Page 79 of Montana Manhunt

“Why did you leave so fast?”

Violet looked at Noah.

His turn to take up the story. “Violet and I were in the office looking for more pictures.” And those journals he wouldn’t mention to the detectives grilling him and his teammates. They had been out in plain sight. Not his fault if Ellis and Freeman didn’t take them. “I noticed a flashing red light reflected on the wall behind Camilla’s desk. I checked it out and found the bomb under her desk.”

Freeman sneered. “This one was too hard for your friend to handle?”

“Not enough time to dismantle it,” Noah said. “We ran from the apartment, pulled the fire alarm, and pounded on doors as we raced to the stairwell.”

“You have training in EOD, too?”

“It’s my secondary specialty. Fortress cross trains all of us.”

Ellis studied him and Grant for a moment. “Both of you can build a bomb?”

They nodded.

Freeman smiled. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Grant snorted. “Yeah, a dead end.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We might have the training to build a bomb, but we didn’t build or plant an explosive.”

“And we’re just supposed to take your word for that.”

Noah’s phone vibrated with an incoming text. He glanced at the screen. Perfect timing. He looked at Ellis. “What’s your email address?”

The detective frowned but provided the information.

Noah sent the address to Zane. “You should receive security cam footage in a minute.”

“Why?”

“The footage will show you we carried nothing into the apartment.”

“Where did you get the footage?”

Noah smiled. “We have friends with serious tech skills.”

Ellis scowled. “You used to be a cop. We need proof we can use in court.”

“The faster you eliminate us from the suspect pool, the quicker you can track down the real culprit. I’m sure you’ve already requested the footage. This way you have a head start in moving on to more viable suspects.”

A brisk knock sounded on the door. A uniformed officer opened the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but their lawyer is here.”

Freeman sighed. “Send him in.” He retrieved the extra chair from the corner and set it by Noah.

Casey Elders entered the room with a large leather bag slung over her shoulder. She was nearly six feet tall, with long black hair and hazel eyes.

Casey held out her hand to Freeman, then Ellis. “Casey Elders. I’m with Fortress Security, and I’m representing Noah Mann and his teammates. I’d like a few minutes to confer with my clients, please. Oh, and turn off the camera and microphone.” She smiled.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ellis and Freeman picked up their notebooks and pens and left the room.

Casey watched the red light under the camera. When the light went off, she turned to the operatives. “Good to see you again, Noah, although I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”

“How’s your family?”

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