Page 59 of Out of the Shadows

Xander scoffed. “You’re telling me that their team of five security personnel couldn’t find shit?”

Carmichael glared into the screen. “Yup.”

Gavin turned to Xander. “I know you’re still in the process of looking for long-term security for Rita and Anson, but where are you at with that?”

“I sent over fifteen recommendations to Edward this morning.” Xander frowned. “Since the guy’s insisting on keeping Polanski’s team of five, I strongly suggested he hire at least three people for each of his family members.”

“Think he will?”

“I don’t know,” Xander said with a frown. “He’s still keeping Polanski as his head of security, so I don’t know how good his judgement is.”

Even though Gavin agreed, he asked, “Meaning?”

Xander shrugged. “Look, I don’t have kids or anything, but if my head of security hired a group to protect my child,and two of the people he hired fucking kidnapped andtorturedmy kid? Let’s just say my head of security would no longer be walking this fucking earth, let alone still on my fucking payroll.”

Gavin’s gut churned as he nodded. “Agreed.”

Security was about people: reading them, doing the background work, and paying attention. How the fuck had Polanski gotten it so wrong? Something was definitely off.

Glancing back at Carmichael, Gavin asked, “Current status?”

“The cops are still here, and the feds just arrived. They’re taking Edward’s statement and talking with Polanski and his team. What do you want to do?”

“What’s your gut telling you, Carmichael?”

His colleague glanced off-screen to the right and lowered his voice. “Something’s rotten. I think Edward feels it too. When he and Rita came out of their secure room, they stayed huddled together and kept their distance fromeveryone. Except from me.”

Gavin nodded and then paused as Bean entered the conference room. “Anything?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t see any traces of anyone hacking into the security feed.”

“You’re sure?”

Her right eyebrow arched. Hard. “Is that a real question, boss man?”

“Sorry,” he said, wincing at the glare she threw his way. He cleared his throat and turned back to the Smartboard. “Owen’s prepping the helo now. Let Edward and Rita know that we’ll be there in thirty.”

“We?” Carmichael asked.

“Everyone. Team Three got back this morning, and they’ll be with me, Xander, and Wilson. They’ll take over Rita’s detail. You stay put until we get to you. I also have Tash enroute to the hospital as we speak for an extra hand. No one is getting to that kid.”

Carmichael’s gaze hardened. “Damn straight, Frazier.”

“Bean will be in charge of comms. I want everyone connected immediately. Call me paranoid, but I don’t trust any of those fuckers on Polanski’s team.”

“I’ll have comms up and running by the time you get airborne,” Bean said, stepping fully into the room. “Everyone starts on line three. Once I get everything scrambled and secure, we’ll move to another line.”

A chorus of “copy that” sounded throughout the room as everyone stood.

“Bean, can I talk to you for a second?” he asked.

She nodded and then called out to Xander and Wilson, “Abbot’s got the new comms at her desk. Make sure Team Three grabs them and takes extras for Tash and Team Two.” She turned back to Gavin after both men saluted her. “You too, boss. Make sure you get one of the new comms. They’re even clearer than the other ones and have better range.”

“I will.” He walked to his closet and grabbed his tactical gear. “Make sure you finish your lunch, okay?”

She leaned against his doorway and grinned at him. “Pretty sure you have more than my caloric intake to worry about right now.”

Striding up to her, he peeked around her into the main work area. Seeing everyone was busy with various shit, he leaned down and quickly pressed a kiss to her lips. “Humor me. I was going to ask you to join me for dinner tonight, but...” He held up his tactical bag and shrugged.

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