

He reached over and took her hands in his.

“That may be. He said that you would know fear and pain. Me dying is not his ultimate goal, that’s the icing on the cake.

He wants to make me suffer. That will happen if innocent people are hurt.

If YOU are hurt. He’s been planning this.

That’s what my gut is telling me and the guys. ”

“So, I have to just go along with this plan of Ethan’s huh? Act like nothing has changed when the truth is EVERYTHING has changed!” Stacey hissed.

“Yes.” Gage said firmly.

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L ance exited the elevator and walked down the hall toward his office. He passed Gage’s office and saw his friend standing at the window looking out over Austin. “Gage? Everything okay?”

“She’s mad Hawk.” Gage sighed, not turning around.

Lance let out a breath and walked over to his friend’s side. “She doesn’t want to do it this way does she?”

“Hell, no she doesn’t and neither do I.” Gage growled. “Damn it, Hawk. I just want to find this fucker and end this now.”

“We all do buddy. Ethan said the meeting with her boss went well. Tomorrow members of Charlie team will be there.”

“Who?”

“Winslow, Adkins and Tevere.”

Gage nodded. He knew all three men pretty good and knew they would do their jobs and protect Stacey. “When will Ethan tell Stacey? Or has he?”

“Yeah, she knows. When Ethan met Chase, she was there. As far as I know, Chase doesn’t know that she’s not the actual target and we’re keeping it that way.” Lance replied.

“Then all we need now is some luck. We get ahead of whoever this is, and we can better plan.” Gage said.

“Ooh-rah.” Lance agreed.

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S tacey sat in her chair in her office just staring out the window of her office.

That morning she had been in the meeting between Ethan and Chase about adding the men from Charlie team to the security detail in the building.

After Ingram had slipped that bomb into Jerry’s office, it was decided to increase the security of the building once it had been reopened.

Among those changes were the metal detectors and the mail screening.

All deliveries and mail came through a different entrance and were thoroughly screened before continuing to its recipient.

‘Who is this guy and WHY is he after Gage? Has Ethan even broached this with Gage?’ she thought.

“Um, Stacey?”

Stacey turned in her chair, “What is it, Judith?”

“There are two FBI agents are out here. They say they would like to speak with you.” Judith answered.

“Are their names Harker and Fortner?”

“Yeah.”

“Send them in, they’re friends of Krista’s and mine.” Judith left the office and Stacey pushed out of the chair, taking a slow calming breath. When Harker and Fortner walked in, she nodded for Judith to close the door and greeted the men. “Hey Jimmy, Cain. What brings you guys by?”

“Well, Jimmy and I were thinking after we talked with Danny this morning.” Cain started.

“He told us what Gage thinks is going on. That he’s the target I mean.” Jimmy added.

“Okay, with you so far, but what can I help you with that?” Stacey questioned in confusion.

“Stacey, has Gage mentioned anyone who might have a grudge against him? We’re excluding anything dealing with Malconi’s and the Lobo’s since they wouldn’t single just one person out from Blackout.” Cain stated.

“Not to mention, their grudge would extend to the DEA and HPD.” Jimmy added.

Stacey sighed heavily, leaning against the front of her desk. “I was just thinking the same thing. I was wondering if Ethan has talked to him about it. Did Danny tell you what happened when Gage and Tony met with that hacker?”

“Tony did when he was meeting with Elias last week.” Jimmy sighed. “Stacey, we know that Ethan is wanting to keep Gage at a distance here but with this new shift that may not...”

“May not be possible. Yes, that’s what I’m worried about.” Stacey finished for him.

“So, the question here is, how do we get a potential grudge list from Gage and STILL keep him out of this?” Cain asked.

Stacey pushed off her desk and walked to her window.

“That’s the million-dollar question. Have you guys talked to Ethan?

I mean, they’ve been friends for over a decade and partners for nearly as long.

Wouldn’t Ethan know better than me? Hell, me and Gage haven’t even discussed anything dealing with his time in the Marines, let alone what he does for Blackout.

I know he collects information for Blackout, but that’s about all I really know. ”

Jimmy and Cain looked at each other as she turned around and faced them again. It was Cain who spoke again. “In that case, we’ll head over to Blackout and talk to Ethan.”

“No, not Blackout. Since Gage is still on desk duty, he’s stuck at the office. I would suggest finding somewhere else. Especially if you guys and Ethan really do want to keep Gage out. You guys meet there, and Gage will know.” Stacey said.

“You’re right.” Jimmy nodded as they both stood. “After we meet with Ethan, do you want us to keep you informed or let Ethan do it?”

“Let Ethan. If he thinks I need to know, then I want to know.” Stacey answered.

“You got it.” Cain said. “Stace, I get this is hard for you and Gage. I want you to know that if there is anything to find tech wise, Elias and Tony will find it. And if you or Gage need anything, you know you guys can call us too.”

Stacey smiled softly. “Thanks Cain, Jimmy. I appreciate that and I think I can speak for Gage too when I say thank you.”

The two men waved and left her office. Suddenly feeling exhausted, Stacey dropped heavily into her chair and leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Ever since Gage’s panic attack, the tension had been building inside her.

Then with this asshat blowing up Gage’s house, it had only intensified.

A soft knock on her door had her sitting up straight and opening her eyes. “Yeah, come in.”

The door opened and Chase walked in. “I catch you at a bad time Stacey?”

“Hey Chase. No, you didn’t catch me at a bad time really. What’s up?” Stacey replied, straightening in her chair.

Chase frowned as he studied her, “You look like you’re ready to pound something.”

“You’re not too far off actually.” Stacey mumbled.