Oh, Raider had some explaining to do. For now, Brigid would listen to her boss. “What about Josh the Bear?” she asked. The guy looked like a muscled teddy bear.
“Fascinating guy,” Nari said, studying the screen. “He just showed up out of nowhere about fifteen years ago and immediately befriended Jonny P.”
Raider nodded. “We couldn’t find anything on him before that time. He didn’t exist.”
Brigid sipped her drink, and the warmth pooled in her stomach. “Any chance he’s undercover?”
“No,” Force said shortly. “Though he is interesting. Volunteers at the food bank, plays Santa every holiday season, and then calmly goes out and buries bodies for the Coonans with the same smile on his face. While Jonny P likes to take his time and enjoys his work with a knife, Josh is quick and efficient with a gun. Just gets the job done. That much I was able to learn on my other case.”
Brigid shivered. “So, they’re killers.”
“Absolutely,” Nari said thoughtfully. “Though I can’t tell if Josh’s loyalty is to the mob, to Coonan, to Jonny P, or if it’s just a job. I would love to get into his head.”
Angus studied her. “Probably not going to happen. Also, everyone be aware that Jonny P is an expert in explosives. Guy loves to blow things up, and he likes to make a statement. He’s the perfect enforcer for the Coonans.” The screen went dark. “Raider? We have an identity almost in place for you as a cybercriminal with an extensive history of phishing, identity theft, and credit card fraud. You are too successful and need somebody to launder your illegal gains, and the Coonans are the best around. Your skills and resources will be appealing to the Coonans and their new venture into cybercrime, and it also explains your hooking up with Brigid.”
Raider sat back, his gaze on the blank screen. “If her father is still a player, and that’s my background, he’ll think I’m using Brigid to get to him.”
“Exactly,” Force said quietly. “He won’t play games with you. Either he’ll confront you, or he’ll just try to take you out.”
Brigid shoved back her chair. “My father is not a killer.” Though he sure wouldn’t like a guy cozying up to Brigid just to get to her dad. That was a crazy play.
“He was,” Force said, almost gently, typing again. A picture of her father in his early twenties flashed onto the screen, standing next to a younger and harder version of Eddie Coonan, right down to the smashed nose. Eddie had inherited his looks from his daddy, without question. The picture was yellowed with age, and her dad had his arm around Patrick Coonan. “Your dad and Patrick were close. And your dad has a record.” He pushed another manila file across the table. “Extortion, blackmail, assault and battery.”
Brigid couldn’t breathe.
Raider stopped the file before it could reach her. “This isn’t necessary. If her dad thinks I’m using her, the less she knows about his past, the better. She needs to look innocent.”
She grasped the file with two fingers and tried to tug it free. “I want to know.”
Nari tapped manicured nails on the crappy wooden table. “His life of crime ended when he fell in love with a Bostonian waitress named Janet Larington. They got married, bought a farm far away from Boston, and moved there to have a daughter about ten years later.” She leaned forward, her chocolate-colored eyes earnest. “It’s possible he gave up crime for Janet. That he’s not involved.”
“He’s involved,” Force countered, pointing to the file. “Jonny P and Josh the Bear made two trips to your family farm in upstate New York last quarter. They’ve also reached out via email, but we haven’t been able to track down a response. That’s your next job.”
Brigid’s stomach cramped. “No. My dad wouldn’t be anywhere near a computer. Or email.” He still read theFarmers’ Almanac, for goodness’ sake. “And just because two men went to upstate New York doesn’t mean they saw my father. You’re reaching, Angus.” Heat filtered through her chest.
“You haven’t talked to him in quite a while,” Angus countered, his green eyes darkening. “You don’t know what he’s doing.”
The words cut deep, even though the tone had been sympathetic. Her temper rose. “That may be true, but a person doesn’t just change everything about themselves. He hates technology and wants nothing to do with pretty much anybody but his cows and the farm. You don’t know him.”
Raider flattened his hand on top of the file folder. “Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think,” he said, almost gently.
“Maybe not.” She tried to think rationally, but her stomach kept flip-flopping. “Is there any record of members of the Coonan organization traveling to the farming community before these two trips?”
“No,” Angus said, his gaze narrowing. “We haven’t done a deep dive, and I’ll have you look for that. But if you find nothing, it does bring up an interesting question.”
“Why now?” Brigid asked softly, and the air grew heavy.
Angus nodded. “Exactly. I need you to figure out what has changed, if anything. Coonan senior has died, but my gut says it’s more than that.”
Her throat went dry. “My dad is a good guy.” Period.
Raider turned toward her. “Look at me, Brigid.”
She looked up, surprised once again by the intensity in his black eyes. How had she not realized how much he hid beneath his agent façade and meticulous motions? “What?”
“You don’t have to read these documents, and you don’t have to know anything about your dad besides what you believe in order for us to get this job done. It might be better if you don’t know anything.” Raider leaned toward her, bringing his warmth with him. “I want to protect you from this. Let me.” His voice was low and coaxing with that intriguing hint of the South.
Tempting. Man, it was tempting, and that tone of voice zinged around her erogenous zones. Would he still want to protect her if he knew the full truth? Probably not. But curiosity had always ridden her, and that wasn’t stopping now. Plus, she had a job to do. “I can’t hack into this enterprise without finding everything,” she whispered. It was true. “So I might as well begin with a head start.”
