Morris nodded. “Matches with what I’ve always thought. My understanding is that once you hike out of civilization, you’re out until you hike back in. And here’s the real kicker. He wasn’tsupposed to be on this trip at all. Won it through some outdoor magazine he subscribes to. Found out about it Saturday morning, left town on Sunday.”
Zane still didn’t speak, but his silence was a threatening storm. Tessa had no doubt he had already reached the same conclusion she had.
Morris continued. “I’ve left word that when he connects again, he’s to call me no matter what, day or night. But I find the timing of this excursion to be suspect.”
“Do you think he’s on the trip, or is he lying low?” Tessa fought the urge to place a hand on Zane’s thigh. He was abnormally still, and if he didn’t get up and start pacing the room soon, she was going to have to intervene before he ruptured something.
“Hard to say. The wife is a cute little thing. She was so excited for him. I hate to imagine how she’ll react if he turns out to be the lowlife scumbag he’s looking to be.” Morris gave them a rueful grin. “Because if our friend Devin got on an airplane on Sunday, he did it under a different name.”
Zane came out of his chair like someone had pulled the ejection handle and hurtled him into the room. “There’s no way that’s a coincidence.” The words were spoken through gritted teeth.
Morris grabbed another slice, his fourth, and raised it toward Zane. “Which is why I’m here. I know you don’t have the manpower to join in the hunt, but I’ve got good people looking for him. Right now, my money is on him helping your intruder get set up with the forged security access card and then taking this supposed vacation long enough to be unavailable for questioning.”
Tessa pushed back the sorrow that lingered around the edges of her heart. “Devin has always been kind, thoughtful. Sweet, even.”
“He may have owed someone a favor.” Zane wore a path in the carpet between the door and the table. “We need to talk to Bruceagain. He might have heard something more. Or this might be what he originally heard about.”
Morris polished off his pizza and stood. “I have to get back to work. Thanks for the food. I’ll call if we get anything. In the meantime, Tessa, if you see Devin, you should assume he’s not your friend.”
“Got it.” Tessa stood. “I’ll walk you out.”
Morris didn’t say anything until they were past the security desk. “People do all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. We’re digging into Devin. You stay focused on staying safe. I’m kind of counting on the lot of y’all having kids named Daniel and Danielle. Maybe Daniella? I’m good with any of them.”
Tessa gave him a quick side hug. “You know, you could still have a few yourself.”
“Nah. I’m too mean.” He gave her a small salute and strode to his car.
Tessa returned to the conference room to find that in the two minutes she’d been gone, Zane had rallied the troops and was giving them a full briefing. She retook her seat and listened to his summation.
“Someone is willing to do just about anything to get to Tessa. We’re going to need to increase our vigilance and trust no one who isn’t in the inner circle. No one and no place can be assumed safe.”
Tessa looked at the faces of four very angry men. “I’m going to my desk. Y’all plan whatever you want to plan. I trust you to keep me safe. I have to figure out who is or isn’t going to try to kill the president.”
It was twenty minutes before the guys returned to their desks. Zane came up behind her and began massaging her shoulders. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
His hands tightened. “Both of us?”
“Fair enough.”
He brushed a kiss to her forehead and went back to the cubicle that he’d claimed as his while he was in town. They all worked with few interruptions until 10:00 p.m.
“It’s time to call it a night, guys. We all need some rest.”
Five minutes later, and with minimal commentary, Luke, Gil, and Benjamin said hurried good-nights and exited the building.
“That was weird,” Tessa said to Zane as she packed her bag.
“That was them giving us some privacy.” Zane crowded her against her desk. “Because the three of them got me alone earlier when you went to the restroom and, after threatening me with bodily harm if I ever hurt you, insisted that I return to the hotel to get a full night’s sleep.”
He ran his fingers through her hair. “I know they’re right, but I don’t like it.”
“I don’t like it either.”
“Then you’re going to hate this next part.” Zane smirked. “Morris called. He has some concerns that we’re all burning both ends, and he’s got some overtime approved and some officers who want it. Which means you’ll have a guard outside your door tonight.”
“If I have a guard outside, I don’t need anyone inside.”
