Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Although this is the first time meeting the infamous Bebe Grimshaw, she is not unknown to me. She’s a legend within the company. “She’s freaky smart. Went to MIT but dropped out sophomore year because she was a struggling single mom. Unfortunately, she got pulled into something dark and dangerous she couldn’t get out of.”
Tessa’s brows lift. “Like what?”
“Russian syndicate,” I continue, keeping my voice low. “They coerced her into high-level hacks. She left a trail so the government would catch her before nuclear launch codes could be sold. Served seven years in prison for it.”
“Holy shit,” Tessa whispers, head swiveling to locate Bebe, who’s now sitting at the table. She turns back to me. “Seven years in prison?”
“Mostly solitary,” I add. “Kynan pulled strings because she was so brilliant, he had to have her at Jameson. He’s got some major clout because he got Bebe a presidential pardon and her record expunged.”
Tessa’s expression shifts from intrigue to awe. “That’s… extraordinary. I’d love to talk to her about it.”
“I hear she’s a pretty open book,” I say, glancing at the enigmatic woman who later married an FBI agent. He had been undercover in a sting operation against one of the Russians she betrayed who wanted her dead. “But maybe don’t go digging unless she invites it.”
Tessa glances at me, reading between the lines. “You’re protective.”
“Of my team?” I shrug. “Yeah.”
Her face softens for half a second, then she nods. “I like that.” She glances around the room, taking in the laughter and chatter. “I like that you have this.”
I know what she means. This was the missing element I never really had in my former careers.
Dinner unfolds in waves of noise and warmth after that. Anna moves around the table refilling plates whether people want it or not. Malik recounts a training mishap that has half the table laughing and Reid claims the lasagna qualifies as a controlled substance.
For a few minutes, I let myself lean into it.
This.
The noise. The food. The sense that even though our jobs revolve around violence and deception, there’s a solid foundation underneath it all.
Family, if we’re allowed to use that word.
I catch Tessa watching the room the same way I am, like she’s cataloging it for a story she’ll never write. There’s wonder in her expression, as well as caution, and that tells me she feels it too.
My phone vibrates against my thigh and I glance down at the screen.
Brady.
The warmth in my chest cools instantly. “I’ve got to take this,” I murmur to Tessa, already pushing back from the table.
She nods, distracted by whatever Bebe just said, and I step away from the noise, moving toward the hallway that leads to the apartments where the sound dampens.
I answer on the second ring. “Yeah.”
Brady doesn’t waste time. “You’re not going to like what I found.”
I called Brady this morning and filled him in on what was going on with Tessa, Erik’s murder and RainVest. Given that he’s deep undercover inside of a corrupt ring of cops, I knew he’d have his finger on the pulse of anything dirty regarding this murder.
My jaw tightens. “Lay it on me.”
“A favor got called in,” he says. “High up.”
“How high?”
“High enough that the evidence custodian didn’t ask questions. They asked to see the video of the parking garage.”
I lean against the wall, lowering my voice further. “Requested to see or be wiped?”
“Both,” Brady replies flatly.
A slow burn starts in my gut.
“Someone paid a lot of money to get that footage out of evidence,” Brady continues in a low voice. “Before they did, they wanted to know if there were any identifiable witnesses.”
The burn sharpens. “And?”
There’s a beat of silence. “They saw her,” Brady says quietly. “Saw Erik hand Tessa something. Clear enough angle to confirm it wasn’t a random interaction.”
I close my eyes for a second, internally cursing the fates. “They’ll assume she’s a reporter.”
“For sure,” he confirms. “They’re already pulling strings to identify her. It’s only a matter of time before they do.”
I force my breathing to stay even. “And where’s the video now?”
“What video?” he replies, and now I have my answer.
“Do you know who made the request?” I ask.
“No. I’m slowly gaining trust, but I’m not quite there yet. I just overheard two of the higher-ups laughing about it and didn’t want to ask too many questions.”
“Understood.” I don’t blame him at all. He’s on a mission himself and we can’t risk blowing his cover.
My gaze shifts back toward the community area. Through the open doorway I can see Tessa at the far end of the island, leaning in toward Bebe, hands moving as she fires off what I’m sure are a dozen intrusive questions. Bebe’s laughing and it’s clear she doesn’t mind engaging with Tessa’s nosiness.
Tessa looks beautifully alive. Completely unaware.
And only safe because she’s sitting in that room right now.