Then, what she’s saying hits home. “Your family?”
Celia motions to Tatiana, who clears the screens. She pulls up numerous headlines and pictures.
“That fella there is Dakota Helfinger,” Tatiana points to an average-looking Native American man with brown hair and brown eyes. “Cult leader. Domestic terrorist. Likes to blow up his enemies.”
“My sister Cam brought him in after he attacked her and Cat,” Celia says.
I remember that crash and the resulting fury when paramedics brought the broken Cat to the hospital. I wanted to find the motherfucker who did that to her and put him in the ground. After I took my time cutting him open, that is.
I don’t trust myself to speak. I nod.
“And that scary white dude,” Tatiana points to the other picture. The man is in his 50s with blue eyes and gray hair. Average-looking. But seems familiar. “That’s Jeffrey Rose.”
“Killed his wife,” Flint adds. “Along with two more people before he confessed in a police station.”
“Wysdom Ward was a rookie cop who responded to the scene twenty plus years ago,” Celia nods to the crime scene. “She didn’t search the dishwasher. Where Rose stashed the murder weapon.”
“Shit” is all I can say.
Celia nods. “Rose has a fascination with Wysdom. He demanded she help his son find an antique shotgun last year, which she did. She never told us why she did it. Simply said she wanted to help out the son, who’s in his 20s by now. It’s not like her to be so tight-lipped, so it must be something big.”
“And speaking of big - Rose and Helfinger were in a U.S. Marshals transport yesterday when it was attacked,” Tatiana pulls up pictures of a smoking vehicle. Two body bags are in the foreground. “Two Marshals were killed.”
Celia blinks a few times. “My sister was supposed to be on that job.”
“Which sister?” I fold my arms and breathe.
“Cat.”
My heart stops.
“The attack here in Flamingo Cove likely saved her life,” Flint rubs his hands on Celia’s arms.
Celia blinks a few more times to clear the tears in her eyes. “Right. That’s why the entire family is on lockdown.”
“Everyone?” I frown.
“Yes,” Flint answers. “You already secured the Ward-Saber compound. The rest of the Saber family is scattered throughout Legacy Lakes in safe houses. That’s where we’ll stay until Rose and Helfinger are brought in.”
I look at the monitors. These two had several hours’ head start. They could be anywhere by now. “Clues?”
“Very few,” Tatiana types and pulls up what looked to be a useless report on the crash and attack.
I turn back to Celia. “Why tell me this?”
She looks at Flint, then back at me. “Because I need you to do something - off-books.”
“Lalelei,” Flint warns.
Celia stops him with a hand to his chest. “Listen, you big lug, this is my sister. I’m going to give her the best chance at this.”
“Sister?” I ask.
“Cat has been tasked with going after the fugitives,” Celia begins. “They’re sending her a new partner, one that she hasn’t met yet, but we’re going to intercept him and put you in place, instead.”
“What?” I stand and begin pacing. “No way.”
“Itisillegal,” Tatiana nods.
