As if someone had stepped over her grave, she felt a shudder course through her. Deacon pressed closer, and she concentrated on the meeting.
“So, what did you find out?” Noel asked.
Hammer sighed. “Nothing we wanted to hear. Annette wasn’t working for Brent. She was backup in case he failed.”
Addy scowled. “Which he did.”
“Yep,” Hammer agreed. “And so did she. You saw to that. Good job.”
Addy blushed, and Noel kissed her on the cheek.
God, they’re so cute it’s annoying.
Hammer continued, “I talked to some friends of Annette’s. Turns out she was doing a lot of side jobs for someone and making a fortune. This last job was one in a string of hits the past six months.”
“That long?” Noel sat straighter, holding Addy tight. “So, this has been planned in advance. I mean, we knew that with Brent, but the puppet master has laid some pretty smart groundwork.”
“Puppet master?” Addy said.
Solene answered that one. “Makes sense. Whoever’s behind all this is holding all the strings, controlling the play. Do you guys still not have any idea who’s behind it?”
“Big Joe said he’s going to send over some files,” Noel told them. “And Vi sent a message through him.”
“Working with a Handler?” Hammer sounded triumphant. “I knew she was more than a nurse.”
Noel smirked. “Big Joe confirmed that’sallshe is, Hammer. And that Vi said, and I quote, ‘The guys are solid and mostly in good health. But that Hamilton. There’s something about him that bothers me.’”
Addy blinked. “Hamilton?”
He glared. “Don’t call me that.”
Noel shrugged. “Why not? It’s your name.”
“Hamilton?” Solene repeated, grinning. “You know, I see it now. Youdolook like a Hamilton. Or maybe a Chip. No, Topher. Oh, I know. How about Preston?”
Hammer turned beet-red.
“Anyway,” Deacon cut in, likely before Hammer’s head could explode, “I’d like to know why Big Joe really sent her. Hamilton, excuse me,Hammerwas right. Something was off about that chick.”
“I know. But she helped. She was an asset, and Big Joe did vouch for her.” Noel paused. “Something else. Before she left, she handed me a thumb drive.” He tossed it to Deacon. “According to Vi, Big Joe said to look over these guys. I don’t know any more than that, and I didn’t ask. He sent it with her—in person—not electronically.”
Solene frowned. “So?”
“So he didn’t want an electronic trace, and that’s not good. Means either he suspects someone in the Business is dirty, or he thinks we’ve been compromised. We’ll probably need to use the secure computer in the basement for this.”
Noel had a sound-proofed training facility below the house. Solene had seen it once and been astounded to know it was there under their noses. He had a freakingfiring range, a side office with lots of computers and monitors, and another room for working out. Tons of weights and body dummies hanging from the ceiling provided a space for lifting and martial arts workouts.
Learning that Addy’s new boyfriend was a hitman had been unbelievable. But seeing Noel’s basement in addition to watching Deacon take out the thugs who had attacked her not so long ago, she’d become a firm believer.
“Noel, how do you want to play this?” Deacon frowned. “Solene keeps acting like the threat is over, but we know it’s not. Right, Hammer?” At Hammer’s nod, he continued, “And we clearly now know Brent wasn’t the mastermind behind the attempts on your life.”
Noel sighed. “I don’t know what to do. The baby is at the center of all this. Or at least a big part of it. We’ve still had no luck on deciphering the code or the name in the locket.”
No doubt reading Solene’s confusion, Addy said, “A locket came with the baby. It had a name and some code inscribed inside it.”
“Oh.” Solene hadn’t known that, only about the note with the baby naming Noel as the father. Hmm. What else had they been keeping from her? She should ask Deacon about it when they got home. Toherhome.
“The point is, we need to ID the person behind the attacks, pronto. If they went after Addy to get to me, you can bet all of us in this room are fair game.” Noel stared at Solene, then Addy. “The danger here isn’t over.”
