“Nope,” Cal agreed.
“That means there’s a third player in the game, right?”
“Most likely,” Lucas said. “Our guess is Walter decided to double-dip.”
“Like he took the money from the employer of theguys who took Bec and then set up the ransom? But why?”
“It’s possible the employer of the guys who broke into the facility figured out he planned to double-cross him and had him killed, then sent the guys to get what he was owed,” Cal explained. “We need to get back to the research facility and secure it. With Walter dead and Bec missing, it’s time to call someone in to take control of it.”
“Not until we find Bec!” Iris exclaimed. Haven raised his head, and she took a deep breath before speaking again. “We need to find her, and we need to find the evidence on Walter’s computer that says she’s not behind this. We need proof of her innocence once we find her.”
Cal nodded as they neared the research center. “I’ve had Delilah tearing apart the computer while we were here. I’m hoping she has a report when we get back. If she doesn’t, it will be your job to help her while we wait to get a bead on Bec.”
Cal’s phone rang, and he hit the phone button to answer it. “Secure One, Charlie.”
“Secure Watch, Whiskey,” Mina said. “Did you find Walter?”
“We sure did,” Cal said, filling her in on their discovery. “I didn’t want to call you until we were clear of there.”
“I guess you can let the board president know the money won’t be needed when he arrives later tonight.”
“Wait, the president of the board is arriving tonight?” Iris asked from the back seat.
“Considering they currently have no one in charge of the facility under their employment, they thought it prudent to secure the viruses safely.”
“There aren’t any viruses,” Iris said. “Bec destroyed them all once she could get back into the lab.”
“Well, that’s something,” Mina said with a sigh. “All the same, it’s their right to take control of their business.”
“Did they give you an ETA?” Cal asked, checking his watch.
“His flight lands in Grand Forks at 2100 hours. It’s another hour and change to the research center.”
“That doesn’t give us much time to find Bec, but if they kick us off the property, we’ll set up a base at the motel in Sinlis Park.”
“He’s coming alone, so I doubt he’ll kick you out unless he picks up an entire security team along the way. That said, I wouldn’t talk about anything around him that you don’t want him to know. I sent Delilah his name and information. It will be waiting for you to read through when you arrive. I’m also keeping an eye on Bec’s panic button. So far, it’s still quiet.”
“Ten-four. Charlie, out.”
He hung up the phone and sighed. “Just what we need. More people to muddle the mess we already have.”
Lucas was on his phone and finally hung up as the lights of the research center came into view. “That was Zac. It’s been quiet since we left. They’re expecting us.”
Iris let out a breath to hear that news. She didn’t want her friends to get hurt again, and the last thing they needed was another round of unnamed goons to surprise them. Once the car was in Park, they all climbed out to stretch. Lucas and Mack stayed to fill Zac, Declan and Efren in on what happened at the cabin while Cal and Selina ushered her into the facility and up to the lab. With any luck, Delilah had found something onWalter’s computer that would help them sort out who might have Bec.
That low buzzing of anxiety sat in Iris’s belly as they stood in the elevator. She didn’t know if it was because she was afraid Delilah hadn’t found anything or that she had. Maybe her worry for Bec was catching up to her. Once the doors opened and everyone stepped out, she held Selina back while Cal went ahead.
“I was maybe wrong to turn down that extra dose of meds.”
Selina dug in her pocket and pulled out the tablet, popping it out of the packaging into her hand. “Right under your tongue. It’s not a big dose. Just enough to take the edge off.” She rubbed her back several times while she waited for it to dissolve. “It’s only been three days since you left Secure Inc., but I can see a fundamental shift within you.”
“Bec has taught me a lot about myself in a short time,” Iris agreed. “Like the fact that my therapist was right all these years.”
“About what?”
“That a lot of my anxiety is based on the fear of talking about what happened to me and being judged for it. When I told Bec, and she didn’t judge me, it hit home that I’d had control all along.”
“Wait. Bec promised me she wouldn’t ask you about it.”
