Chapter Fourteen #4
Frank bagged the two weapons. “Howdy, neighbor. Good to see you.”
“Frank, I saw you this morning in the driveway.”
He chuckled. “So you did. I don’t like meeting you like this. Hunt know?”
“No, and he doesn’t need to until I tell him.”
Frank grinned. “Deal. I’ll take this and go, Williams. I’ll catch up to you.”
“Thanks, Sergeant. Charges?”
“Delirium. Let’s drop it. The man has enough troubles.”
“I owe you.”
“Not a chance. Law to law. That’s how this works.” He shifted around the full room and left.
She stepped to Cait. “Please take good care of him.”
“I always do.”
“I’ll wait in the hall. Drucker stay with Dr. Hunter, would you?” She was more than aware she didn’t work for QM and couldn’t order their people around. She crooked a finger at Delaney and pointed outside.
“Stay here and wait for Mackey, can you?”
“Yeah, but I’m at a disadvantage.” He lifted his wrapped arm and pointed at Cait. “She’ll kill me if I screw this surgery up.”
“I’ll tell Mackey. I’m guessing we’re moving him anyway.”
“If he cooperates.”
“He moves no matter what.”
“I heard that,” Whit yelled at her, his face hard and angry.
She stepped into his field of vision. “There are a lot of innocent people going in and out of this building. Are you willing to make them collateral damage in this war with Mercer? Are you?”
His eyes shifted, but the anger stayed. “No.”
“Stop fighting best practices, then.”
Cait stood, her stethoscope around her neck, and glanced between Alanna and Whit. “What she said, Mr. Whitaker. You’re a danger to everyone in the building.”
“Well, you led him here.”
Alanna sighed. If he thought she’d be derailed by the accusation, he didn’t understand the woman she was now.
“You knew I was looking. You could have protected them all by coming to me. But you didn’t.
” She stopped herself from spouting more.
She knew better than this – professionally and personally. “I’ll get Mackey.”
She walked away. Had to. Anxiety fled, replaced by frustration.
She walked into the heated morning air and went right to Mackey. He remained impassive, but listened carefully. “Delaney and Cait need you. We can move him when you’re ready. I gave your people assignments. Sorry, it’s not my place.”
“No worries, Agent Williams. They know this case is yours.” He shifted around her, stopped briefly to squeeze her shoulder, and went inside.
Quaid stood with his arms crossed leaning against the church wall next to Father Eli.
The padre straightened. “I’ll go sooth the masses. Please tell me if I can help.”
“Thanks, Father. We’ll be leaving shortly.” Quaid stayed unmoving by the building, his eyes on her. “Didn’t go well?”
She gripped her head with both hands. “I would like to go into the parking lot and scream at the top of my lungs. Come get me, get it over with! How do you feel about that?”
Quaid screwed up his mouth in an illusion of thinking. “As your partner, I’ll have your back anywhere, any time, and the idea has a flicker of merit. As the other guy who likes kissing you and holding you when you sleep…hell no. Stupid idea. You choose.”
That he wasn’t telling her what to do sank in. She settled and made the right choice. Stepping close, she met him with the same thought. “Stupid idea. We’re going to have to be smarter, more subtle.”
He pulled her into a small alcove, loosely holding her close. “And more cunning.”
“Manipulative, shrewd, and skill-driven.”
“Whit give you anything?”
“No, only said he was protecting me. Told me multiple times I shouldn’t be here. He had a gun on Frank.”
Quaid blew out an exasperated breath. “I bet Frank didn’t take that well.”
“He didn’t arrest him, but I’m not placing bets that detente was achieved.”
“Whit’s mad at you.”
“Yes, but I don’t care. Mercer tried to kill you!”
“He tried to kill you, too.”
“We have more at stake than Whit. Whit’s beef is old. Ours is too fresh to ignore. I didn’t get to ask him about Iraq. He looks awful, and Cait wasn’t happy I talked to him before she could examine him.”
“Did you ever wonder why we hired her?”
“No. One meeting with her and I realized what an asset she is. But I also knew she’d stop the questioning.”
“Why didn’t he come to you?”
“Yeah, or at least send a message.”
“Answered to your satisfaction?”
“No, not even close. But he’s going to be out of commission for a few hours.”
“Better with him alive than dying in this place from infection. Keep the priority in order.”
“Understood.”
Quaid’s phone buzzed. She eased away so he could answer.
“Remy, what’s up? What?” Quaid hit the speaker button and Alanna caught the last bit.
“Elizabeth and Harrison are stuck in the elevator. Front entrance is destroyed. Parnell is badly injured – tried to stop the car. Craig is buried in rubble. He was in the office behind the explosion. Celissa has every floor locked tight. Fire department and police are on the way.”
“I’m coming. Fifteen out.” He clicked off and hit speed dial to Mackey.
Alanna grabbed his jacket. “What happened?”
“Car crashed through the entry way of QM and exploded in the lobby.”
“Mercer. Shit.”
“Exactly.”