Ian looked at Scott. “Charlottesville is on the way to Richmond. Two birds, one stone, all that. We’ll talk to her and then go talk to the Baker brother.”
“Good plan,” Scott agreed. “Anything else on Clay?”
“No,” Brigid said. “I’ve done what I can. But unless we open an investigation, and since one of our agents is involved we might have jurisdiction to do...”
“It’s a state crime,” Scott said. “We don’t have jurisdiction.”
Millie leaned into his side, and he slid an arm over her shoulder, not caring that everybody in the room would witness the intimate act. Unless they were complete morons, the group already saw the connection. Why play games with some of the best investigators in the world? “Do you have anything on Werner Dearth?”
“Yes,” Brigid said. “Because HDD is actively investigating him, I spoke with a couple of friends at headquarters. They’re narrowing it down with his financials. The guy is pretty good at hiding transactions and committing fraud.” Brigid turned and typed again, bringing up a series of documents. “So far, we haven’t found anything that would indicate payment to the hit squad of three that attacked you. I have their backgrounds, but according to Scott, you guys already heard all about them.”
Wolfe leaned forward and snatched another cinnamon roll off the platter. “We need to discover who hired them and then knock down their door.”
Scott shook his head. “Dearth is the only person who comes to mind. I mean, I’ve worked several cases with your HDD Deep Ops team, but I can’t think of anybody who would hire a hit squad to kill Millie or me.”
“Me either,” Millie said. “Dearth did threaten us, and he has called me a couple of times.”
Brigid blanched.
Scott stiffened, his instincts rising. “What?”
Brigid looked at the papers again. “Late yesterday afternoon, Werner Dearth filed a complaint against the Homeland Defense Department and is going to file additional pleadings next week, suing for harassment.”
“Harassment?” Millie’s head snapped up.
“You’re specifically named,” Brigid said. “He said you two conspired and colluded to entrap him and that you, with the full force of the federal government behind you, bugged his offices in order to help your lover with a divorce case.”
Millie dropped her face into her hands. “Oh, for Pete’s sake,” she muttered.
Scott sat back. “I take it he’ll be filing a complaint with the Bar Association?”
“Already did,” Brigid murmured. “You should receive notice any moment.”
“Wonderful,” Scott said. “We’ll deal with that later. For now, we need to know if he hired the hit squad.”
Brigid grimaced. “So far, I’ve got nothing.”
Scott cleared his throat. “Let’s split into teams. Wolfe, Ian, and Oliver, you go speak with one of the possible drugging victims in Charlottesville and then track down Glen Baker in Richmond. Millie and I will seek out the other potential victim in Charleston, and I’d like to speak with relatives or known associates of Clay Baker and the three men from the hit squad since they’re all from that city.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s not even noon, so we could rendezvous back here for a late dinner tonight?”
Wolfe watched his cat pounce on Ian’s knee near his plate of cookie crumbs. “I’m going with Millie.” His jaw visibly hardened. “I know you’re tough, but people keep shooting at you. Together, we can flank her better.”
Millie shook her head. “I’m armed and can take care of myself.”
“Didn’t say you couldn’t,” Wolfe replied, snagging the cat off Ian’s leg. “Also not negotiating.” He stood and moved into the kitchen, taking a bowl from the cupboard and milk off the table.
Millie glared at him, then turned her attention on Scott, her eyebrows up in clear question.
Scott wanted Wolfe’s company if he allowed Millie to go. “We might need to split up in Charleston if there are enough associates of the three men from the hit squad, and I’d like to do a broad search. It makes sense for Wolfe to accompany us.” He tilted his head. “Brigid? Are you solid staying here and running a sort of headquarters?”
“I am, and I’m armed,” Brigid said breezily. “I’ll cover Millie’s aunt Mae until JT returns.”
“I really appreciate it,” Millie murmured, her voice thick.
Brigid nodded. “No problem. Why don’t you all hit the road, and I’ll text you names and addresses? In addition, if possible, I’ll call ahead and see if folks will meet with you.”
“Sounds good.” Scott stood and stretched, catching Millie watching his chest muscles. Interesting. “Let’s roll out in ten minutes.”
Brigid’s phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen. The redhead stiffened, turning toward the television mounted above the white stone fireplace. “Um, Millie? Can you turn on the Prism Media Network station?”
