One of his dark eyebrows rose. “I’d love to explore that blush you have going on, but I’m supposed to meet Angus Force at my apartment to survey the damage.” His phone buzzed and he drew the device from his pocket, his gaze never leaving hers. “Hanson,” he answered, pressing it to his ear. His expression didn’t change, but the tension in the room did. “I understand. All right. Thanks, Raider.”
Gemma took a step away. “What did Raider say?”she whispered.
Jethro placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Trudy. Understand?”
Numbly, she nodded.
“Good. Apparently, Dr. Monty Cameron chartered a private plane earlier today and has flown out of Oregon. Brigid is tracking him now.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Jethro hated leaving Gemma, but at least she was safe with the twins in the house and Wolfe across the road. In the midafternoon, with the weather still hating on him, he stared at the smoke billowing from the burned-out hollows of what he’d considered his safe haven. He carefully picked his way up the metal steps, avoiding the ones now hangingprecariously.
Angus Force was already on the scene while Millie bustled around, thick goggles protecting her eyes and silver devices in her gloved hands.
Jethro looked at what used to be his fireplace. The metal had crumpled, revealing his burned-out pool table on the other side. It wasn’t the first time he’d lost all his possessions, but this was more personal. The explosive device had destroyed the integrity of the apartment, and the ensuing fire had finished off the rest, including his art collection. “When did HDD clear the scene?”
“About an hour ago,” Force said, kicking burned and now sopping-wet papers out of his way. “They took the remnants of the device, but Millie captured pictures and should have a few ideas to share with us when she’s finished.” The head of the Deep Ops unit looked pissed with the gaping hole in the ceiling above him.
Jethro looked at the now-mangled, gridded large window he’d spent hours staring through. “I liked this place.” But it was only a space, and it had been lonely at times. Anger rippled down his chest and he let it flow out his fingertips as he’d been trained.
Force’s jaw clenched. “It’s okayto be pissed.”
“I am angry,” Jethro said, striding into what used to be his office. Less damage had occurred there, but all of his desk drawers were empty. “But giving in to anger dulls my edge, and I need to stay sharp to deal with Fletcher.” He stared at the open and now-empty cabinet in the corner. “The HDD scavenged my entire home?”
“They took it all,” Force agreed, stepping into the doorway. “Under the guise of investigating this bombing, they secured everything they could. Don’t forget, they’re still looking at you for thosethree murders.”
Jethro shoved his chilled hands in his jacket pockets. “I have not forgotten.” It was only his connection to MI6, and possibly to Force’s team, that was keeping him out of custody right now.
Force blew snow out of his eyes. “Was there anything here that could hurt you or that you’re concerned about?”
“Of course not,” Jethro said, eyeing the cracked cement floor. He’d really liked that floor. “We keep it all in our heads, mate.” Paper trails and computer files couldn’t be trusted.
Force tapped the doorframe and charred metal fell to the floor. “That makes your head both dangerous and valuable. How long before your agency yanks yourass back home?”
Jethro shook his head. “I don’t know. Right now I’m in with the guy in charge, and he’ll cover me as long as he can. But if another murder occurs, even if we all know it’s Fletcher, I may be requisitioned home to keep me out of your federal custody.” It wouldn’t be a comfortable situation either. “I probably have a week at the most to find my brother and lock him down. After that…” He let his voice trail off.
“They never do let you completely out, do they?” Force mused, looking at the destruction.
“Not with what’s in my head,”Jethro agreed.
Millie popped into sight and tugged off the goggles. Her blue eyes were wide and ashes darkened her nose. “I caught a quick look as the bomb squad loaded up remnants, and the device wason a trigger.”
Jethro stiffened. “Somebodydetonated it?”
“Yes.” She wiped at the smudge, looking like a wilted pixie. Today the streak in her hair was a deep green. “The timing was deliberate.”
That meant Fletcher had been near enough to see Jethro and wait for the right second. “So he didn’twant me dead.”
“No, but if he knew the twins were in the apartment, he was more than fine with killing them,” she said. “It was lucky for them they were both in the kitchen and somewhat protected by all the hard surfaces in there.”
Jethro looked around at the apartment. “The bomb was inthe fireplace.”
“Yep,” Millie said. “Any idea how he got in here?”
“No, but he’s Fletcher and he’s as well trained as am I,” Jethro said. There had never been a mark he hadn’t been able to infiltrate. “The bomb might’ve been there for days, too. He was excellent at masking explosives.” Yet more evidence that nowhere was truly safe. The most surveillance cameras did was record the wrongdoings. “Have you dumped the cameras I have placed aroundthe property?”
She rolled her eyes. “HDD got to them before I could.”
