by Desiree Holt
“I’ll do that,” Viper said, “if Rocket will get whatever he can from Tom.”
“No problem,” the other man said.
“There’s so much here,” Eagle continued, “and each of them comes with complicated situations. We’d be at it until next year. The thing to do is identify some key figures out of these long lists, clients that have the most, shall we say, interesting needs for drones. Then we can start digging into everything, back to the day they were born.”
“Okay.” Viper nodded his agreement. “So which one do we start with?”
Eagle looked at his screen. “If I were making the choice, I’d pick one of the private security contractors. The first four I dug up do contracting work for the government, and we all know that’s been a murky situation from day one.”
Rocket nodded. “I don’t think any of us will forget the Blackwater debacle.”
“So I wanted to see what else might be skimming beneath the surface. I found four operations that need further digging, but they sure don’t pass the smell test.”
“Wait.” Hannah couldn’t seem to stop herself from interrupting. “If those companies have government contracts and they hire Lowden to do tactical surveys or whatever as part of that, doesn’t it all have to be totally aboveboard?” She shook her head. “Never mind. How stupid does that sound? We read about shady stuff every day. I’m just stunned that Lowden would do anything that skirts the law at all. He seemed so…straightforward.”
“If there’s enough money involved,” Rocket said, “some people will do anything. I say we drill down and find out where his seed money came from. See what the obligations were that he agreed to for a huge pile of cash. And who gave him his startup contracts, because you know they had to be rich. It could all be tied into Hegman’s death.”
“Meanwhile,” Eagle interjected, “we need to start digging. Rocket, did Tom call you back yet?”
“Tell him we want him to get out his biggest shovel,” Viper said, “and find every bit of dirt on Eric Lowden and the company. We need to be sure you have everything we’ve found so far, though, so he has the whole picture.”
“No, but he’ll call the minute he’s free. If the rest of you will send me all the stuff you’ve got, I’ll put it together in a doc for him.”
As everyone hit their keyboards, Hannah looked around the table. Once again she gave thanks for the stroke of luck that had placed Viper min that particular bar at the time on the night she’d run from the hotel. And that for whatever reason, he’d chosen to help her instead of writing her off as a nut. That the attraction between them was so explosive, and that she’d connected at once with Peyton, was a double miracle to her. It made her realize how much she’d insulated herself with her job and how much she’d been missing out on.
She could feel the same type of intangible connection among the people at the table. Again, she gave a little silent prayer of thanks and focused on what everyone was saying.
“They can find out anything,” Peyton promised, giving her hand a little squeeze. “You can’t believe what they dug up when they were helping me.”
“But you had your own source,” Blaze reminded her. “And speaking of that, you’ve still got that connection to Senator Franz, right?”
Peyton nodded. “I’m happy to give him a call. Just tell me what you want me to ask him. I try to be specific where he’s concerned.”
“Ask him who’s the most powerful man on the Senate Armed Services Committee right now,” Viper told her. “Who’s the most promising candidate to replace Hegman.”
Eagle leaned back in his chair and nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing. With everything Rocket and I have dug up so far, there has to be funny stuff going on in that area. I don’t trust most of those people further than the front door.”
Viper turned to Hannah. “Do you recall if Lowden had many contracts from overseas clients? Foreign companies? Other countries? I wonder if we have foreign influence involved in this.”
She scrunched up her forehead, wishing that she’d paid more attention now to the clients as well as the actual projects.
“I was always so caught up in my own assignments that I didn’t pay a lot of mind to others. Plus, my team wasn’t chosen for a lot of overseas assignments. Ours were usually in the States or Canada or sometimes Mexico. But if someone has a laptop or tablet I can use, I can dig around in the website and see if anything comes to mind. You never know.”
“I have an extra one I use when I’m doing a deep search on this one.” Viper pushed back from his chair. “Let me get it for you.”
“And let me get you another cold drink.” Peyton pushed her chair back and stood up, reaching for Hannah’s glass.
“Oh, no. You don’t have to wait on me.”
“Are you kidding? After what you’ve been through, we should all be waiting on you.”
For the first time in days, Hannah thought this nightmare might actually be resolved.
Chapter Eight
After lunch, Peyton made the phone call to the senator she knew, but he was in a meeting.
“It’s supposed to last all day,” she told everyone. “But I left a message for him to call me back. He’s good about it. He won’t dodge it.” She grinned. “Besides, last time I turned him on to a situation that made him a hero.” Then her grin disappeared. “Although I’m sure he would have been happier if it hadn’t existed at all. A slimeball former senator was helping to cover up my brother-in-law’s murder.”
“But your friend came through,” Blaze reminded her. “And told you to contact him anytime you needed something, so there you go.”
Viper produced a slim laptop which he handed it to Hannah. “Password’s ‘buzzoff’.”
Hannah looked at him, startled. “For real?”
“Uh huh.” He winked. “That’s what I say to anyone messing with my stuff. Well, actually the real term is a little rougher, but you never know who’s going to see the screen.”
