Page 60 of SEAL by Fate

“Are you not telling me something?”

Getting up, he walked the short distance to her, needing to be close as he told her the most difficult news. “You should sit.”

“I’m not sitting, Gray. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“There was a car bombing in front of a church yesterday. The Hawks investigated the scene because it was identical to Phantom’s previous jobs. They traced the owner of the vehicle through the vehicle identification number that was found in the rubble. Your sister, Colette, owned the car.”

*

Stormy felt her world collapse. Her knees weakened but Gray was there, catching her in the secure grip of his arms and carrying her into the living room. He sat down, placing her on his lap. “My sister’s car was bombed? Oh my God, Gray. Is she dead?” Tears streamed down her face and she couldn’t stop them.

He wiped away some of the moisture with the pad of his thumb. “No. We don’t know that, Stormy. There were no signs that she had been in the car when the bomb was detonated There was nothing found that indicated anybody was in the car at the time of the explosion.”

“But would there be evidence? What if…” she couldn’t even finish the grotesque words. Acid churned in her stomach and she wanted to vomit.

“We’d know if there was a body in the car, sweetheart.”

All the strength in her body faded and she buried her face in his neck, allowing her emotions to succumb her. “I haven’t been able to reach her in days. She’s not okay, is she? Where is she?”

He laid his hand on her head and massaged her scalp while the other hand was on her back. “We’ll find her. The team is searching.”

“Duncan did this. I know he did. He hated Colette. She hated him.” Stormy lifted her head. “He’s a killer. Oh my God, Gray. I was involved with a killer.”

“Have you had any contact with him since we left the cabin?”

She gave her head a shake. “No. None at all. I had no clue that he was tangled in this. That he is a wanted criminal. A terrorist! How did I not know?”

“Good criminals can hide right under our noses. It’s easy to miss the signs.”

“You’re just being kind to me. You must be wondering too how I didn’t know.”

“Hush.” He lifted her chin. “That’s not true. This isn’t your fault.”

“He’s killed her.”

“I’ve investigated many crimes, Stormy. If he killed her, she’d have been in the car when he set off the bomb. This is a message from Phantom. It’s a personal message for us both.”

She blinked. “A message? What message? If it is, it’s a sinister one.”

“Phantom enjoys playing games. You can give us information on him. Useful information. Will you speak to one of the Hawks and tell them everything you know about Duncan?” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“Why can’t I tell you?” She was comfortable with him.

“I can be with you, but when we nail this bastard for his crimes, we don’t want him to get off on a technicality. An attorney worth his weight could make it seem as if our relationship skewed my way of thinking.”

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