Page 39 of Trapped (Sheppard & Sons Investigations #6)
Nathan
“ F inn’s not behind it. He’s carrying a grudge, but his reaction was genuine surprise,” I told Jamie via the car’s Bluetooth.
“We’re scouring the video feeds, but so far nothing,” John said.
“Whoever’s behind it is a professional, but why target Ashley if it’s not on Finn’s order?”
“Has she ever mentioned having issues with a different ex?” I asked. Ashley wouldn’t have told them, but she wouldn’t told Emily or Meg.
“I’ll ask the girls,” Jamie said. His rapid footsteps filled the silence in the car as he left John’s office.
“Could be an unknown stalker,” AJ said. “Don’t bite my head off when I ask, but did anything else feel off at the house or Greenfield’s?”
I narrowed my eyes but didn’t answer. Reminding myself this was how teams worked, challenging each other and making sure no stone was left unturned, I answered calmly. “No. But it isn’t my neighborhood. John, could you talk to Violet? Maybe she saw something without realizing it.”
“Dean’s bringing her here now. They would’ve been here sooner, but Violet refused to leave Prince behind after the scare, and Dean had a hard time getting that stupid cat, as he called him, in his carrier.”
“That sounds about right,” I said. I hadn’t known Violet for long, but she was made of sturdy stuff. And she raised Ashley to be just like her.
Hold on, Slick. I’m coming for you .
“I’ll let you know what we find out.” John disconnected the call.
When we arrived back at the office, Violet was watching the video feeds with Doug. Prince rested quietly in his carrier on a chair next to her.
“How are you holding up?” I asked as I entered the room.
“I’m doing okay. Just trying to help Red here find my granddaughter.”
She was doing her best to sound strong, so I pretended not to see her hands shaking or the tears she blinked back.
“Good. I’ll be in John’s office if you need me.” I couldn’t imagine Violet needing me, but I didn’t know what else to say. Being in love with her granddaughter didn’t automatically make me a part of the family.
“Nathan. You’ll find her. I know you will.”
I hoped. I prayed.
But I didn’t know.
“John and his boys,” she patted Doug’s shoulder, including the non-blood boys, “they won’t rest until they do.”
Her confidence in the team was humbling.
My new team. I embraced my role as the familiar comfort of having a team washed over me. They had my back. I had theirs.
“Thanks.” With a nod in Doug’s direction, I left.
“Blaszek, this is your case, so the lead is yours,” John said when I walked into his office.
“Sir, I appreciate that, but this is your town. You know it and the Yorks better than I do, so I’ll follow your lead.”
“Damn, I wasn’t expecting that,” Jay said. “I’d be going batshit if I were in your shoes.”
I was one-hundred percent losing my shit, but I knew how to lock it down. “That’s why SEALs are better,” I said.
“Before you two get into a pissing match, let’s get to work.” John said before handing out assignments.
Jamie would coordinate with Weatherford PD and file the missing person’s report. Jack and AJ would ask businesses near the clinic if they had street-facing cameras. Cate offered to jump over the heads of the local authorities and contacted her friends at the FBI to get traffic cam footage.
“Jay and I will scour them.”
Each of them clapped me on the back and offered support as they left. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed having a team at my back until that moment.
John waited until everyone had left before giving me my orders.
“How are you holding up?” He asked the same question I’d just asked Violet.
“I’ve compartmentalized it, sir. But when we find the bastard responsible, I want his head on a pike.”
“Understood.” He walked to the front of his desk. “Welcome to the team.” He held out his hand. After I released his hand, he said, “When this is over, will you please stop calling me sir.”
“Not insisting on it now?” I asked with a choked laugh.
“No, you’re relying on your SEAL training to hold it together. Barely. I won’t mess with that.”
I nodded.
“I’ve contacted the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas State Police; they’ve issued area-wide BOLOs for Ashley.”
It wouldn’t do much good since we didn’t have a single shred of information about the getaway car.
“Coordinate with Doug. His attention is divided between the footage and Violet, so a second set of eyes will help. I’ll have you work with Cate when she gets access to the traffic cams.”
“Yes, sir.”
Using AJ’s chair, I worked alongside Doug and Violet watching surveillance footage.
We hadn’t been at it long when Meg called out, “Nathan, did you order a pizza?”