He gave a weak grin. “We were being strategic. She needed to loosen up a little.”
“You’re welcome for taking the hit.” But now Jane felt bad, because she knew her cousin would be embarrassed later for making a fool of herself.
A petty part of Jane enjoyed that, but her wiser self wished she’d been able to help instead of making Raine’s mood worse. She sighed.
Hal sighed with her and pulled her into a side hug. “Now how about we look at the data I found on Jon Haversham and see who’s really on the up and up and who needs to be shot down?”
“By shot, you mean…?”
“Taken down a peg. Legally. While still alive.Obviously,not violently.”
She didn’t trust Hal’s fake smile. Jane narrowed her eyes and poked him in the chest.
“Ow.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re going the non-killing, law abiding route. Because Uncle Chris is already ticked at Hondo and Malcolm on whatever mission they’re on. Things were blowing up and bodies were flying.”
“Oy.”
“Exactly. I think his head might explode if you or Joe kill anyone else on his watch.”
“Noted.”
Thank God.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Friday morning,pleased to be back at work, Jane settled in at her desk. She’d ignored Rapp’s inspection and satisfied nod. The gesture hadn’t been sexual or romantic. More like a gesture from a stronger superior to his weak little subordinate.
After taking orders from the guys and her uncle and being yelled at by her cousin, she didn’t have the bandwidth to tolerate more nonsense. Since Rapp’s attitude felt like a twin to her Uncle Chris’s, she snapped, “Take a picture. It’ll last longer.”
Gina shook her head. “Annndshe’s back. Yippee.”
Jane mentally flipped her off but fought back a smile as she woke up her computer. Annoying Gina almost made up for Rapp being Rapp.
He grunted at her before moving back into his office.
Jane’s odd irritability made her pause in reflection. Her typical, calm, collected professional persona contrasted with Raine’s railing at life when a straight line sometimes curved. Lately though, especially with this group, Jane felt her patience being tested.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Sullivan. She immediately returned the call. “Oh wow. I’m so sorry. I meant to call and check on you but got sidelined by my family. How are you?”
“Not great.” Sullivan sounded stressed.
“Is it your leg?”
“It’s not that.”
“What’s going on? Are you at work?” Jane could pop over for a few minutes and catch Sullivan up on what she’d learned about Haversham in person.
“I’m being escorted out of the office, and the building, because I’ve supposedly got mob ties.”
“What?”
“Apparently, I’m the mole in our unit.”
“Scott is an absolute moron. I’m heading over. Stay there.” Jane hung up, grabbed her coat, and left before anyone could ask questions.
She found Sullivan sitting in the lobby of the building.
