“No.” Brigid turned back to the computer to watch the police car drive her father away from the blue truck. Okay. Her dad was safe. So she typed a new search command for information regarding Coonan’s human trafficking enterprise. The sense of urgency made her type faster, but there was nothing else on the web.
Kat jumped up on the table and then moved in front of Brigid, rubbing his little furry head against her chest. She snuggled him close, trying to keep her feelings shoved down. Too much was happening. Between her father and Raider, she couldn’t seem to find the calm she’d always wanted.
Nari cleared her throat. “I’m here to listen, if you want. I’d never disclose personal information to anybody.”
Brigid turned toward the woman, petting the kitten. Could she trust the shrink? Even if she could, what the heck would she say? “Everything has gotten so complicated.”
Nari’s eyes softened. “I’m sure. It’s been a long time since you saw your dad. There has to be a lot of feelings there to deal with.”
And she’d slept with Raider. Brigid bit her lip, deciding against sharing that fact. Right now, anyway. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it, so how could she even explain it? “Thanks, Nari. I’ll talk when I’m ready.” Keeping the kitten close, she focused back to the screen.When all else fails, it’s time to turn to the computers.
Kat meowed happily as if in perfect agreement.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Raider met the cops and Sean Banaghan outside to take custody of the Irish bastard. Sean’s thick hair was slicked back, and he’d stolen jeans and a blue flannel shirt from somewhere. “This way.” Raider nudged him toward the old elevator, and it hitched the second the doors closed. “What the hell did you think you were doing?” Raider burst out as they started to descend.
Sean turned stoic eyes on him. “What needed to be done. If you’d get out of my way, I’d take care of Eddie Coonan for you.”
Raider barely kept hold of his temper, wanting to beat the stubborn farmer over the head until logic was drummed into it. “While you were dicking around, he kidnapped your daughter, threatened to cut off her fingers, and then launched a missile at a boat she was in.”
Sean pivoted, grabbed Raider’s shirt, and threw him up against the fake wood paneling. It cracked, raining down pieces. “You put my girl in harm’s way.”
That was it. Just completely it. Raider brought up both arms, breaking Sean’s hold. He went low, punched Sean in the gut, and then swept the guy’s feet out from under him. Just as he moved to grab Sean’s arms and press a knee to his back, Sean turned and swung out, hitting Raider in the temple. Again.
Raider saw red. He punched back, and they fought, hitting and kicking, both trying to gain leverage.
The elevator door opened, and Roscoe barked. Raider manacled Sean in a choke hold, subduing the big farmer, and looked up to see Wolfe and Malcolm watching him with the dog panting between them.
Malcolm lifted an eyebrow. “Need some help there, Agent?”
Wolfe just grinned and patted the dog’s head.
Raider jerked Sean to his feet and pushed him out of the elevator. It had been ages since he’d lost his temper. Then he straightened his clothing.
Sean stomped toward the dog. “Where’s my daughter?”
Force came out of his office, took in the scene, and jerked his head toward the alcove right off the elevator landing area. “Take him to the first interrogation room.” His chin lowered. “You can see your daughter after you’re done talking.”
Sean bunched his legs. “I ain’t going anywhere.”
The computer room door opened, and Brigid strode out, a purple file folder in her hands. She stopped cold, looked at Sean, and then shifted her gaze to Raider. “What in the holy hell is going on?”
Sean fidgeted and straightened his shirt, while Raider wiped blood off his lip. “Nothin’,” they said in unison.
Wolfe snorted, Raider chuckled, and the dog whined, putting his furry head on his paws. No expression crossed Force’s hard face.
“That’s it.” Brigid stomped toward case room two. “Dad? Get the heck in here.” She disappeared into the room, and a light flipped on.
Banaghan coughed, straightened his shirt better, and ducked his head before striding around the pod of desks to the room at the end. Raider followed, his irritation melding with amusement. Finally. Somebody had made the farmer do something upon command. And where had that tone come from?
“She’s not messin’ around,” Wolfe whispered to Malcolm.
Wasn’t that the truth? Raider entered the room behind Sean and Force, and they all took a seat and looked up at Brigid.
Man, she was pretty. In anger, her eyes had turned a light emerald that glowed. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing the smooth skin of her delicate neck. A slight bruise, more of a hickey, showed beneath her right ear. Raider shifted in his seat, his hands itching to touch her again.
She eyed each of them in turn. “Listen to me, and listen good.”
