Page 20 of Shockproof

“Technically, hewas,” I meekly remind. “Him being assigned to my security detail by my security detail while my security detail was executing a different leg of the mission transfers him from daytime floor securitytoactive security thereby moving his hazard pay allowance.”

“You know I don’t think you said security enough,” Blu verbally jabs, bouncy light words immediately receiving an eye roll.

Rather than pull rank or counter that he’ll find a way around that, Harvey simply surrenders. “Six months it is then.” Holding Slater’s stare occurs while further investigating, “And the prisoner?”

“Successfully interrogated.”

“Disposed of?”

“Affirmative.”

Context clues are screaming like Linkin Park that that’s how he got those new bruises.

Swallowing down the urge to verify is followed by me asking, “Does this mean I need to stop digging for answers? That you now know who wants me dead?”

“Negative.” His grip noticeably tightens. “You should continue as is for the time bein’, and unfortunately, due to the extensive amount of information the attacker had regardin’ who to watch out for, who to avoid, when to strike, going forward we will no longer inform others of your mandatory comings and goings. Not security. Not your secretary.” He swings his glare to the man he has no reason to ever be jealous of. “Not evenyou, Seventeen.”

“Agreed.”

Surprise for the second time in such a short period of time, has my jaw falling to the ground in tandem with Slater’s eyebrows soaring to the sky. “No argument?”

“No.” In spite of the rigid edges of his words, they land sturdily at his own feet. “You have repeatedly demonstrated not only your knowledge and understanding of protocols, but your willingness and devotion to doing whatever’s best for the client. That you are more than capable of puttingthemandtheir safetyfirst.” It’s his turn to choke down the apprehension in his throat. “There’s no need for me to further question your calls on this assignment.”

Logically, I know my mouth can’t drop any lower, yet I swear it does.

“Yup,” Blu quietly interjects, “you two weredefinitelyday drinking in here.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that, sir, because for the next step of this operation we’ll be usin’ Arley as bait.”

Snatching my hand away is attached to a high pitch croak, “What?!”

“Not actual bait, Angel Cake.”

“What?!”

“Mind bait.”

“What the fuck does that mean?!”

“Is that country slang for a headache?” Blu needlessly needles prompting Slater to toss him a glare across the room.

“You really want a bruise on yourotherleg?”

He presses his lips tightly together and offers up both hands in submission.

“While interrogatin’ the assailant, I managed to extract financial information regardin’ payment-”

“Allowing us to possibly follow the money,” my other guard informs at a lower volume.

“-as well as the device in which he had been assigned to use for communication with the person who theoretically hired him. We’re havin’ it cloned for use and trackin’ and are settin’ up a package pick upof ‘Songbird’ for tomorrow tonight. Word around the office regardin’ whether or not this kidnap attempt was a failure or success is mixed, and we’re gonna use this mixture to our advantage. Seventeen, I need you to put out a vague branch memo regardin’ her missin’ status, that way, whoever the inside person is doesn’t tip off the person we’re communicatin’ with about delivery. We’ll stage it to look like Arley’s been successfully captured by tyin’ her up and takin’ a focused picture of mostly her face and hands in the trunk of the transport vehicle.”

“Naturally,” Harvey inserts on a nod of approval.

There’s no way to stop myself from squawking, “Is that natural?!”

“However-”

“Come on, Cowboy. Not the fancy but,” I thoughtlessly whine. “Anything but the fancy but.”

---