Page 58 of Operation: Sharp Angel

An idea suddenly came to Becca. Her mom’s cloud storage. Her sister and Nick, as they worked at Well-Life, took all the information on her parents’ accounts. She knew her mom had a personal Dropbox, One Drive, and Google Drive. And she stored a lot on them. That would be the most secure place to put anything; on a dead woman’s cloud storage. So where was her mom’s laptop? It had been found in their home after the plane crash and it hadn’t been at Nick and Nicole’s house that she saw, or the police took.

“There’s another laptop we need to find,” Becca stated. “Nick and Nicole took my mom’s after her death. It should have been at their house. My mom’s cloud storage is where I’d bet they put things, especially if it was for safekeeping.”

“We need to go back to your sister’s house and search for that computer. If they were using it to store important documents or data, they have it hidden someplace in that house,” Tessman said.

“Do you remember your mom’s account names and passwords?” Madison asked. “We can have Brielle search for it and try to hack in.”

“I’m not sure. I can make a list of possibles. But if Nick and Nicole were using it, they may have changed the password,” Becca said.

“If we can at least find the accounts, the Digital Team can see about getting into them,” Madison said. “When are Jackson and Smith due back?”

“Not sure. Shepherd approved them to remain on site, close to the Hoch house in case the husband hits her. He’s wound tight,looking for a fight. And if he strikes out, he’s going to deliver a hell of a beating, I’m sure,” Tessman said. “They’ll be there to stop it before he does too much damage to her.”

“I hate having to wait for it to happen. When I was solo, I would get the woman out before the guy snapped,” Briana said.

“Yes, and you made her disappear, which isn’t optimal in most cases,” Madison reminded her. “You’re following the law now and hopefully giving these women a better solution. They shouldn’t have to give their lives up to get away from their domestic abusers.”

“I know. We want to put these guys away in prison,” Briana said. “But the system is broken.”

“You need to have faith in Shepherd,” Angel said to Briana.

“I do or I wouldn’t be here,” Briana said.

“I’ll talk to Shepherd and ask if Briana and I can come to Becca’s sister’s house with you, as Jackson isn’t available,” Madison said. “Another couple sets of hands to look for this laptop can’t hurt and we’re free for a few hours, or until something goes down with Briana’s client.”

“That would be great, Madison, thanks,” Tessman said.

***

Standing outside the front door and watching Carter insert the keys into the lock, Becca mentally prepared herself to re-enter her sister’s home. Detective Davis wasn’t thrilled that the Shepherd Security crew was going in to conduct a new search. But he cleared the crime scene none-the-less because, as Carter had said, the police had no leads on the two men who’d broken in or of who killed her family. He was hoping for some help to solve it.

Madison and Briana got out of the black SUV that Madison drove after she parked it behind Carter’s Jeep. Madison pulledher pistol from the holster, which was tucked into her jeans at the small of her back as she reached them at the front door.

“I’m assuming nothing,” Madison said. “We conduct a thorough search of the place by the numbers first to be sure no one is here.”

Tessman nodded. “Becca, stay behind me.”

All three of them had their weapons drawn when Tessman opened the front door. The air was tinged with the metallic smell of blood. As soon as he entered, he stepped farther into the living room, Becca following right behind. He led her to the front corner of the living room and stood in front of her, his aim in the room.

Madison rushed forward through the hallway and into the kitchen. Becca watched as Briana closed the front door and kept her aim up the stairs. In the corner of the stairwell, and on the tiled floor of the entry, Becca saw the bloodstains from the man Carter had shot.

“Clear,” Madison called from the kitchen area. Then she reappeared through the open doorway that led from the kitchen to the dining room. “Where are the stairs to the basement?”

“Around the corner from the stairs leading up,” Tessman replied.

“Bree, you’re with me,” Madison ordered.

Becca remained in the corner behind Carter for what seemed an eternity before Madison and Briana came back into view.

“Basement is clear,” Madison said. Then she checked out the powder room and laundry room. “Door to the garage is locked. We’ll leave it that way and search the garage last.” She then stepped over the dried blood on the tile in the entry and started up the stairs. “Bree, you’re with me again. Tessman, stay down here and cover our six.”

Becca watched the two ladies aggressively mount the stairs. Seeing how capable they were, Becca respected them even morethan she already did. “They’re both really something,” she said quietly.

“Yes. I hadn’t really worked with Briana before today, but I’ve worked with Madison on many occasions. She’s fearless.”

“What really impresses me is that you all just know what to do.”

“We all receive the same training and the teams train together often. And of course, we deploy on missions together frequently too, so there is a comfort we all have with each other,” Tessman said.

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