“Could this encounter be a coincidence?Does he live anywhere near there?”
“I’m not sure.”Winter spoke up.“I can’t be sure but I got the impression he lives on the far side of town.”She shifted on Bishop’s lap, trying to get a little more comfortable.He wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her a little closer, then took one of her hands in his and held it.As much as she hated looking weak, she liked that he wanted to comfort her.
A knock sounded on the door, drawing her attention to a man who stood at least six feet tall, if not a bit taller, his shoulders nearly as wide as the door and hands so big they looked like his fists would be the size of volleyballs.He wore the same cut as all the other Sons of Sin except the patches on his shoulder read “Hammer” and “Tech Sgt.”Winter could only be glad he would never use them against her.Though, she couldn’t help but wonder how freaking tough and mean Bishop had to be in order to have beaten this man out as Sgt.at Arms.
“Just the man we were waiting for,” Bulldog said.“Come in and close the door, we’ve had a couple of developments and could use your expertise.”
The newcomer did as he was bid, then sat in the chair next to Winter and Bishop.
“Hammer, this is Winter, it’s her phone you’ve been working on.Did you find anything?”
“Nice to meet you,” Hammer said, holding out a hand in her direction.
She leaned forward enough to shake, then leaned back again.
“Nice meeting you too.”See, she could be polite.
“Speaking of...”He reached into the inside pocket of his vest and pulled out two phones.He glanced at them then held one out to her.“Here you are.I didn’t find anything that shouldn’t be there.I’m not sure how he’s tracking you.”
“That’s why I called you,” Bulldog said, looking toward Winter and Bishop and giving her an almost imperceptible jerk of his head toward Hammer.
Bishop recounted what had happened at the restaurant, while Hammer frowned.As Bishop talked, Hammer’s frown turned into a scowl.
“Which location?”he asked when Bishop was through talking.
“Tempe, why?”
Hammer lifted one shoulder and let it fall.
“Well, he lives in Sun City and works over near Camelback Mountain.If it was the location on Indian School, then it might have been a chance encounter, but as far as I know, he has no reason to be in Tempe, unless it was to see what you’re up to.”
“But how did he know where I was?”Winter asked, trying and failing to keep her frustration out of her voice.
“Hmm...”Hammer cranked his head from side to side, cracking his neck.“You didn’t have your phone, you weren’t in your car, so the usual suspects are out.I assume you’ve already considered bags and clothing?”He looked from her to Bishop, then to Bulldog and back again.
Winter nodded.“We’ve considered them and can’t figure it out.That’s why Bulldog got you involved.”
Hammer nodded slowly, the expression on his face and the distant look in his eye telling her he was thinking about the options.
“Any other electronics you carry with you?Earbuds, a smart tag on your keys?Anything?”
Winter shook her head.“Not that I can think of.I do have a tag on my keys, but I didn’t have them with me.”
“Where are they?”
“In his room upstairs.”She tilted her head to Bishop.
“So, let’s go through what you had with you.Take a look at it all and make sure there’s nothing imbedded in it that’s somehow sending him a signal.”
Not seeing an alternative, she agreed.Either they would figure it out or they would be back to square one.Well, not exactly, they had eliminated several things, so maybe square two would be more accurate.
“I’m sure it’s not my cut.This is the first time I’ve worn it since I got to town.I have no doubt he’s never seen it.”
“Okay, what else you got?”
She went through everything but her underwear, pointing out why she thought it couldn’t be that item, and her reasoning.
“What about jewelry?”Hammer asked when she was done.
