Page 72 of Out of the Shadows

Xander snorted. “It’s just a fucking graze.”

Bean leveled Xander with a fierce glare that had Gavin wincing. Hell, a quick glance around the room showedeveryonewas wincing.

“Care to repeat that, Xander Bonetti?” Bean asked.

Wisely, the man shook his head. “No, ma’am, I don’t. I was just trying to be funny.”

“Well, you’re not. So enough with the talk about Gavin dying.” Her chin lifted ever so slightly, as if she were silently challenging Xander. And damn if that little gesture didn’t warm everything inside him. “Understood?”

Xander saluted her, looking properly chastised. “Yes, ma’am.”

“All right, children, settle down.” Gavin chuckled. Yeah, the woman was a damn marvel. “Thanks for having my back, B. Next steps?”

Bean flashed a sweet grin that socked him right in the chest before she turned to the Smartboard. “Tiny, I’ll send you what I have so far on Smith’s and Penning’s financials. I’d like a fresh set of eyes on it. Feel free to dig deeper if something catches your attention. I’d also like you to look into the warehouse where we found Anson. Find out who owns the property, because there has to be a reason they brought him there specifically. Feel free to pull Abbot and Oliphant in to help if you need it.” She turned back to Gavin. “I’ll tap into the ME’s system to see if Otton had a shoulderinjury that would be a match to something our shooter from the car chase might have. I’ll also add all the photos of McClintocks’ security—both past and present—into the facial-rec tracking system I have that monitors the island. Just as a precaution. That way, if any of them step foot on Hudson Island, we’ll be notified. I’ll also have cyber go over the video surveillance footage from the car chase and both shootings again. Alvarez?”

“I’ll touch base with my SPD contacts and see what they found at the McClintocks’ yesterday. See what intel they passed on to the FBI, if they’re keeping anything under wraps, and if they have anything new on or from Polanski’s team.” He turned to the Smartboard. “Esme, you and I can touch base and compare notes as well.”

“I’ll check in with Teams Two and Three,” Xander said. “Make sure everything’s kosher with the McClintocks at the safe house.”

“If they need anything, let me know,” Esme said from the video feed. “I can have whatever they need brought to them within a couple hours.”

“Well, damn,” Gavin said, leaning back in his chair and looking at his teammates. “Looks like you guys have it all handled.”

“Damn straight, boss. You just sit there and look pretty,” Bean said with a wink as his colleagues chuckled.

“Besides, man,” Xander said, “fairly sure you’re on lockdown now.”

Gavin frowned.

“You know the saying third time’s a charm?” Xander asked. “Well, there won’t be a third time for anyone to shoot at you again. Do us all a favor and stay on-property—either here or at your place—until we figure out what’s going on. With Team Two, Three, and Tash at the safe house, we’re stretched thin.”

“Also,” Bean added, “the driver is still unaccounted for.”

His gaze swung to hers. “What?”

“We’re almost certain that Otton was not only the jogger going past the McClintocks’, but also the shooter from after the charity gala. But what about the driver from the car chase? We have zero footage of that person. It could be anyone. So I agree with Xander. Until we figure out more, you’re on lockdown.”

Part of him scoffed. Lockdown? Yeah, right.

He opened his mouth to say so but hesitated when he met Bean’s gaze. There was a silent plea in her blue eyes, and damn if he wouldn’t do just about anything for her. “Okay. Thoughlockdownsounds a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

His heart squeezed at the relief that flashed over her face. Sticking close to Hudson Security was a minor inconvenience, one that in the grand scheme of things didn’t matter. The last thing he wanted was her worrying. She had enough on her plate.

“All right,” Gavin said, addressing the group. “We have our assignments. Well, I don’t, so let me know if I can help?—”

A quick rap on the conference room door had him turning.

Mel stood in the doorway with a frown on her face. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. Gavin, we have an issue at the security gate.”

Alarm surged through him as their receptionist stepped fully into the room, her brow furrowed. “What’s going on, Mel?”

Wringing her hands together, she let out a sigh. “I have a woman at the security gate demanding entry to meet with you. She’s not on your calendar and I told her that we can’t let her in without an appointment. She threw a fit and is now refusing to move her car. She’s blocking the gate and says she’s not leaving until she sees you. I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “Nothing for you to be sorry for. Did she give her name?”

“Constance Whitman.” Mel’s frown deepened. “Or maybe it was?—”

“Whitcomb?” When the young woman nodded, Gavin didn’t bother biting back a groan.

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