Chapter 12 #2
“I’m good. Safe. And where the hell I am isn’t something you need to know.
At least for the time being.” It was on the tip of his tongue to ask which case he was looking for, but that wasn’t the purpose of this call.
“I only have a few minutes, but first…” He had to know about Haven and to find a way to ask about Solace without piquing the other man’s interest. There was enough unspoken speculation about the two of them already as it was. “How are Haven and the baby?”
“Haven’s good.” Cal’s tone immediately went from brusque to soft. “The baby’s started moving around and making herself known.”
“Her?” Dammit, he’d missed finding out?—
“Oh, no, we don’t know. That’s just my bet.” A little chuckle left the other man. “Haven’s betting on a boy, since you know, it’s making her sick. The loser has to change all the dirty diapers the first month.”
“Yeah, you need to hope it’s a girl.” In his peripheral vision, Enders tapped hard on his watch.
He could tap all he wanted. With only ten minutes allotted to him, he had more than enough time to give Cal all the information he needed.
So, given this opportunity, he couldn’t not find out what was happening at home.
“I’m assuming everything is good with the team. ”
“Yes, except…” Duncan went on alert, when his thoughts immediately jumped to Solace. Was she okay? “We’ve all been concerned about this sabbatical you’re on.”
We... Okay…
He let out a relieved breath.
“It’s more complicated than I can go into right now and not the purpose of this call.” At least not completely. But Cal didn’t need to know that. With time running out, he had to get down to business. “There might be reason to believe Harrison Shaw and Mercy Carter could be in danger.”
“Mercy?”
“Yes.” Of course, Cal would focus in on his friend’s sister above Shaw/Stanton. “I’m assuming you’ve heard about Shaw’s faulty gate crushing his vehicle.”
“I did. And to be honest, I wondered if there could be more to it.” Duncan could imagine the consternation on the other man’s freckled face. “But what does that have to do with Mercy? And, I’m assuming, you as well.”
“I’m not important right now. I?—”
“Sir, with all due respect…” Was that censure he detected in the other man’s gruff voice? “You’re important to a lot of people. Especially Haven.”
“I’m aware.” And he was. “I’m also aware of the danger and a possible source.” Possible being the operative word. But if the chance existed this was their man, they needed to explore it. “Shaw and Mercy don’t have that advantage.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Contact Shaw directly about a possible connection with Spivey. He’ll?—”
“Tolbert Spivey.” Cal had ground the name out.
“Yes. He can take over from there. If he hadn’t surrounded himself with…” Duncan shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to worry about Adam’s choice in security. “Anyhow, offer our help or suggest Alyn’s people as added protection.”
“Consider it done.” A slight pause filled with tension—obvious even over the phone—followed. “And Mercy?”
“Put a detail on her.”
“She will not be happy about that.” Duncan was aware Declan’s sister was just as stubborn, if not more so, than her brother. So, of course she wouldn’t like it. That’s why…
“She’s not to be informed.”
Cal huffed. “She’s not going to be happy about it even more once she finds out we didn’t tell her.”
Mercy would end up giving them hell one way or another. That was okay. But better pissed off later than dead now.
“So, all of this is about Spivey?”
“Honestly, we’re not sure. We…” From the couch, Enders threw his arms up in the air, with a wide-eyed look of frustration thrown Duncan’s way, along with an exasperated groan.
“We’re?” Of course, Cal had picked up on that slip. “Who’s with you?” He gave Enders another quick glance where the man held up both hands while counting down from ten on his fingers.
“Again, not important. When it’s time, you’ll know.” Enders held up a closed fist, letting Duncan know his time had run out. “Tell the team exactly what I’ve told you and follow my orders.” He hesitated for just a second before saying, “Take Haven with you and tell her when you tell the team?—”
“Sir, Haven needs?—”
“I know that’s a lot to ask. Just…” He didn’t want to choke up in front of Enders, so he swallowed down any emotion at thoughts of his daughter. “Just tell her I love her and will be back soon. And tell the team to stay safe and to watch their backs.”
“But—”
Duncan hung up on whatever Cal was about to say. The bombardment of questions would have to wait until this was over.
“You sure do like cutting it close,” Enders groused, while giving him a speculative gaze. “You do know all that family stuff wasn’t necessary, right?”
“No, I don’t know that,” Duncan said low, while placing the phone on the floor, before stomping it with his boot.
A satisfying crack followed as he ground his heel into it.
“So, yes, it was necessary.” He took the time to pick up the broken pieces and throw them in the trashcan.
They’d have to find a random dumpster somewhere after dark.
“And the sooner we can shut this down so I can get back to that family, the better.”
Because whether Enders understood it or not, and no matter what danger he was currently in, family was the one thing Duncan’s life truly depended on.