Keys dropped the wet paper towels into the trash bin before hastily washing his hands at the sink in the back bar. His hands didn’t look completely dry before he was typing on his laptop. “If he was on any Primis footage, my FRS will find him,” the kid announced before picking one hand off the keyboard to wipe on the side of his jeans.
Jenna leaned closer to Steel. “FRS?” she asked in a whisper.
Likely, she recognized Primis’ name too, but she was smart enough to pick up on the fact that the club was keeping their mouths shut around an outsider. “Facial Recognition Software,” Steel answered her.
Jenna nodded. Steel wasn’t able to elaborate that Keys’ software likely rivaled the NSA’s. It should—he’d helped design the current program agencies still used today.
“So Orrin has known Shaw has been out for months?” Ghost inquired. “Why would you think that he’s after Steel now?” They weren’t about to confirm that they had an enemy that had been tracking them unseen for over half a year.
“Because I only just found out. Like I said, I met my buddies for drinks and we were just shooting the shit. Orrin casually dropped the bomb that he’s still tracking Shaw. Even with only one working eye and a mechanical arm, the guy’s dead set on bringing Shaw to justice. And it wasn’t until a few days ago that Orrin let it slip he had a possible location for Shaw. After I learned it was here, I knew who he was going after. I don’t have Steel’s number, but I recalled he and his wife owned a consignment store on Mount Grove’s main street, so I drove straight through the night to get here.”
“According to Orrin’s files, he tracked Shaw to this area a few times,” Keys said, his eyes fixed on his screens. Demo leaned over, gripped the top of his brother’s head, and pulled Keys’ face back. Even with his glasses, Keys had a habit of putting his nose right up to the computer.
“How could you know that?” Hagerty asked, clear accusation in his voice.
Keys’ eyes lifted and his fingers paused. “He used a variation of his cat’s name as his password. It wasn’t that hard.”
Steel scratched his forehead. Keys was completely missing the point of that question. “Keys, unless you find Shaw, it’d be best if you didn’t t?—”
“Ooh!” Keys exclaimed excitedly. “Found Shaw.”
Of course he did. Steel felt a headache coming on. He also realized, he’d spoken out of turn. It wasn’t his place to critique Keys’ lack of a filter anymore. Shit. Old habits die hard sometimes.
Keys pointed to the tablet still in Lucky’s hand. “Give that to Steel.”
Lucky crossed the room to hand the device to Steel before walking back to stand by Bulldog. Jenna leaned into Steel’s side to also look at the screen.
Holy hell. It really was him. He looked… Well, to be frank, he looked fucking awful. The image on the screen was of a news reporter outside of the Primis building. Based on the date, it was a day after the club had raided the building, locking its employees inside, and freeing Scar from his prison. Police, firefighters, FBI agents, and NSA agents were all in the background behind the female reporter. As was a man wearing an FBI jacket. The frame was frozen at the man looking over his shoulder, which was when the news camera caught his face at an obscured angle, but enough that Keys’ software picked him up.
His hair was long, like it hadn’t been cut in months, maybe years. His beard was bushy and unkempt. He walked hunched over, but that might also be from trying to keep his head down as he snuck past law enforcement.
But it was him. Older than the last time Steel had seen him, but no doubt him.
Steel wondered if he’d seen this footage last summer and never noticed Griffin Shaw in the background.
“Based on what I’ve found, Shaw disappeared about twelve years ago. Primis was still finding its legs back then, but was definitely active. It would make sense that the CIA would bump shoulders with them. As private contractors, they don’t have the same red tape the agency does.” Keys continued typing. “I’d have to dig some more, but I could completely believe Primis held him captive for twelve years just because they were a giant bag of dicks.” Then his cheeks flamed. “Sorry, Jenna.”
“I’ve said and heard worse,” Jenna said, waving off Keys’ concern for cursing in front of her.
“Continue to look into it,” Ghost ordered shortly. His tone said not to speak of it further in present company. Keys met his President’s eyes and then nodded his understanding. To Hagerty, Ghost offered his hand. “We appreciate you coming here to warn us.”
Hagerty shook his hand. “Of course. Anything I can do to help?”
Ghost inclined his head. “Not right now, but we’ll call you if something else comes up.” The men released their hands. “Darrin and Viktor will take you back to your cage in town.”
When Jenna opened her mouth and looked ready to invite Hagerty to dinner, Steel squeezed her hand in warning. There would be time to catch up with old subordinates later.
Darrin and Viktor walked back in like they’d been summoned. As soon as the door closed behind them and Hagerty’s departure, Ghost rounded on Keys. He didn’t say a damn thing, just rested his hands wide on the bar and stared pointedly at the Tech.
“I said too much again?” Keys guessed, an air of innocence around him.
“You’re not seventeen anymore, Keys. I let a lot slide with you because of how good you are. We need you and we care about you. Wewantyou to succeed, but you have some hard lessons coming your way. I hope you’re ready for them.”
Keys swallowed nervously. “I do? I mean,” he corrected, trying to square his shoulders, “I am. Ready. I think.” He bit his lip. “What am I ready for?”
A shadow shifted behind Keys, making Demo jump. Noticing, Keys turned and let out a very un-masculine shriek at the sight of Scar behind him.
“I decided on your punishment for the thumb drive,” Ghost said, not easing in his stance at all. “You have to survive an hour in the ring with Scar.” Ghost rapped the top of the bar with his knuckles. “Good luck.”
