Chapter Thirteen
Rowan stared at the woman as she took a step inside, more cold air rustling the papers taped to the whiteboard. Special Agent Avery Kaine. Dressed in jeans, a sweater with boots and a jacket, she didn’t look the part of a federal agent. Even her mass of dirty-blonde hair wasn’t pulled back into a ponytail like it had been when she’d arrived in the park, badge hooked around a belt loop, her service weapon holstered under her left arm. Today, her hair brushed her shoulders, then draped down her back, tight waves softening her features.
She took another step, glanced at Nick before shaking her head. “Why am I not surprised you’re in Raven’s Cliff? Because why wouldn’t you be in some fog-cloaked blip on the Oregon coast at the same time I’m working a case?”
Nick groaned, sat a bit straighter in the chair. “If you’re here to shoot me on Sloane’s behalf, just do it.”
Avery laughed. “And deprive her the pleasure of watching you bleed out in real time? Unlike you, I’m her friend.”
Nick glared at Greer. “You could have told me Kaine had been assigned to the case when Page called me, yesterday.”
Greer hitched out one hip. “You’d been shot. Even I didn’t think you’d be fool enough to jump on a plane several hours later. Besides, you’ve never actually worked with Avery, and it’s Rowan’s case. I didn’t know Sloane had a hit out on you, though, I’m not surprised.” She glanced at Avery over her shoulder. “And people claim I don’t play nicely with others.”
Nick hissed as he pushed out a breath though clenched teeth. “Maybe if Rowan and Page managed to stay out of trouble for one damn night, I’d still be holed up in my apartment.”
Rowan huffed, stepped between everyone as she pointed at Nick. “You’re supposed to be resting, healing, not popping a blood clot.” She rolled her shoulders. “Obviously, you know Avery.”
Avery grinned. “More that we have a mutual friend, Sloane Hart. But yeah, everyone knows Nick.” She crossed her arms. “Curious why you’re here, though, Colter. Unless this case took a turn I’m unaware of?”
Nick chuckled, grimaced. “Rowan? Bodie? Do you want to tell Avery about your recon-only mission last night?”
Avery’s mouth quirked. “What mission?”
Rowan leaned over Nick. “Next time, you’ll feel every inch of the antibiotic shot.” She straightened. “Bodie managed to crack the encryption on the body cam I mentioned yesterday. We got a location from some of the background images and took a look until the situation turned dynamic.”
“How dynamic?”
“No one died.”
“Not exactly a benchmark.” Avery raked her fingers through her hair. “Did it pay off?”
Rowan froze. She hadn’t discussed her father’s case with Avery, yet. Hadn’t wanted to start their joint case off with the other woman questioning her sanity. Which looked even more uncertain given the recent events. “There’s been a significant development, though, it sounds as if Nick’s found something, too.”
“Oh, no.” Nick stood, batting away Rowan’s hand when she grabbed his waist in the hopes of keeping him on his feet. “First, I want to see every damn thing you collected — the files, the videos, the photos. I don’t care how insignificant you think it is, I want it spread out on one of Greer’s whiteboards. Then, I’ll tell you why I dragged my broken ass halfway across the country.”
Avery shook her head. “I see why Sloane’s torn between wanting to kill you and wanting to kiss you. This whole wounded soldier thing you’ve got going on is pretty hot. Discounting the fact you’re a complete ass.”
Nick rolled his eyes, paused. “Wait, she wants to what?”
Avery focused on Rowan. “Are we talking here or…”
Rowan glanced at Bodie, reading his answer by the way he slid his gaze to the board, then the door. “Might be best if we took this over to Bodie’s office, so we’re there when he cracks the rest of the hard drive.” She crossed her arms. “Assuming Nick’s not going to pass out on the ride over.”
Nick glared at them. “Not dead, yet, despite your efforts.” He grabbed his jacket, took a breath, then pushed past them to the door. Dalton caught him, again, before he tripped against the wall, likely reopened his wound.
Avery sighed. “See? Ass. I’ll follow.”
Dalton half-carried Nick out to Bodie’s truck, helping him slid into the passenger seat as Buck started the engine. The rest of them piled into other vehicles, covered the short drive over to Bodie’s.
Bodie gripped her arm before jumping out. “Are you going to be okay viewing those videos for the first time with everyone watching considering your father’s trial is likely part of it?”
Rowan swallowed, tried not to gag. “Honestly? I don’t know, but I’ll try.”
He nodded, looked as if he wanted to argue, then slipped out, grabbed extra chairs after ushering everyone inside. Nick made it all the way to the small sofa before collapsing, cursing Dalton when the man bodily shuffled him onto the cushions. Dalton took the seat beside him, openly daring Nick to argue, then nodded at Bodie.
Bodie went over the files on the hard drive, handed everything off to Rowan as she worked through the paper copies, outlining how they tied in with the other cases she’d been investigating on her own until Bodie’s computer beeped.
He tapped some keys, met her stare. “Algorithm’s done.”
