Page 30 of SEAL's Harmony
When they reached the detective’s car, he opened the driver’s door for Harmony. “How about you sit down while we talk? I promise I won’t arrest you. But you’re exhausted, and I’d rather not give your boyfriend an excuse to punch me.”
Ry understood the detective, recognizing him as another protector, but no way in hell would he or any of his team ever lay hands on anyone in law enforcement except to save them.
Harmony gave him the ghost of a smile, sat down, and promptly fell against the horn. Ry felt for Harmony, knowing how she hated to be the center of attention. She’d blame it on her clumsiness. Her exhaustion was obvious. Her day had been wall-to-wall stress. It surprised him she hadn’t tripped all evening. Maybe holding her hand had helped to keep her steady.
“Thank you for that. I know everyone is awake now,” Detective Nelson said with a grin.
“Umm, you’re welcome. I think? I’m not sure anyone needed to hear that,” she added.
Ry could have hugged the guy when Harmony smiled up at them.
“Trust me, it’s not the first time that’s happened. But let’s get these questions taken care of so you can get some rest.”
“Sounds good,” Harmony answered.
Ry and Whiskey stood next to the car, close enough to close ranks around her if needed.
“So, what else can you tell me about the bank customer? His name is Harold Ericson, correct?”
Harmony nodded and took a deep breath. “Yes, that’s his name. His wife’s name is Barbara, and the doctors diagnosed her with a virulent form of lung cancer. He needed money for the hospital bills. They were my first customers when I transferred to this branch.”
Nelson made some notes, but only a few. Ry suspected that he’d already learned most of the information. “Okay, so you approved their loan?”
“Oh no. I don’t have the authority for that. I’m a customer relationship manager, so I answer questions and help with accounts, things like that. Harry had already maxed out his credit cards and couldn’t get a personal loan, so I suggested using his house as collateral.”
“But you don’t approve the loans?”
“No, the underwriters do somewhere offsite. I just helped him complete the paperwork and submit it.”
“Got it. And why did he go see you earlier?
“Because he got the foreclosure papers. When he failed to make his payments, the bank started the foreclosure process. I didn’t know until he showed me the papers this morning.” Harmony wrung her hands as she answered the questions. As he watched her tension increase with every question, Ry ached to wrap her in his arms and whisk her away.
Then his phone buzzed in his pocket. His team had arrived and was waiting by his truck.
“Hey, Josh is here. Is it okay if I go grab a bottle of water for Harmony?” he asked the cop. Then he turned to Harmony. “Do you need anything else? Are you cold? I can grab one of my sweatshirts if you’d like.”
She gave him a half-smile and nodded. “Oh yes, please. That would be great, thank you.”
“I’ll be right back. Whiskey, you stay with Harmony and keep her safe.”
The dog woofed and sat in front of her. Ry nodded. No one would get by him. “They’ll let me back through the tape, right?”
“Yes, you’ll be able to get back through,” Nelson responded.
Not caring what anyone thought, he kissed Harmony on her forehead and squeezed her shoulder. He hated to leave her even for a few minutes, but he didn’t have any other options.
“I won’t be long,” he promised, and then headed toward the other side of the parking lot where his team was waiting.
Ry expected his teammates to be waiting by his truck, but he was surprised to see Rafe and Ryan from the Black Eagle team, too.
“The gang’s all here,” Josh joked as Ry approached the group.
“Josh told us what he knew. Anything else you can share?” Quinn asked.
“My gut is telling me it’s Ericson, especially after seeing the note hanging on her door. But when the detective asked Harmony about any suspects, her first thought was her father.”
“What the fuck?” Fergus sounded as shocked as the rest of them looked.
