Chapter 3 #3
“No problem,” Alice said. “Come on, Eli.” She pulled me from the meeting room, shutting the door behind us, and looped her arm through mine. “So, we’re taking her case, right? Right?”
I shook my head. It was impossible not to grin at Alice when she was fired up like this. “I don’t know yet. I have to talk to Cooper. But my guess is yes. And possibly for free.”
“Hmm. That’s not usually our style, but we could make an exception.”
I swung open the door of Cooper’s office. He, Ryder, and Miranda all looked up, eyebrows raised.
“Done so soon?” Ryder asked. “What’s up with the podcaster?”
“She isn’t here as a client,” I said. “She’s here investigating. We’re her lead.”
“Her lead to what?” Ryder asked.
“Sinclair Security’s phone number and address were found in the possession of the woman whose death she’s investigating. And you’ll never guess who it is.”
Miranda’s gray eyes met mine as she said under her breath, “Fuck me. Tell me it’s not Emily Shaw.”
“Exactly,” I said. “Emily fucking Shaw.”
“Who blew up in her driveway?” Cooper asked.
“Just like Sylvie Calloway’s van blew up last night,” I finished.
“Fuck,” Ryder said, shoving a hand through his short, dark hair. “This is getting messy. There are much quieter ways to kill than a car bomb. Who the hell are we dealing with?” He shook his head, pushing that question aside. “What’d you tell her?”
“Nothing, but I think we need to consider?—”
“You should investigate with her,” Alice said. “She’s good. I mean, not like elite security team good, but for a civilian, she’s good.”
I let this roll around in my head for a minute. I didn’t like it. I preferred to work with my team, not outsiders. But… But. Sylvie tugged at me.
“You just want an excuse to hang out with your favorite podcaster,” Cooper said.
“Maybe,” she agreed, “but it also seems like kismet.”
“Kismet feels like too light a term for matching vehicular explosions and murder,” Miranda murmured, tugging at a strand of dark red hair that had escaped from her braid, her brows drawn together in her thinking face.
I looked to Cooper. “What’s company policy on bringing civilians into investigations?”
“Normally, I’d say it’s a no-go,” Cooper said. “But in this case, it makes sense. God knows we don’t want her wandering around out there getting in our way. What are you going to tell her?”
I’d been thinking about this ever since Sylvie said the name, Emily Shaw.
“She has to sign an NDA because we don’t want this shit broadcast in the latest episode of her show.
” Nods around the room, except from Alice, who rolled her eyes.
“And then I thought I’d tell her we’re also investigating Emily Shaw’s death. ”
“For a client who will remain nameless, since it’s us,” Alice added.
“Exactly. We’re willing to bring her in, and hopefully also find out who blew up her van, as long as she doesn’t get in our way.”
“You think she’ll buy that?” Cooper asked.
“I’m not sure she has a choice,” I said.
“After the way the police handled Emily Shaw’s murder investigation, she’s not sure who she can trust. When her van blew up, she ran.
First order of business—to find out where the van is now and what the status of the investigation is. The police have to be looking for her.”
“That would be the obvious next move,” Cooper agreed. “Where is she right now?”
“Eating a breakfast sandwich in the meeting room,” Alice said. “We need to put her in a safe house. Both of the apartments are open.”
Sinclair Security had two safe house apartments inside the building itself, perfect for securing clients who were in too much danger to be out on the loose.
A small part of me still wanted to boot Sylvie Calloway out the front door, but a much bigger part was glad she’d be close.
I ignored that part. What mattered was that I agreed with Alice.
“I’m not clear on whether whoever blew up her van was trying to scare her or kill her,” I said.
“If they thought she was inside, we may have a little time before they come for her again. Either way, she needs to stay out of sight. At the moment, she doesn’t have anywhere to go because she also lived in that van. ”
“She lost everything,” Miranda said and frowned, clearly picturing the loss. “I have to admire the determination. She watched her home blow up, and the first thing she does is chase down the only lead she’s got.” Her eyes flicked to Alice’s. “I see why you like her. She never gives up.”
“Yeah, well, that might get her killed,” I said. “This isn’t a game.”
“Obviously,” Miranda said, one side of her mouth curving in a grin. “Doesn’t mean I can’t admire someone who gets the job done.”
“I’ll take care of the NDA and get her set up in the safe house,” Alice said. “Are you guys good on the scheduling thing without me?”
“We can manage,” Cooper said. “You’ll have to review what we come up with.
But that can wait until later. Eli, hang here for a few minutes.
I’ll make a few calls to my contacts in the Atlanta PD, see if I can figure out what’s going on with the van, what their interest is in Sylvie Calloway.
Then we’ll figure out where we go from there. ”