I drew my weapon when the front door creaked open.
Terry, who’d been out front, escorted Detective O’Connor inside.
O’Connor’s eyes widened. “What the hell happened here?”
Lucas pointed at the hole in the wall. “Your Strangler hired some local thugs to break in and try to snatch Leighton.”
His mouth dropped open. “Try?”
Terry left to return to his station out front.
Lucas nodded toward the other room. “She’s fine.”
“Good. I need to talk to her.”
“Not now,” I said. “She’s been through a lot.”
“It’s obviously too dangerous in this city. I can put her under police protection back in Boston.” O’Connor started that way.
I blocked his path. “No. She’s staying here, under our protection.”
“She’s an important witness, and you don’t seem to be doing a very good job of keeping her safe.”
Lucas grabbed my arm before I could decide whether I wanted to slug him or not. “She’s more than a witness to us.” He took the words right out of my mouth. “We’re relocating her to a more secure location.”
“Where?” O’Connor demanded. In his city, he was probably used to getting what he wanted, but his demand didn’t mean squat here.
“More secure,” I answered. This dipshit only saw her as a useful tool, a witness to help his career.
“I need to interview her again, so when you get her situated, contact me so I can finish up. Then I’ll be out of your hair.”
I nodded, meaning only to acknowledge his request. I liked the idea of having him going back to Boston and leaving Peyton alone.
“He’s not happy,” Lucas noted when O’Connor turned around and left.
I shrugged. “Tough shit. If he’d done his job and caught the Strangler before this, he wouldn’t have to put up with us.”
Lucas nodded, and we joined the others.
“How’s the headache?” Lucas asked Jordy and Pete.
He stretched his shoulders and winced. “It’s improving, but it’s still there.”
Pete shrugged and answered like the tough guy he was. “No issue, boss.” For a SEAL, pain was merely part of the job, just like our motto,The only easy day was yesterday.
“Do we know what it was?” Terry asked.
Lucas shook his head. “Some unknown incapacitating gas. Winston has the bottle and will get it analyzed. Now, time to move out. Jordy, I don’t want to underestimate this guy again, so let’s get a drone in the air.”
“Sure,” Jordy agreed. “But I don’t have a lot of battery left on the one in the car.”
“Maybe Rob can help,” Yates offered.
“No, I got it,” Jordy said quickly.
Duke raised a brow, and I felt the same way.
“Then you guys get moving,” Lucas said. “I don’t want to give this guy any more time to track us.”
