Page 15 of Lost Hope

“That doesn’t track,” Axel said. “Whatever he was searching for, Tank was too careful to get caught that easily.”

Ronan’s dark brows narrowed. “Who called the local cops?”

“My supervisor. Said we should have backup in case Sullivan resisted arrest.” Her heart thumped against her chest. “Turned out that wasn’t necessary.”

“Why send investigators in the middle of the night?” Axel asked.

She shrugged. “Commander Phillips didn’t say. I assumed it was because someone on base had just discovered the break-in.”

“Or someone wanted us to get caught in his apartment,” Ronan said to his friend.

Axel snorted. “Not a coincidence.”

“What about Benson?” Ronan made the question more of an accusation. “How do you know he was on the level?”

“Tom wasn’t involved in any of this.” Her voice caught. “The only thing he was guilty of was following orders to show up atSullivan’s house. He wouldn’t—” She broke off, steadied herself. “There’s no reason anyone would want him dead.”

Probably. When it came down to it, how well did she really know her partner of less than three months?

“Your partner was between us and them,” Axel added, abandoning his search for food. “Wrong place, wrong time. These guys don’t leave loose ends.”

“Professional cleanup,” Ronan agreed. “They eliminate anyone who might have seen something. Heard something.” He met her eyes. “Or anyone who might ask questions about what happened to their partner.”

The implication hung heavy in the pre-dawn air. Maya felt the walls of her normal, ordered world crumbling. “You really think they’ll come after me next?”

“They already have,” Axel said quietly. “You just got lucky we showed up first.”

Maya paced the small apartment, her mind racing. The protein bar sat untouched on the counter. Tom’s face kept flashing through her thoughts—coaching his daughter’s soccer team, bringing donuts to the office, laughing at her terrible coffee. No way he’d been involved in anything illegal. Which meant she was hiding out with the only two suspects in his murder.

She considered her pitiful options. No way she’d be able to force these men anywhere. But heading to headquarters alone seemed increasingly dangerous. She’d seen how quickly evidence could be manufactured, careers destroyed.

Ronan tracked her movement, his expression knowing. “Whatever you’re planning—don’t.”

“There are procedures,” she snapped. “Protocols. Ways to handle this through proper channels.”

“Like the proper channels that just branded you a traitor?” His voice was gentle but firm. “Sometimes the rules don’t work.”

“That’s not?—”

Axel’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out automatically, blinking hard at the screen. “Well, this is about what I’d expected.” He turned the screen toward her and Ronan.

BOLO ALERT: NCIS AGENT MAYA CHEN IDENTIFIED IN CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE BREACH AND MURDER OF A SPECIAL AGENT. CHEN CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. POSSIBLY IN COMPANY OF SUSPECTS RONAN QUINN AND AXEL REINHARDT. BOTH MEN HAVE BLACK OPS MILITARY TRAINING. APPROACH WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

She exhaled hard, clutching her stomach. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“I wish,” Ronan muttered. He was doing something with peanut butter and protein bars that looked dubiously edible.

“Welcome to the club,” Axel said grimly. “Time to assess our situation?”

“No resources,” Ronan started. “No weapons except Maya’s Sig.”

“No cash, no transport.” Axel said as Ronan handed them each a protein bar sandwich. “Can’t use credit cards or phones—they’ll track us instantly.”

“We’ve got burners,” Ronan added. “But we need help.”

“Knight Tactical,” Axel said immediately.

“No.” Ronan’s voice went flat.

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