Viper opened his own laptop again. “Meanwhile, let’s divide up the chores and start digging again. Lowden’s got such a funny smell to it I know we’ll find more if we dig hard enough.”
Hannah unlocked the computer in front of her and at once pulled up Lowden Tactical. She had a password to access material not made public, but Lowden monitored all activity on their site. If she used it, they could track it back to her, so she’d have to just do the best she could. While the guys worked, and Peyton sat cross-legged on the couch doing her own thing with a laptop, Hannah dug into all the public information on Lowden. Maybe she’d get lucky and something would ring a bell.
But at the end of two hours, she had to admit defeat, handing the laptop back to Viper.
“I made a list of likely projects you might want to do your dark web thing on,” she told him, “but I can’t really find out anything you can use. That site is locked up tighter than a vault.”
“No less than I expect. But thanks for trying, anyway.”
“I feel as if I should do something. Apparently, there’s a whole list of things that went on there that I never noticed or paid attention to, which makes me feel like an idiot.”
“And we’ll find out what they are,” he assured her. “Even having project names we might not have paid attention to is a big help. Something’s hidden there, some kind of pattern, and we’re going to find it.” He leaned back in his chair. “We’re going to be working away at this all afternoon, heavy time on our computers and cells. Think you could manage to relax a little? The last couple of weeks have been a bitch for you.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Peyton agreed. “I just turned in the manuscript I was working on to my editor and I need some time to air out my brain before I give any thought to what my next project will be. I’ve decided I’m going to play hooky for the afternoon. I think you should come hang out with me, Hannah.”
She frowned. “You mean, like, go somewhere?”
Peyton shook her head. “Hell, no. I don�
�t think Viper’s letting you leave this house until he has everyone from Lowden—and everyone else involved in this—in a headlock. I’m thinking about hanging out on the dock. I love sitting there and watching the water.” She shifted her glance to Viper. “Unless you think…”
He shook his head. “No chance they’ve located you this fast and are out on the water scouting. First, they have to make the connection between you and Galaxy, and that ain’t happening. We’ll know if they find out where you are. Go have a good time. You’ve had your life ripped apart and turned upside down. You need to catch your breath.”
He smiled and heat flooded her. Good lord! When was the last time a man had that effect on her? She was just glad the blouse she was wearing was dark enough to hopefully hide her suddenly hard nipples.
Peyton nodded. “And I want some girl time with you, Hannah. Not that I don’t love you guys, but I think I’ve overdosed on testosterone.”
“Hope not.” Blaze chuckled. “But I get your point. And Viper is right. Everything else aside, I bet Hannah can use some, too. She’s had a wicked twenty-four hours.”
Hannah wanted to say that not all of it had been wicked. Although of course that depended on a person’s interpretation of the word.
Peyton turned to Hannah. “How about it? A little downtime hanging out on the dock? Water’s great for relaxing you.”
Hannah had to admit, she was glad Peyton had decided to hang around instead of having to leave. She felt comfortable with her, which surprised her. Now she nodded.
“I can do that. At least I’m going to try. I don’t think I can remember the last time I just let go. At Lowden, you can’t ease up for a second.”
“Well, today we’re changing all that. Think that’ll work for you?”
“I do. At least I hope so. And thank you.”
She took a last glance at the men concentrating on their laptops, on what she’d come to think of as her project. Eagle had just picked up his cell and walked away to make his call. She was totally amazed at the connection among all of them, the way they worked in a rhythm. The kind she knew came from being in Special Teams in the military. Sometimes they didn’t even have to speak. It was as if they each knew what the others were thinking.
“Come on,” Peyton urged. “Let’s go sit down by the water and hang out while the guys do their thing.”
Hannah couldn’t remember the last time she’d done any hanging out, which was why this sounded so great. It underscored how she’d socially isolated herself since she’d gotten the job at Lowden. Big mistake, she thought now, but who’d have ever thought she’d find herself in this situation, where her entire life was compromised?
She followed Peyton down to the dock and allowed herself to be convinced to take off her shoes and sit with her feet hanging down into the water. This was so uncommon for her. Trusting a strange man enough to leave a bar with him. Jumping into bed with him in an erotic coupling. Flying off in a private plane with him. Now sitting here and actually making friends with a woman she hadn’t known twelve hours ago. For the woman her co-workers and acquaintances also called Hard-assed Hannah, this was way out of her regular zone.
Looking around, she noticed that the adobe wall extended on both sides of the lawn down to the water itself.
“Viper’s a fanatic about security and privacy,” Peyton told her, seeing where she was looking. “The houses are really close together here, what with the property being so pricey, but he loved the location and the view. He just had to figure out how to shut out the neighbors.”
“Are those mini lights along the top of the wall?” Hannah took a closer look at them.
“Uh huh, but they are also a sophisticated security system. The wall’s too high to climb unless someone has a ladder, but Viper tried to think of all angles. If someone touches the top of the wall, those cute little lights emit an electrical charge. They also sound the alarm system up at the house.”
“Wow! He really does take precautions.”
“Yes, he does,” Peyton agreed. “They all do. The only exposure is out on the dock itself, but people are really good at respecting privacy. And although it’s possible someone could try to access this place from the water, again, there are sensors and triggers buried everywhere.”
