Page 127 of Guarding Grace
As soon as we figured out whether Russo or Marku was behind this, I was sure Lucas would organize a takedown.
Instead of aiming at the leader, I’d taken the easier shot at the guy next to him, because my hand wasn’t as steady as it should have been.
“Never mind him,” Grace said.
I looked up to see her shift her gaze to me for a second.
“He’s new and observing how this is done.”
Her words woke me from my trance. I had a job to do, and that required concentration.Get it together, Goodwin.Focus, stay in the here and now. After-action review was just what it said. It was for after the action was completed, and the day wasn’t over yet.
“If you put on your headsets,” Grace told them, “we can get started.”
I grabbed the headset from the chair next to me and put it on. I was inside a huge walk-in closet with four avatars.
“We can change the stain on the oak,” Grace said, as the wood in the virtual room shifted tones.
I gave myself a mental slap.
It was amazing to see Grace and Paul work as a team with the husband and wife customers wanting to improve their “cottage,” which from the pictures looked like what any of us would call a mansion.
Even after what she’d just been through, Grace seemed totally focused and at ease. Most civilians took an entire day or more to recover from a live shooting incident. As I sat in the corner, I swelled with pride at how accomplished she was. And Grace was mine.
I’d already texted Jordy and Lucas with the details about Elliot and his harebrained scheme to rip off the Russo family. Most importantly, I was waiting to hear what Jordy could dig up on Elliot’s roommate, Rudi Sanchez. Sanchez was the key to wrapping this up. Regardless of the outcome for Elliot, getting the briefcase back would ensure Grace’s safety.
Without a knock, the door to the demo room opened. Lieutenant Wellbourne appeared.
“I tried to get him to wait,” Peyton explained from behind him.
He pointed an accusing finger at me. “You shoot up the neighborhood like you’re still overseas and then leave the scene without giving a statement? I should lock you up, Goodwin.”
I pressed a finger to my lips as I stood. “Quiet. They’re working here.” I headed to the door.
Grace whipped off her headset. “Who are you?”
“LAPD,” Wellbourne said, flashing the badge on his belt.
“Do you have a warrant, Officer?”
I smirked and stayed quiet. Wellbourne didn’t know who he was up against.
“It’s Lieutenant Wellbourne, and I don’t need a warrant in active pursuit of a suspect.” He pointed at me.
“How can it be a pursuit if he’s been sitting here quietly waiting foryou? I heard him tell Duke Hawk he’d be waiting upstairs when you were ready.”
I hadn’t had to say those words to Duke, and it was super smart of Grace to think of them.
Wellbourne turned red. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Mr. Hawk failed to mention that to me.”
“It’s my customers you should be apologizing to,” Grace stated.
Wellbourne backed toward the door. “I’m very sorry to have interrupted your meeting.”
I looked at Wellbourne and cocked my head toward the door. “We can talk in her office.”
I followed him out and closed the door. “Sorry, Lieutenant, she’s my protectee. I couldn’t allow her to stay exposed on the street in case there was more shooting, and I couldn’t leave her alone and unprotected, either. That’s the job.” I ushered him to Grace’s office.
“You guys are a pain in my ass,” Wellbourne complained.
