Page 24 of Elliot

“On it.” Con’s voice came over his comms. Elliot threw the vehicle into gear and reversed down the block, nearly missing several cars and people as they darted across the street.

“Stop!” Smoke yelled, and Elliot hit the brakes. Smoke jumped in the passenger side and glanced into the back, a smile splitting his lips. “Well, honey, you wanted some excitement,” he said as Elliot put the vehicle into gear and stepped on the gas.

Charley flipped him off but smiled.

“I love you, too,” Smoke said.

Elliot made it about a block before they saw NYPD swarming the area. “Con, we need to know if we were the target or were targeted because we were the first ones out the door.”

Con cussed. “Working it. Getting help.”

Elliot pulled at his tie, loosening the damn thing. “What did you need to tell me earlier?”

“Hold on. Give me a minute.”

“Is my son talking to you?”

“Yes, ma’am. He’s been with us all night.”

“Good.” Olivia nodded and then shivered. “He’ll know what’s going on, or he’ll find out.”

“Damn straight,” Con said as Elliot listened to the clacking of computer keys.

“His exact words were damn straight,” Charley said, and Olivia rolled her eyes. Charley leaned forward and asked, “Maya, are you okay?”

Elliot glanced back at her for the hundredth time since he’d started winding through Midtown’s streets. Her eyes were wide, and she was pale. She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Are you hurt?” Elliot whipped the question out, slamming on the brakes in case he needed to divert.

She shook her head. “No. I’m not hurt, but I’m not okay either.”

He stepped on the gas just as a horn blared behind him. Fuck the other drivers, he was going to make sure Maya was good to go.

Olivia put her arm around Maya. “You’ll be okay. If it wasn’t for Elliot and these two, who knows what would have happened? You’re lucky Guardian is damn good at their job. So am I.” The woman sat up a bit straighter. “Which brings up a question. Why did you pull me from the table?”

“Because you’re part of the family,” Charley said and shrugged. “It was the only option.”

Elliot nodded. Grabbing both of the ladies was instinct. Olivia was Con’s mom, and that made her essential.

“Okay, we’re working with NYPD on this investigation. They’ve agreed so they can use our forensics. There were too many VIPs at the event to deny our request.”

“Smart of them,” Charley said.

“What?” Olivia asked.

Charley pointed to her ear. “Con’s giving us an update.”

“Oh.” Olivia nodded and pulled Maya closer.

“Head to Guardian’s parking garage under their offices. They’ll have an armored vehicle for you, Elliot.”

“Roger that.” He put on the signal and merged into traffic so he could turn around.

“Now, onto what I found. No reaction on this, anyone. Maya Callahan was adopted into a really poor family. She made it to where she is through her own wits and scholarships.”

“That was in my briefing.” Elliot was getting tired of waiting for the information Con had.

“You know that, but Bambi and Smoke don’t,” Con sniped.

---