“As part of a bigger one to nail Vaughn, yes,” she said with a tilt of her head toward the pistols.“But if Curtis’s situation gets worse, if he gets desperate, he might get back on the radar in his own right.”
Nic debated whether to ask for something he had no right to.The FBI and the US Attorney’s Office were both DOJ, and while they often worked together, they were separate agencies.Sometimes, logistical and ethical walls between them were necessary.This had been one of those times.But if the FBI knew the full scope of his father’s financial dealings and failings, he needed to get his hands on that information.To assess how it might blow back on him.
Before he could ask, Mel carried the pistols across the room to a corner wall safe and tucked them inside.Nic prayed her lockpick husband couldn’t crack that one or his secrets wouldn’t stay secret for long.
“I’ll see what I can find out,” she said, turning back to him.“About the call and guns.Usual searches?”
He nodded.“Acquisition, ownership, used in other crimes, etcetera.”The other ask still hovered on the tip of his tongue.
She beat him to it, making the offer.“I’ll make some additional inquiries too.Discreetly, of course.See where the agencies are on Curtis.”
“I have no right to ask.”
“But you were going to.Friends and family benefit.”She folded her arms.“And I don’t want Bowers to get his hands on it and blindside you.”
He pushed to his feet, hand extended.“Thank you.”
She pulled him into a hug instead.“What’s your plan once I get you this information?Believe it or not, certain people do care about you.No one wants to see you step into the line of fire.”
The sentiment both warmed and chilled his heart.The last time someone had cared for him, had stepped into the line of fire, or rather fists, for him...
He banished the memory and answered her question instead.“My father and Vaughn aren’t giving me much choice.So I’m trying to build a shield for myself and for those who care for me.”He swallowed hard, forcing the truth out of his arid mouth.“Who I care for too.”
“You’re building a case,” she correctly surmised.
“I don’t want to have to bring it.I don’t want to air my family’s dirty laundry for everyone to see.”
“For Cam to see.”
He turned away, grabbing his briefcase and hiding the truth she was perilously close to.He headed out of the command center and across the living area toward the stairs that would take him above deck.
“How much do you know about the ancient Spartans?”Mel asked behind him.
The non sequitur halted him mid-step.“Not much,” he said, turning back to face her.“Beyond what I’ve seen in movies.”
She leaned a hip against the end of the nearest leather couch.“The Spartans were famous for their shield walls.”
“Shield walls?”
“When under attack, a Spartan phalanx would lock shields and advance together.As one.They were nearly impenetrable.Saved countless lives.”
Not so non sequitur after all.
“Before you dig into this further, Price, think long and hard whether your shield of one is enough.For both—for all—our sakes.”
Five
Nic didn’t wear suits on his day off, but it was a near thing.
The prosecutor barreled out of the elevator bank in charcoal dress slacks and a navy V-neck sweater, the latter making his ice-blue eyes glow.
Or maybe that was just the cold, hard anger burning there.
Cam pushed back from the conference room table.“Control freak incoming,” he mumbled to Lauren on his way to the door.
Nic ate up the bullpen floor with his long-legged stride, meeting Cam a mere two steps past the threshold.“Why the hell was Abby brought in here?I didn’t spend hours doing rotation paperwork last night, trying to keep her safe, for you to fuck it up.Are you trying to get her kidnapped?”
The jab at his professional competency hurt, poking Cam’s sorest spot, especially after yesterday.But it angered him even more.Nic fucking knew him better than that, professionally and otherwise.And even if he didn’t, it was a fucking low blow.He didn’t go around accusing Nic of cratering his own cases.Seeing red, he stepped nose to nose with the attorney.“Don’t you ever say that to me again,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.
