Page 7 of Off the Grid
“They’re the same person,” Leo cut in, ignoring that code-brown comment—because,what?Finally, this stubborn woman was having a normal reaction, one he knew how to handle with a relentless assault of facts, until denial was no longer possible. Sparing a second, he glanced up. They were four floors from the lobby.
“Jo was partners with Thad Ryder, and when she turned herself in, he went on the lam. The Feds are looking for him, but so is the Russian mob, because if we catch him first and manage to talk him into a deal, Ryder will provide invaluable eyewitness testimony we can use against the mafia in court. Which is what brings me here, to you. Roughly an hour and a half ago, Jo informed the bureau that someone had been hacking into her private files. We believe it was the Russians, looking for communication between Jo and Ryder. Instead, they found her communications with you and your other friend, Addison. We believe they suspected that Ryder was planning to use you or your friend as a way to get to Jo, and they wanted to cut him off at the source. Local police in Riverbend, South Carolina, received a call early this morning, a missing person’s report, filed on behalf of your friend Addison. No one has seen her since eight o’clock last night, and the bakery where she worked has been ransacked. At this point in time, it’s unknown if she was taken by Ryder or by the Russians, but we have reason to believe someone may be coming for you next.”
The elevatordinged and the door slid open.
McKenzie jolted and jerked her head to the side, darting her gaze toward the cops waiting idly in the lobby. Leo was impressed by her awareness. He recognized the look in her eyes—it was the same one he’d seen on any number of the agents he’d worked with over the years. She was in shock, and yet, her mind was shrewd, calmly assessing the situation, cataloguing every detail of what she saw.
Leo didn’t like it.
He didn’t like it at all.
Hysteria was much easier to deal with, as surprising as that might sound. When a person was falling apart, all they wanted was someone who could hold them together. Leo knew how to deal with that. How to wrap his arm around a victim and subtly guide them to a patrol car. How to hand them a glass of water and get them to open up. How to become their savior. People who could compartmentalize were difficult. They didn’t automatically listen. Instead, for better or worse, they questioned.
Worse, he thought with a sigh.Definitely worse.
“I believe it’s in your best interest to please come with us.” Leo tried to pounce before all her mental capabilities returned, but the second he spoke, he already knew it was too late. Those icy eyes turned toward him, cool and calculating. He pressed on. “We’d like to escort you to a safe location—a hotel room we have secured for the next few days. The bureau will pay for all of your expenses, room service included.” That wasn’t exactly true. Nate was the one who would be hefting the bill, at least until he got formal approval from the boss, but she didn’t need to know that. “Think of it as a vacation.”
The word stung rolling through his lips.A vacation.Black sand beaches and crashing waves flashed before his eyes as he blinked—there and gone, exactly like his moment of victory.
“I can’t,” McKenzie said, turning toward the front door of her building and hastily stepping away. “Thank you very much for your concern, but I’ll be fine. I don’t have time to be kidnapped today. I don’t have time for a vacation. I don’t have time, period. I have to go.”
“That’s not really how this works.” Leo chased after her, shaking his head. “They’re not going to call you to pencil in a time for your abduction. They’ll just grab you.”
“Again, thank you for the offer, but I have the most important presentation of my life in a few hours, and I can’t waste another minute talking to you.” She had a way of making the wordsthank yousound more likeF-Uas they passed through her lips. Leo rolled his eyes.Frigging New Yorkers.“I’m sure this is all just a big mistake. Goodbye.”
Good Lord, this woman was exasperating, and she’d almost reached the door.
That’s it, Leo thought,no more Mr. Nice Cop. This is for your own good.He reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her where she stood. “I’m sorry, Miss Harper, but it wasn’t a request. You’re coming with me.”
She froze, going still in a way that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, as though she were a predator hiding in the bush one second before launching into attack.
He winced.I shouldn’t have grabbed her.
“Excuse me?”
Leo dropped her arm in the same second she yanked it free. He gulped as she turned to glance over her shoulder. Death himself would have had a less menacing stare.
“Am I being arrested?”
“No.”
“Am I being detained?”
His shoulders writhed. “No, but—”
“Then, like I said, thank you, but no thank you.”
Leo glanced around, quickly making eye contact with some of the NYPD watching this interaction go down, hoping someone might step in. They were the best cops in the world, but they stayed quiet. Because he was in their jurisdiction, stepping on their toes in their turf where he didn’t belong. He was a Fed, and the Feds never got very warm welcomes from the local authorities. Before he could think of anything to say, McKenzie shoved the front door of her building open and strode out onto the busy street.
Thanks, guys.
He ran after her.
“Miss Harper!”
She didn’t slow.
“Miss Harper!”
