Page 63 of Flynn

Taylor’s eyes widened in horror. “Is that a possibility?”

Cass sent him an exasperated glance. “I don’t think you need to worry about that. Once we explained about the danger to you, and the number of murders that have already taken place, the local cops believed our version of events. Joe will coordinate with their leadership to smooth things over.”

Plagued by a sense of urgency, Flynn ate quickly. He didn’t want to stick around any longer than necessary, especially if the cops outside were about finished processing the scene of the crime.

His disposable phone rang. Recognizing Rhy’s number, he answered. “Hey, Rhy.”

“Are you okay? What’s this about you shooting Klem?” Rhy asked.

Suppressing a sigh, Flynn filled him in on the recent events. “I assume Joe called to let you know I need a weapon.”

“Yeah, he left a message. I called you directly because I was concerned.” Rhy’s voice sounded heavy with regret. “I think I may have blown it with Klem.”

The admission shocked him. “What do you mean?”

“It’s my fault,” Rhy said. “I ran into Klem last night when I got home. I didn’t think much about his being at my place, waiting to update me on the investigation. He told me they had a line on Lyle and Jake and were heading to one of their friends’ houses to see if they could find him.”

Flynn caught Cassidy’s eye, then glanced at Taylor. Both were listening to his side of the conversation. “Okay, so Klem was at your place last night, and you spoke to him. How much did you tell him about where we were staying?”

Cass grimaced as Taylor gasped.

“I didn’t give him your address or anything, but I mentioned you guys were safe in Greenland.” Rhy muttered something under his breath, then added, “I was sidetracked by Devon and Colleen being sick, especially since Devon began having some contractions despite not being due for two months. But that’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have mentioned Greenland. I’m sorry.”

“Telling Klem we were staying in Greenland isn’t the same as giving him an address,” Flynn said thoughtfully. “But that may have allowed him to narrow it down.”

“I feel terrible, and I’ve already put a call in with the Brookland PD Chief of Police,” Rhy said. “I want the department to verify Klem’s partner, Irving, isn’t involved. And I need them to investigate Klem’s actions from their end too.”

“Good.” He tried to smile reassuringly at both Cassidy and Taylor. He didn’t feel that much better about shooting Klem, but knowing Rhy had made the slip was oddly reassuring.

Eleven months ago, when Steele and Harper had been in danger Flynn had slipped up by giving key information about a safe house location to a dirty ATF agent. He’d carried the heavy yoke of guilt for months afterward, despite Rhy, Steele, and the others reassuring him that it could have happened to anyone.

Now that a similar slip had happened to Rhy, he guessed they were right about that. What had Taylor said? They were all human and bound to make mistakes.

Yet it still didn’t explain how Klem had found the connection to Doug Bridges’s sister, Emily Sanders, to find their exact address.

Process of elimination? Had Klem gone to all the rental properties listed in Greenland? How many could there be? Probably not that many. And if not for the lack of snow on the woodpile, Flynn might not have gone out to investigate.

God certainly had watched over them tonight.

“I hope you can forgive me,” Rhy said. “I feel awful that I let you down.”

“You’ve always been supportive, so that’s not even an issue. Besides, you forgave me when I goofed earlier this year,” Flynn said. “In a way, it helps to know that the feds may not be involved.”

“We don’t trust anyone outside the family and Doug Bridges,” Rhy said. “I’ll work with Joe to get Taylor to the safe house. I’ve given the order to move the current occupants out ASAP to free it up for you.”

The news brought a wave of relief. At least the safe house had bullet-proof windows. And it wasn’t in Greenland either. With Klem in the hospital and Irving soon to be benched, they didn’t have to worry about anyone inside the law enforcement community finding them there. Police precincts didn’t share safe houses, and his being forced to shoot a dirty cop reinforced the wisdom of that policy.

“Stay put for now,” Rhy said. “I’ll let Joe know when you’re cleared to move to the safe house.”

That gave him pause. “I don’t want to stay here once the officers outside disperse. We don’t know for sure Klem didn’t tell Irving his plans to come here. And we still don’t know where Nickoli Yurgis is either.”

“I’ll convince the Greenland police to keep their officers there for as long as it takes,” Rhy said. “Don’t worry about that.”

“Okay. Thanks. Keep us posted on the timeline.”

“Will do.” Rhy ended the call.

“Wow, I can’t believe Rhy accidentally gave away our location,” Cassidy said as they finished eating. “He is always so on top of things.”

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