Hannah studied the boats out on the bay. Right now they were little dots against the horizon.
“What about people watching from out there?” She nodded toward the scene.
“Listen. Can someone sit out there on a boat with high-powered binocs and spy on this place? Of course. No place is entirely safe unless you isolate yourself in the woods or on a mountain. But the people who are after you? First, they’d have to find where you are. Then they’d have to do their snatch and grab, and these guys are the best at preventing stuff like that. Promise.”
Hannah sighed. “I have to say, Viper got me out of that bar and out of Houston smooth as can be. I guess I’ll just feel a lot safer when we find out who’s really behind this fuckup and stop them.”
“Amen to that. Meanwhile, you couldn’t pick a better place to hide. Right?”
“Absolutely.”
She settled herself down and realized with a start how many simple things were missing from her life, including a close friend. Her choice, but not necessarily a good one. Hannah considered herself damn lucky that she and Peyton had connected so easily and quickly. She had no idea what would happen when this was all over, or even where she’d end up, although she knew what she wished for. She hoped, however, that no matter what happened, the two of them could remain friends.
“Come sit here.” Peyton patted the space next to her. “It’s nice to have another female added to the group. I’m still trying to find a place in the social circle around here. I’ve only been here a few months and it’s slow going. There’s my sister, of course, and living in the same city with her is a real blessing. And I connected with a couple of authors who also write for my publisher, so I’m getting there.” She chuckled. “And being around these guys does make the time pass. Plus, I was shoulder-deep in the book I just finished and sent to my editor. I wasn’t lacking for something to do.”
Hannah grinned. “I can’t believe I’m hanging out with a famous bestselling author.”
“And I can’t believe I’m hanging out with a woman smarter than all of us together. So we’re even there.”
Hannah sighed. “I just hope these guys can fix this mess I’m in. I obviously can’t spend my life hiding in Viper’s house, wonderful though it is.”
“And they’re not sitting around waiting for anything to happen,” Peyton pointed out. “If anyone can get to the bottom of this, it’s them. Let me tell you how they saved my life and my sister’s.”
Hannah listened as Peyton told her the entire story of the death of her brother-in-law and the near death of her sister. Hannah was appalled at the trouble Owen Kendrick had gotten himself into, so extreme that his wife had been willing to kill Peyton’s sister and brother-in-law to hide it. And that Owen’s father, managing partner in the law firm, had then involved a disgraced senator to cover it up. Warren Sulzberger had been allowed to retire from the senate quietly to avoid a national scandal, but his participation in the aftermath of the crime, exposed by Peyton’s sister, had ended all that.
“As it should,” Hannah said.
Peyton nodded. “The whole thing made me sick. I nearly lost my sister and her recovery is still ongoing. If it weren’t for Blaze, I don’t know what would have happened.” She smiled. “But Blaze and the rest of the Galaxy team found out everything and took care of it. You’re so lucky to have them on your side.”
“I know. I still can’t believe how all this happened. I’m afraid it’s a dream and if I pinch myself, I’ll wake up.”
Peyton shook her head. “I thought that at first, but they’re the real deal. Granted, your introduction might have been a little, um, unorthodox, but so was mine. Hell! Their whole situation is unorthodox.” She smiled at Hannah. “But I p
romise you this—once they commit to something, they are in one hundred percent.”
Hannah wrinkled her forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, honey, you can see it from miles away. He’s definitely committed.”
“After just a couple of days? How is that even possible?”
“I wondered the same thing, too, with Blaze. Didn’t know if it was real or just happened because of the whole unreal situation. I was shocked that we connected so fast, but with them it doesn’t take long. That’s just the way they are. If anyone is shocked, I’m sure it’s the guys. From what I gathered, Viper was one of their biggest playboys, but he certainly seems to have put his stamp on you.”
“I just worry because it was so fast. Just a couple of days.”
“Oh, it’s obvious to anyone who looks at the two of you. Trust me. And I’m glad for both of you.”
“I just need to get out of this disaster my life is in right now.” Hannah rubbed her jaw. “I keep asking myself how I got into this spot. How I could have been so stupid. There were obviously things going on at Lowden that I never noticed or questioned.”
“There was no reason for you to. Why should you?”
“She shouldn’t.”
Both women scrambled to their feet as Blaze and Viper come up behind them.
“Sorry.” Peyton grinned at Blaze. “We were too busy talking about you guys.”
“Feel free,” Viper told them, “as long as it’s about how wonderful we are. Hannah, on the surface, Lowden looks exactly like what you think it is. But if that were true, when this happened, they would have reacted differently. Sequestered you, sure, but gotten a whole platoon of lawyers for both the company and you. Hired avionics investigators. Maybe even shut down operations completely until answers could be found. The fact they didn’t is one of the reasons we believe this was no surprise to them.”
“The whole thing makes me feel sick. And betrayed.”
“With good reason. But don’t worry. We’ll fix it. Anyway, I’m getting ready to put the steaks on the grill and thought you ladies would like to have a drink.”