Page 81 of Once a Killer

He typed in Mel’s email address, then put the computer on the table where they both could see it. Moments later, Mel and Dev appeared on the screen.

“Are you and Jameson okay?” Mel asked immediately.

“We’re fine,” she answered. “But we had an incident today.”

She described what had happened and watched Mel’s face harden. “Any ideas who it might have been?”

“A couple,” Bree said. Beneath the table, she reached for Jameson’s hand. Clung tightly as she said, “You already know what I did in the Marines. And what happened at the conference we attended over the weekend. I suspect those are related to the attack today.”

Mel frowned and pulled out her computer. “I’m going to take notes. Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

Bree nodded once, her throat thick with reluctance to share her story. But Jameson squeezed her hand. Nodded at her. So she took a deep breath and began. “You know I was a sniper. What you don’t know is that I caught my commanding officer taking money from a Russian guy in exchange for information on our troop movements.”

Chapter 28

Jameson watched as Bree told Mel and Dev about how her partner had set her up to make sure she was suspended. How her constant presence on the base had allowed her to witness Larrimore’s meetings with the Russian guy and the exchanges of money she’d seen. She recounted her conversation with Kingsley and her futile efforts to hold both him and Larrimore responsible.

Mel’s expression became stonier and stonier the longer Bree spoke. Finally, when Bree stopped talking and took a deep breath, Mel slapped her hand on the table. “Damn it,” she said, her voice low and deadly. “I never trusted Kingsley, but I thought he was just an incompetent bureaucrat. Now you’re telling me he was complicit in selling out our troops to the Russians?”

“Yes,” Bree said immediately. “He and Larrimore both. And I have no idea if anyone else was involved. I also have no idea how many American soldiers died because of them, but they had to be responsible for some U.S. casualties. Kingsley gave me the ‘Larrimore changed the plans after he gave them to the Russians’ line, but I know that wasn’t always possible. Troops died because of them.”

Mel’s jaw clenched and her already-hard eyes went steely. Her anger was scarier because it was so controlled. “I dismissed Kingsley because I thought he was nothing more than a bureaucrat. Guarding his turf and doing as little as possible. I’ve never even heard Larrimore’s name before today.”

“You want me to go after Kingsley when Jameson’s situation is resolved?” Bree asked.

“Hell, no,” Mel said immediately. “I’m saving that pleasure for myself. I misjudged him. Ignored him. And troops died because of him. I’m personally taking him down, along with Larrimore.”

“You’re not doing it alone,” Dev said, his own jaw twitching. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“This isn’t your fight,” Mel said, turning to look at him

“The hell it isn’t.” Rage flashed across his face. “Some of my SEAL team members died in Afghanistan, and it might have been because Kingsley and Larrimore betrayed them. And even if none of my teammates were killed,someone’swere. On top of that, they threatened Bree. Were likely involved in the attempt on her life today. They’re cleaning house. And I’m guessing you’re high on Kingsley’s list, too, Mel. We need to take them down first. Isn’t one of your favorite words ‘proactive’?”

“I’m in on this, too,” Jameson said. “Larrimore and Kingsley threatened Bree in front of me. I want to be involved in any ass-kicking that takes place.”

Mel took a deep breath. Blew it out. Pointed at Jameson through the Zoom. “You have your own problems right now, and Bree needs to focus on them.” She glanced at Dev. “I’ll think about accepting your help when I go after Kingsley and Larrimore. But I’m not doing anything until I’ve done some digging and gotten more information on both of them. And I’m not going anywhere until Jameson’s safe and Bree’s back at the compound.”

Jameson tightened his hand on Bree’s. He didn’t want her to leave Chicago. Hell, he didn’t want her to leave his apartment. But she wasn’t ready for that conversation. And before they could have it, they had to figure out who was trying to steal his program. Stop him or her. Get the damn thing patented.

Mel leaned into the monitor as she studied Jameson. After a long moment, she said, “Send me the engineer’s names. Universities where they attended grad school and the years they got their PhD’s. I’ll look into them.”

“I’ll do that,” Jameson said. “It’ll help. But this problem can’t be solved with research. We need to catch one of them in the act.”

“Do you have a plan for that?” Dev asked as his gaze switched from Bree to Jameson. Back to Bree.

“We’re working on it,” Bree said. “We have some data to study tonight that could narrow things down. Once we’ve done that, we’ll set my plan in motion.”

Jameson snapped his head toward Bree. She had a plan? And she hadn’t shared it with him?

She must have sensed his irritation, because she let go of his hand and squeezed his knee. As if reassuring him she wasn’t leaving him out of the equation. After a moment, he took a deep breath and slid his hand over hers.

“Keep us in the loop,” Mel finally said. “Send me updates regularly. And if you need another agent, I’m happy to send one.”

“I think Jameson and I can handle it,” Bree said

Jameson watched as Mel and Dev exchanged a long look. Then Mel said, “That’s good, Bree. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do, boss,” Bree said. “Thanks for the help. If anyone can dig up the dirt on Kingsley and Larrimore, it’s you. Your ability to get all the available information about anyone awes me.”

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