28. Andrie
Andrie
“Well, Doc. Since we both know I passed my go/no-go, can we talk about the fact you’re in the middle of your own shit-show? Seriously, I know it’s not exactly my place, but how are you holding up?”
Raptor was right; he had passed his evaluation. This mission, though a last-minute assignment, had been textbook, and his mental state was as solid as it had ever been.
“I’m all right. I have everyone here protecting my back.”
He raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk on his face. “And Rev guarding everything else?”
I knew my face reddened, though I tried to keep my expression casual. “Xander is new to town—as you know—and has time on his hands to help out. Plus, he’s staying with Vik next door.”
Raptor laughed, leaning back casually in his chair and crossing his legs at the ankles.
“Doc, you need to remember you’re surrounded by operatives.
We’re not only trained to lie but to detect them as well.
What I can’t figure out is if you’re lying to me or yourself.
That man is clearly hung up on you and not afraid to show it.
I’ve been in his presence less than ten minutes and can tell you’re just as enamored as he is. ”
My flush deepened. “I think we both need to focus more on the fact I was targeted for my patient list and the man who wants it hasn’t been found yet.”
Raptor shrugged. “Hardy will be caught soon. The man isn’t inventive enough and doesn’t have the nerve needed to stay low for long.”
“Matteo grumbles about the MC gossiping while they’re at home. I wonder if he knows it's just as bad when they're out on assignments,” I complained, but there was little heat to my words, and Raptor knew it.
He rose. “Come on. Let’s go see how much junk food Junie snuck into her new office space already.”
I wasn’t surprised to see Juniper with three extra-large coffee cups empty in her trash can in addition to the morning’s energy drink.
Candy wrappers littered her desk, and her feet tapped as if keeping beat to music only she could hear.
Her whole body wiggled, unable to sit still with that much sugar and caffeine in her system.
“I thought you were on a strict coffee limit?” I plucked the wrappers and tossed them in the trash with the rest of the evidence, hoping like hell she’d calm down at least a little by the time her sisters came back.
If she was still that ramped up after work, the other two might tie her to a chair and leave her.
“It’s an emergency situation.” Juniper didn’t appear nearly as worried as I would have been if my heart rate was as high as hers.
“I still can’t find a trace of Hardy. That’s the third person this year I haven’t been able to track.
” Her words were so quick that it was hard to understand her.
“I could understand if I were searching for someone in countries that aren’t so tech-linked.
But this is the United States of America, for crying out loud.
No one, and I mean, no one, goes around unnoticed anymore.
Not with everyone posting every minute of their lives on social media.
Even elementary school kids, and I have yet to figure out why they need that in their lives.
Do their parents not know how easy it is for predators to shop for their next victims when little Johnny or Jane is posting about their school, friends, sports, and favorite foods?
They practically write their own map for these perverts on how to get lured away—”
“Juniper, you need to take a breath,” I cautioned. Even Raptor was watching her, his eyes wide. Junie was always animated, scattered, and a little spacy at times, but she was frantic and clearly upset.
Spinning her chair, I forced her away from her computer screens, leaning down until we were eye to eye.
She nodded, practically gulping air after her run-on paragraph of words.
“This is not on you. You are not all-knowing or all-seeing. As you said, you can’t find anything on CCTV, his credit cards, phone, car, or facial recs through other people’s social media accounts.
If there was something for you to track, I have no doubt you’d have found it.
It’s not your fault there’s nothing to find. ”
She sagged in her chair at my words, deflating. “I don’t like failing,” she whispered.
“You haven’t failed, little bit. I have no doubt you’ll find everyone you’re looking for.
It’s just taking longer than you’d like.
Patience and timing are necessary things in our world.
After all, we have to adapt our plans around that of our prey.
Hardy and the other two you’re searching for are no different.
I have no doubt they’ll surface eventually.
And when they do, you’ll be there to find them. ”
Raptor’s words seemed to both bolster and calm Juniper, who nodded. “You’re right. I’m not beaten, I’m just waiting to pounce.”
He nodded. “Like a cat waiting on a mouse to come out of their hole. Now, do you have anything else on your to-do list today?”
She shook her head. “I have my computer set to alert me if anything comes through local, federal, or military channels that might in any way be connected to Hardy. Irina’s entourage is still in Croatia. I have no mission research to do today, and no one is out in the field, apart from Eris.”
“Good. Now, what do you say we break in this new bat cave of yours the proper way?”