Page 75 of Out of the Shadows

“Could it have just been her phone the sweeper was picking up?”

Bean’s eyes rolled. “Please, boss, do you think I buy the shitty detectors? I have three different kinds in that room. But to answer your question, no. I picked up her cell phone signal and this was completely different. She had a bug of some kind on her.”

“Fucking hell,” he muttered, stalking to Bean’s desk. Grabbing the landline, he hit the button for Hudson Tactical.

“Wilson,” a deep voice answered.

“It’s Frazier. I need you to follow someone ASAP. Constance Whitcomb. Xander just escorted her from the building.” He gave Wilson a brief recap of their conversation in the Fishbowl and informed him that she was wearing a listening device of some kind. He scanned Bean’s monitors, seeing the information they had on Constance. Bean pointed at her screen and then at the phone, and he nodded. “Bean’s sending you the intel we have on Whitcomb to your cell. She’s staying at the Pacific View, and I want to know what the fuck she’s up to.”

“On it,” Wilson replied. “I’ll check in in thirty. Out.”

Gavin set the phone into its cradle and scrubbed his hands over his face. “What the fuck is going on?”

He startled when small hands settled on his stomach. His eyes popped open and Bean was there, looking up at him with concern on her face.

“Breathe, Gavin.”

He did as he was told and glanced at Alvarez, who was still in the room. “You heard our bullshit conversation in the Fishbowl. What the hell is this woman up to?”

Alvarez shrugged. “I’ll ask around. My brother and his wife run in that same Seattle philanthropic circle as the Whitcombs and McClintocks. I’ll see if they’ve heard anything about her. Because you know what those high-society types love more than their fancy parties? Gossip.”

Bean slid her hands from his abs to his sides and squeezed. The small gesture was both reassuring and intimate at once. “I’ve asked Tiny to dig deeper into Constance—her schedule, financials, who the hell she’s sleeping with. If there’s dirt to be found, he’ll find it. As much as I hate to admit it, the guy’s damn good at what he does.”

The corners of Gavin’s lips lifted at her irritation. “Good. But he’s not nearly as good as you, of course.”

She glanced up at him with a growing smirk, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Damn straight, boss.”

“Jesus, kids, I’m still in the room,” Alvarez said, clearing his throat. “But I’m leaving.”

Bean chuckled. “Sorry, not sorry?”

Alvarez gave them a chin lift as he left and shut the door behind them.

Gavin let out a sigh and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Thanks for being so kick-ass at what you do. If you hadn’t added those bug sweepers?—”

“Stop. Turn your brain off for a second, okay? There’s nothing else we can do right now. I have cyber tracking her car, and I’ve sent the info to Wilson. Alvarez and Tiny are doing their things and looking into her. What do you say we take a brain break and go for a little hike?”

The vise he hadn’t realized had been squeezing his chest released. “That sounds like a great idea. We can hit Jackson Cove and?—”

“Sorry,” she interrupted, shaking her head and stepping away from him. “You’re still on lockdown, buddy. We can do one of the easy trails by Tactical.”

His brow furrowed, though he was fighting a grin, and he hauled her back against him. “Buddy?”

Mischief danced in her eyes as she shrugged. “Figured that sounded better than dumbass.”

Laughing, he dropped a kiss on her lips. Before it could get heated, he pulled away. “Does this mean you’ve given some thought to taking one of Wilson’s outdoor survival classes?”

She snorted. “Hard pass, boss man. Hard pass.”

“But you’ll admit that hiking is fun, right? A good way to clear your head?”

Her eyes rolled hard. “I admit nothing. Now, are we going or are you gonna keep yapping?”

He yanked her close for another kiss, this one deeper. He’d make an outdoorsperson out of her yet.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Half an hour later, Bean had changed into leggings, a long-sleeved shirt, fleece vest, hooded down coat, and, of course, her new hiking boots. It was a crisp and dreary gray afternoon that threatened rain. Basically, a typical October day in the Pacific Northwest. She and Gavin made their way past the Hudson Tactical facility toward the trailhead she’d explored with Wilson last week. She bit back a chuckle.Exploredwas probably a bit of an exaggeration. It had been more like a very leisurely stroll where she was sure her friend wanted to gouge his eyes out.

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