Ben glanced back into the office where Shelly and Charlie were talking. Shelly looked relieved. And Charlie looked, well, like a warrior princess.
“Do you mind if I stay close until Shelly is settled?”
Kyle shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Thanks.”
Kyle stepped back into the office. Ben stayed in the hall, watching Shelly, who was smiling at Charlie now. But he couldn’t shake the image of her terrified face when she’d first seen him. How vulnerable she’d looked standing next to her sabotaged car. How hard she’d been shaking in his truck.
Men like Morrison counted on that fear. They weaponized it.
Ben’s phone chimed with an alert. Anger seeped into his blood, heating it.
That was quick.
Ben unlocked his phone, opened an app, and checked his security camera feed. Sure enough, a Douglas County cruiser sat in front of his Victorian, lights off. He zoomed in on the license plate and his jaw clenched.
It matched the cruiser that had driven past Shelly’s broken-down Civic.
I knew it wouldn’t take them long to find me if they ran my plates.
Ben glanced in the conference room. Everyone was standing up, Charlie a head taller than Shelly. Ben looked back down at his phone as she looked his way. As everyone filed out, Ben pulled Kyle, Shane, and George aside.
“I’ve got company at my house.” He showed them the live feed on his phone. “That’s the same cruiser that drove past Shelly and me.”
George’s expression hardened. “Morrison’s buddies.”
Ben nodded. “Or Morrison himself. He probably thinks Shelly’s with me, that I’m the guy she’s supposedly cheating with.”
“Got an office I can borrow?” George asked Kyle. “I know the Douglas County sheriff. He’s a straight shooter. It would be interesting to see if Morrison has complaints in his file—and I’m betting he does.” He turned his attention back to Ben. “You want backup?”
Ben shook his head. “We’ve got it under control.”
George smiled grimly. “I’ll bet you do. Give me twenty minutes to make some calls, then I’ll head your way with Sylvie.”
Ben looked at Shane, who nodded.
“Make it thirty, George.”
George studied the two men. “Understood.” He followed Kyle down the hall.
Ben pulled out his phone and sent a group text to Mountain Division.
6. Watchdog.
The number six was their code meaning they had business to take care of. The responses came fast.
Gabe:
Ready.
Bear:
Be there soon.
Elias:
Time to go to work.
