Page 10 of Critical Strike

“Kids there were the worst of the bunch—most of them unplaceable. Older ones were always looking for someone to pick on, and it didn’t take long for Claire to be cast in that role. Her head was always in a book or on a computer. So quiet and shy. A bully’s dream.”

Only a couple of days after she arrived at the group home, Claire showed up at the breakfast table with bruises and scratches.

Not unlike how she showed up at the office this morning.

A girl always known for starting trouble had been picking on little Claire—bullying her in ways just short of overt.

Luke wasn’t the oldest or biggest kid at Skyline Park, but he knew how to take care of himself and had long since proven no one should mess with him. And for a reason he still couldn’t identify, he’d stepped in and helped Claire.

“I helped her out.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. But it had been a big deal for them. “She was scared all the time. Boys and girls slept on separate ends of the house, which meant I could only protect her during the day. So I stole some walkie-talkies from the dollar store so we could talk at night.”

He looked up from his computer to find all three of his brothers staring at him thoughtfully. He’d never talked about his past this much.

“We checked in every night until she was placed with a family when she was eleven.”

Luke’s throat constricted. He hadn’t realized just how important Claire was to him until she wasn’t there anymore. With her gone, the bag came out again. He was living on the streets not even a week later before he was caught and brought back.

Not long after, the Pattersons had found him and offered him a place in their home.

“She meant something to you,” Weston said in his quiet way.

Luke scrubbed a hand over his short brown hair. “Yeah, I guess. In a kid way. If she’s in trouble now, I’d like to help, too.”

Chance stood from his chair. “Then that’s what we’ll all do.”

Luke turned to Weston. “I’ve already got Rick Gavett running her to see if anything comes up. I’m going to dig into her, too, so I know what we’re up against when I see her tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.”

He spent the rest of the morning and a big chunk of the afternoon alternating between the paperwork still overwhelming his desk and seeking info about Claire.

The basics were easy to get. Claire had stayed close to home for college, then she started developing software and apps for Passage Digital right out of school. She’d never been married—he refused to even acknowledge whatever feeling it was that zinged through his chest at that info—and had committed no crimes.

Nothing stuck out as particularly notable or questionable.

So, what then? How had Claire accidentally gotten involved in some bad news? Hopefully, Rick would be able to shine more light on that subject because Luke was having no luck, meaning he had no choice but to face the paperwork piles.

The doorbell ringing made Luke look up a couple of hours later, before glancing at his watch. Already nearly five o’clock.

“Can we help you?” he heard Brax ask.

“Are you Luke Patterson?”

“No, I’m his brother, Brax. We’re partners in San Antonio Security. Are you looking to hire us?”

“I’m Officer Arellano.” He pointed to the shorter man next to him, who was also in a suit, pulling out a badge and showing it was real. “And this is Officer Fisher. We have a few questions about Claire Wallace.”

At the sound of Claire’s name, Luke dropped the papers he was filing and zoomed into the waiting area, forcing himself to slow as he walked in. “Afternoon, officers. I’m Luke Patterson.”

Arellano’s eyes narrowed as Weston and Chance also entered the reception area. “I thought you guys were brothers.”

Luke didn’t have time for a cultural sensitivity lesson right now. “Did Rick send you over with info?”

Fisher crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring the question. “We’re looking for Claire Wallace. Is she here?”

Luke shook his head. “Nobody is here but us right now. Is there a reason you’re looking for her?”

“Why don’t you let us ask the questions,” Arellano bit out.

Luke forced himself to keep a relaxed posture against the doorframe. Something about these guys was off, and he wasn’t going to give them any info about Claire until he knew more.

---