After several minutes, Flint's screen filled with data. "Here we go. Vincent Romano, age forty-two. Sentenced for fraud, oh, and wiring money across state lines. That got him a few extra years. Released from Nevada State Prison a year ago for good behavior, on parole for three years. He’s been checking in regularly with his parole officer in Vegas. Last known employment..." Flint squinted. "Dishwasher at a restaurant just off the Strip. Lives in a better apartment than I’d expect.” More typing, then, “No travel outside Nevada that I can see."
Shane felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "So he's staying put."
"For now, looks like. But if this guy was smart enough to run a long-term casino fraud operation, he's smart enough to eventually connect April Meyer to April Taylor. Especially if he's motivated."
Kyle leaned forward. "Talking to April, what do you think the threat level here, Shane? Do we need to move April and Kevin to a safe house?"
Shane shook his head. "No immediate danger. April's been worried about it, got spooked by the drive-by at Riversong, but she's not in crisis mode. This is more about giving her peace of mind. And Kevin..." Shane couldn't help smiling. "Kid offered me fifty bucks to be his mom's bodyguard."
Kyle chuckled. "Smart kid." He turned his attention to Flint. "Keep monitoring Romano's parole status. We’ll go on high alert if he misses a check-in, changes his address, or makes any moves toward Colorado. And run deeper background—who he was working with, who might have reason to help him find April."
"Done." Flint's fingers flew across the keyboard. "I'm setting up automated monitoring. I’ll get alerts if anything changes."
“Thanks, Brother,” Shane said.
Flint closed his laptop. “No need. If this were somebody after Harper, I’d feel the same.” He stood up. “Speaking of, she’s waiting for me in town. We’re having dinner with one of her old colleagues from the lab. I think Harp’s wanting to find her someone.”
Kyle chuckled. “If it’s who I think it is, she’s got her work cut out for her.”
Flint grinned. “You said it, not me. Sweet lady though, just quiet and more than a little nerdy.” As Flint reached for the doorknob, Shane stood to leave as well.
“Hold up, Shane,” Kyle said.
After Flint left, Kyle fixed Shane with a stare. "This is personal for you."
Shane met his boss's eyes with a steady gaze. "Yeah. But I'm not going to let that cloud my judgment."
"Good. Because if this Romano asshole decides to cause trouble, we'll handle it professionally. No vigilantes this time. You’re representing my company."
Shane bristled but tried not to show it. "Understood."
“That said, April and Kevin—the whole Taylor clan—is family. So we’ll do whatever it takes in the end.”
His tension eased. “Understood, Brother.”
Kyle nodded, then his expression shifted to amusement. "So, you're April's bodyguard now?"
"Kevin thinks so. April and I are...humoring him."
"Uh-huh." Kyle's grin was knowing. "And how exactly are you planning to humor him?"
“I was going to discuss it with you tomorrow morning, let you get home to Arden.”
“She’s got a late patient up to the ranch.” Kyle’s wife, Arden, ran a therapeutic program out of their ranch for kids with PTSD,autism, or ADHD, using therapy animals. “I’ve got time right now.”
Shane sat back down. “I talked it over with April and I was thinking—with your permission—I could bring Kevin up here tomorrow. Teach him 'bodyguard skills' and show him how we train the dogs.”
Kyle’s smile widened as he warmed to his favorite subject—the canine training program at the heart of Watchdog Security. "Affirmative. Bring them here. Kevin can see how Watchdog operates, help Alex with the puppies. Kid will eat it up."
“Thanks.” Shane took out his phone and brought up April’s number. He texted:
Tell Kevin it’s all set up. Can you two come to Watchdog around 9 tomorrow?
April's response came almost immediately.
He's already getting his 'gear' ready. See you then. Thank you, and thank Kyle for me!
"She says thank you and they'll be here at nine," Shane told Kyle.
