Page 93 of Shattered Secrets

“Agreed. Because in a minute”—Bean fast-forwarded the video—“Scarlet follows Klien down the hallway. Unfortunately, we can’t see anything once she’s out the door.”

“She left with him willingly to protect Martha.” Matt scrubbed his hands over his face. Of course she would sacrifice herself for the other woman. “I’m gonna wring her neck when I see her,” he muttered.

Gavin chuckled. “Riiight, tough guy.”

“And that’s why you love her, Alvarez,” Bean chimed in.

“Yeah,” he said, dropping his hands to his sides. He leaned back in his chair. “One of the many reasons why I love her.”

“While we wait for Scarlet’s phone to ping, we’ll follow Klien and Aber,” Bean said, then waved at her laptop. “Facial rec has them on the ferry to Whidbey. They’re on a single motorcycle,and I’ll track them with the traffic cams. The ferry took off before the knife guy was apprehended, so I think they’re still sticking to whatever their original plan was. And hopefully, that plan will lead us to Scarlet.”

“This is Esme. Do you copy?”

Bean tapped her earpiece. “Go ahead, Esme. You’re on comms with the boss and Alvarez.”

“Owen’s ready. Wilson, Carmichael, Riviera, and Bonson are all ready to go. Tash is less than five minutes out. There are extra supplies on standby. Who do you want, Gavin?”

His friend looked at him, then said, “Me and Alvarez. Wilson, Tash, Riviera, and Carmichael. I want Bonson to retrieve Xander and Daisy. She comes directly here, and we lock down.”

“Can someone pick up Poppy and bring her here, too?” Matt asked. “I want to make sure Daisy has someone she knows aside from Xander.”

“Of course, Matt,” Esme said. “Gavin, Tash is pulling in through the gates now. Everyone’s ready. I’ll be on standby. Out.”

“Ready?” Gavin asked as he rose.

Matt nodded and stood.

“Wilson and Tash will take lead. Then Carmichael and Riviera. You’re with me.”

While Matt wanted to be the first person to break through whatever door Scarlet was behind, he knew that wasn’t wise. He gave Gavin a chin lift.

“I’ll open comms for everyone once you’re airborne,” Bean said. “As usual, I’ll let you know what I know when I know it.”

Gavin squeezed her shoulder when he walked by. “Thanks, B.”

“You got this, boss.”

“Thanks, Bean,” Matt said, pausing beside her chair. “I’m sorry about earlier. About yelling and losing my shit.”

“No worries, Matt. I get it. And rest assured, I have a shit-ton of programs running on this. We’ll find your girl.”

Ten minutes later, Matt had changed into black tactical gear and strapped himself into his helo seat with a headset covering his ears. He examined the cabin as they took off, and his eyebrows rose.

He knew Hudson Security had a number of helicopters in their fleet, but this one was the largest. The H160 seated twelve passengers in three rows of four seats, but currently, the middle row was removed. In its place was a stretcher, and a couple of duffels holding weapons and equipment rested on top.

Matt hoped to hell they wouldn’t need the stretcher.

Gavin’s voice came through his headset. “Alvarez, you obviously know Tash, Wilson, Carmichael, and Riviera, but have you met Owen?”

The pilot waved a hand. “Nice to meet you, Alvarez. Welcome to the team.”

Matt knew he shouldn’t be surprised that Owen was a woman, but he was. He hadn’t heard of many female combat pilots.

“Well, I’m gonna say it since Owen won’t,” Tash said.

A groan came through his headset, and when the guys around him chuckled, he assumed the disgruntled person was Owen.

Tash continued, “You should count yourself lucky, Alvarez. It’s not every day you get your ass flown by a decorated Night Stalker.”

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