Page 52 of Beneath the Surface

Her hands froze on her coffee cup, worry clouding her face. “Be careful, Brad.”

He reached across the table, resting a firm, steadying hand on her arm. “It’s routine questioning, Belle. But listen…”His tone hardened, a quiet authority cutting through his reassurance. “I’ll drive you to the office. You’ll stay there, and you’ll follow the plan. If you don’t, there will be consequences.”

She blinked, a mix of concern and curiosity flashing in her eyes. “Consequences?”

His gaze locked with hers, unwavering. “I’ll put you over my knee, Belle. Don’t test me on this.”

She nodded, her voice soft. “Okay.”

When they left the house, Brad’s protective instincts were sharper than ever. His eyes swept their surroundings, cataloging every detail—the parked cars, the pedestrians, the shadows. As they reached her office, he parked and walked her to the door, his presence solid and reassuring.

Inside, Brad spoke to the two officers stationed at the building. He addressed Officer Dillon directly, “She’s the priority. No one comes in or out without your say. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Dillon replied.

Brad double-checked the building’s security protocols, scanning for vulnerabilities and ensuring everything was locked down. Satisfied, he pulled Isobel aside before leaving.

“Remember what I said,” he warned. “You’re not to leave the office. Check in with me regularly.”

She nodded, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of trust and tension. “I will. Promise.”

Brad’s hand brushed her cheek briefly before he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Good. Stay safe.”

At the district office,Jace Rodriguez sat in the interrogation room, his defiant smirk faltering as Brad entered,exuding quiet authority. Brad dropped a bag containing the empty bee dispersal device onto the table and sat across from him.

“You’re the big guy they sent?” Jace sneered.

Brad ignored the jab. “I’m Brad Killian, assistant district commander for field operations. Let’s cut to it. Who hired you to plant those bees?”

Jace leaned back, crossing his arms. “I just dropped off some equipment. Didn’t know it was anything serious.”

Brad’s voice hardened. “Serious? You’re looking at attempted murder. That’s your third strike, Jace. Talk now, and maybe there’s a deal.”

Jace hesitated, his bravado faltering. “I told you. I just dropped it off at a warehouse off Montgomery. Some guy named Tyrone paid me.”

“Tyrone who?” Brad leaned forward, his gaze piercing.

“I don’t know, man!” Jace stammered. “It was just a prank. He said it wasn’t gonna hurt anyone.”

Brad’s expression darkened. “A ‘prank’ that nearly killed someone. Don’t lie to me, Jace.”

Jace fidgeted, sweat forming on his brow. “Okay, okay. Tyrone’s not some random guy. I know him from the psych hospital—I’m a transporter there. He faked being a patient to dodge charges. We got to talking. We grew up together. He knew I used to mess with those release boxes in high school.”

Brad pressed further. “Where is Tyrone now?”

Jace sighed. “Last I saw him, he was hanging around that warehouse. But I swear, I didn’t know it’d go this far.”

Brad left the room, signaling to an officer to take Jace back to holding. Heading to his office, his mind raced as he pieced together the information. He dialed Detective Larson. “We’ve got a lead on a warehouse off Montgomery. Set up surveillance immediately.”

He made a call to get a warrant. He needed Tyrone’s full name and address.

Then, he hit a quick dial on his phone. Isobel’s voice greeted him. “Brad? What’s going on?”

“Belle, quick question,” he said, his tone brisk. “I need to know—do you recognize the name Tyrone Morris?”

She paused, her voice hesitant. “He was in the prison ward at the hospital. Uncooperative, so I didn’t work with him directly. Why?”

“I think he’s involved,” Brad admitted. “I’ll explain tonight. For now, don’t leave the office with anyone but me.”

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