Page 124 of Deep Tide

She turned to Nicole. “It doesn’t make any sense,” Siena said. “She was rushing to get this delivery out. She went into her office to meet with someone and—”

“Who?” Sean asked.

“A prospective client. Jillian somebody.”

The color drained from Sean’s face. “Jillian Wendt? Luc Gagnon’s assistant?”

“Yeah. We did an event for her Sunday, and she wanted to hire us again—”

“Siena, let me talk to Agent Moran for a second,” Nicole said.

Siena bit her lip. Then she turned and walked back inside.

Sean combed both hands into his hair. “Fuck!”

“Calm down. Maybe Leyla went somewhere with her willingly.”

“No way.”

“Well, does Leyla know about Luc Gagnon?” Nicole asked. “And that he’s potentially involved in a homicide?”

“She has an idea, yeah.”

“How would she—”

“That’s why she dropped the phone on the ground. It’s a signal.” Sean’s attention snapped to the security camera above the door. “We need that footage.”

Nicole glanced up at the newly installed camera. “If anyone besides Leyla would know how to access the system, it would be Siena. I’ll talk to her.” Nicole started for the door just as it swung open.

Joel Breda stepped out. His gaze landed on Sean, and he rushed up to him, slamming him back against the police car.

“Son of a bitch!”

Nicole lunged forward, grabbing Joel’s shirt. “Hey!”

“You did this! You fucking sent her to his house? What were you thinking?”

“Hey!” Nicole wedged herself between them as Joel tried to give him another shove. Pain zinged through her shoulder as Joel’s palm connected. “Stop it!” She pressed her fists to Joel’s chest and pushed him back, which sent another zing of pain through her body.

Joel stepped away, panting and glaring at the man behind her.

“I didn’t send her anywhere,” Sean snapped.

“Bullshit!”

“Stop.” She turned to glare at Sean, then back at Joel. “This isn’t helping anything! Sean, go inside and track down that camera footage.”

He stared over Nicole’s shoulder, his face flushed with anger.

“Sean.”

He met her gaze and seemed to calm down a fraction. He stepped around her and stormed into the building.

“Jesus.” Nicole turned to Joel. “Are you out of your damn mind? You just assaulted a federal agent!”

“He deserved it.”

She looked at Joel, dumbstruck. She’d known the man her whole life, and she’d never seen him lose his cool like this.

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