Page 29 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity (Secure Watch #2)

“Rather than call the police and ask for assistance,” Mina said, “we tapped into the security systems around the building. We can see the side of the building where that would have been recorded, but there’s no one there now.”

“Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that he strapped a woman to a wheelchair, set her in front of a video camera and did a full video without anyone noticing?” Iris asked, making Reece turn toward her.

“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. It would be almost impossible to film something like that where the gallery is located in Duluth. He’d have to be quick, and I can’t see that happening with a woman tied to a wheelchair like that.”

“But I know that was Taken for Granted. I have no doubt,” Skylar said, shock still filling her words. “And that was Camille.”

“Could the video be altered?” Reece asked Mina, who nodded with a shrug.

“That’s possible. The quality is low, which could be on purpose, and the shots of her were tight to the brick. He could have spliced them together to make them look like they were at Taken for Granted,” Mina said.

“We could call the bomb squad to go in, but I’m afraid he’s watching the building,” Cal explained. “If he sees movement and the bomb is inside the building, a lot of people would get hurt.”

“We can’t risk it,” Skylar said, shaking her head.

“Whoever this is has an issue with me and no one else. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me.

We follow his directions and don’t deviate.

Camille, while not my favorite person, doesn’t deserve to die, and neither does anyone else.

If that building blows, many other businesses and people will get hurt. ”

“I ran the casualty report if the building goes,” Iris said, grabbing a piece of paper.

“Because the gallery is located so close to the residential section of the city and the hospital, we’re talking easily a billion dollars in property damage and countless lives lost if the building explodes.

It’s old brick, and it will fly like stone bullets. ”

Reece swore, his chest tight as he imagined the implications of that. “She can’t be out there alone, Cal. She has no way to defend herself.”

“Agreed,” he said, but Sky snorted.

“He said no cops and no security guys. If he blows that building when I’m sitting in front of it, I’m dead, too.”

“That’s why you’ve got us,” Roman said as he walked through the door dressed in a Secure One uniform, followed by four guys dressed the same. It was the core team of Secure One operatives.

“Skylar, my name is Efren Brenna. I believe you met my wife, Selina. This is Mack, Eric and Lucas. With all due respect, we’ve infiltrated a mafia kingpin’s home without his knowledge. We can stake out and protect the building in question in our sleep. We got you.”

Reece nodded his agreement when she glanced at him. “The team will not let you down. You can put the same amount of trust in them that you’ve put in me. We won’t let you or anyone else get hurt, but you have to follow directions and not go rogue.”

The room erupted in snickers as they glanced at Mina, who was laughing harder than any of them. “What did I miss?” Skylar asked.

Reece waved a hand in the air. “I’ll tell you on the way. It’s a long story. For now, will you agree to listen to the plan I know Cal has already developed and is ready to implement?”

“I’ll listen, but I think I should get a say in this, too. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. If anyone is going to die, it will be me.”

His pulse pounding in his ears, he tipped her chin around to face him.

“And you don’t think that going out there and getting yourself killed would hurt me?

Don’t you think that watching you nearly die once was enough?

Now I have to do it again?” Reece felt a nose budge against his thigh, breaking his concentration on the woman before him.

He glanced down at Haven, Lucas’s PTSD dog, who wasn’t afraid to come to the aid of others in the group who needed a reminder not to fall too deep down a hole that would only torture them.

Instinctively, he stroked Haven’s head while inhaling a deep breath.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do it again. We can’t be reckless with your life. ”

“And we won’t be,” Cal said, trying to gain control of the situation.

“Both of you need to hear me out. We can adjust the plan once you’ve heard it, but until then, I want your lips zipped and your eyes on me.

There are a lot of moving parts and we don’t have much time with a 6:00 a.m. deadline in front of us.

Emotions are charged between you right now.

We all feel that, but if you both trust us,” he said, emphasizing both while holding Reece’s glare, “everyone will come out of this alive.”

“You have the floor,” Reece said to Cal’s nod. When Cal turned his back to walk to the whiteboard, Skylar slipped her hand into his and squeezed.

It was the lifeline Reece needed to focus on the plan and get her out of this safely, even if that meant he had to give her up in the end.