Page 27 of Montana Rain

“Okay, thanks.”

She was in thin pajamas. Pants and a shirt. So different from what I normally saw her in, and I loved the softness it brought to her. But I hated the way her arms wrapped around herself like she was in pain.

“Rayne,” I said.

When she looked up, it was like she’d forgotten I was there. That was common in the aftermath of something like this. Adrenaline, shock, all the bodily responses. She wasn’t focused. “Hi.”

“Can you talk to me for a second?”

She nodded, even going so far as letting me pull her over to the wall and lean her against it so she had some support. Everything in me ached to touch her, and I held back.

“What really happened in Chicago?”

Rayne’s eyes locked on mine, and for the first time, I saw true fear there. “I told you. Right after I stopped talking to you, a woman ran into me. But I didn’t tell you she was the woman who was murdered.”

“Fuck, Rayne.”

“I helped point out the men who were following her, and then I left. Jude found the security footage, and that’s all it is. But I’m on camera. With her. Her hand went into my bag for a second, but for all I know, it was from her tripping, because nothing was missing. Now this is happening, and I—”

Something ticked in my brain. I touched her shoulder. “Was there anything extra? You checked everything?”

“Yeah. I always do. It’s all junk, and I threw most of it away. All of it was branded, except…”

She trailed off and looked away, lost in thought.

“Except for what?”

“Except for the flash drive. An unmarked flash drive. I thought it was one of those things I just picked up and didn’t notice. Didn’t throw it away because they can come in handy.”

I blew out a breath. “It could be nothing. But you still have it?”

“Yeah. If he didn’t find it. I’ll grab it when I get my clothes.”

“Where did you hide?” I asked quietly.

Rayne’s cheeks turned pink with shame, and I would do anything in the world to wipe that look off her face. “Under the bed.”

“And he was in the room with you.”

Her whole body shook. “Yes. I don’t know why he didn’t look under the bed, and I don’t know how he got past the alarms. But I’m just…relieved. I should have taken them up on their offer to watch.”

“Daniel?”

She nodded.

“Hold on a second. I want to see something.” I stepped over to the alarm panel by the front door and took off the front. The backup battery was still in place. “Rayne, does your security system use Wi-Fi?”

“Yes.”

I replaced the cover of the panel. “After this is over, we’ll get you one that doesn’t use it.”

“It’s supposed to be one of the best.”

Glancing at the brand, I nodded. “It is. Against a burglar or someone who’s trying to steal valuables from you. Not if you’re going up against the mob, which has highly motivated people looking for something specific. Your battery is still working, so I’m guessing someone hacked it. We can have Jude confirm.”

She shook her head. “All I did was stand in a lobby. How is this happening? I just—”

“Okay, Rayne,” Charlie said. “You’re free to grab some things. I promise we’ll get this processed as fast as possible.”

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