Page 13 of Power Term

“A suit?” all three of us question in unison. I watch Tank out of the corner of my eye. His attention is now torn between the old guy and whatever he’s furiously typing on his phone.

“That’s what I said. A suit and intense as anything I ever seen. I know those types and stay the hell away. I don’t think he saw me. Didn’t want to get on his radar, that’s for damn sure.”

“Those types?” I ask.

“The ones who enjoy it. Saw enough in the service.” His eyes seem to grow distant, like he’s chasing a memory. “The ones you were glad were on your side after you saw what they did to the enemy.”

“And he was one of those guys?” I ask, trying like hell to understand what the old man is referring to.

“Where is my vodka?” he demands, crossing thin, bare arms across his chest.

“At my place. I’ll give you the address and call someone to let you in.”

“You one of them freaks who collect body parts?”

I almost snort, but the seriousness of the situation keeps it reined in. “No, just someone who can help and wants to.” I bite at my lower lip as I decide what else to divulge. “She’s my girlfriend, the woman. The hellcat.”

“And thems?” He casts a suspicious glare at Champ and Tank. “What’s with the light show down there anyhow? To damn hot to be time for Christmas lights, ain’t it?”

“They’re with me, helping me find her. So are all the cops, which are the lights you see.” I rattle off my address while shooting a quick text to Gerard, letting him know a smelly visitor will be stopping by. “Someone will meet you at the front door. A hot shower, some vodka, and the best damn cookies you’ll ever eat are waiting.”

Not sure why I’m tempting him to leave now, but a feeling in my gut tells me whoever took Randi might double back after we’re all gone and dispatch this old man just for camping along his escape route. If one of the men who took Randi is as unstable as the old man believes him to be, I sure as hell don’t want my new informant waiting here like a sitting fucking duck.

I help him off the pavement, keeping a firm grasp on his hand until he’s steady on his feet. The three of us watch as he hobbles down the alley before disappearing around a corner.

“Are you two thinking what I’m thinking?” Champ questions as he steps to my side, his shoulder brushing mine. “A suit. Why in the hell would someone wear a suit to an extraction?”

“Maybe to fit in with the other agents,” I offer. “Maybe that’s how he got close enough to trigger the explosion.”

“A suit doesn't make an agent, Benson, you know that. If some random guy walked up in a suit, we would notice. We know our teams.” I wait for Tank to continue as he scrubs at the top of his sweaty bald head. “No, I think it’s deeper than that. Way fucking deeper.”

“You think it was an actual agent.” Tank’s dark eyes meet mine. Suspicion and worry flash in his before he checks his phone, almost like he’s avoiding telling me something. “You have an idea of who it is, don’t you?” I take a menacing step closer to my best friend. “Tell me now, Davis. Tell me what the fuck you know.”

“Stand down, Trey. You know who I suspect, because you’ve suspected the fucker since day one.”

“Smith,” I growl. “Where is he?”

Head shaking, he says, “I don’t know. I called and texted the entire alpha team, telling them to get their asses up here and help with the investigation. Every single agent has responded to me except one.”

“I’ll fucking murder him,” I hiss through gritted teeth. At the sudden wave of new rage, I turn with a roar and slam a fist against an already dented-to-hell dumpster. The burst of pain overtakes the urgency to find and kill Smith. Chest heaving, I massage my split and bleeding knuckles. “I knew it. I fucking knew there was a reason not to trust him.”

“Calm the hell down, you fool. We need to be smart about this.” Tank slaps the back of my head—hard. “If it is Smith, he can’t know we suspect him. We let him lead us to her, and then we act. First we have to find him.”

I rake a hand through my sweat-damp hair. “If he’s not picking up, we need to start where it all began, where we first met him. She’ll have his home address and background information.”

“The director. Great idea. Let’s go.” Rocks and broken shards of glass crunch under his shoes as he twists to face Champ. “You follow this alley and find where they loaded her into the escape vehicle. There’s no way in hell they’re keeping her close by.”

Champ nods once to Tank, then to me before turning and methodically walking down the alley the way we were headed before I spotted the homeless man.

Jogging in the opposite direction, I dodge boxes and dumpsters, all while running through the details we know over and over, hoping to make a connection that will aid in our search.

A dull ring comes from my phone shoved in my back pocket. Not bothering to slow, I slide it from my jeans and check the screen.

UNKNOWN

Ice encrusts my veins. I slow until I’m standing as still as a statue, staring at the still ringing phone in my hand.

“Who is it?” Tank asks, towering over my shoulder for a look. “That normal?”

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