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As I stared at thecharred remains of a trash can that sat in the center of the entryway, I knew that we were going to have to leave the apartment until the trial. Our safe haven had been infiltrated and it was pure luck that we had escaped unscathed.
Symbols of Hezekiah Jordan’s cult were spray painted all over the beige walls, and that wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part was the picture, hundreds of them, strewn all over the floor. Pictures of Tibby, and of the other victims that made my body go cold because not only were they recent pictures, but pictures of their time in the cult ten years ago. It further cemented the fact that Jamie Jordan was very likely the culprit behind these murders, and the fact that we had absolutely no idea where he was. By the time the FBI had arrived, he had fled the building and was in the wind yet again.
“The night guard was chloroformed.” Cobb informed me after he left the circle of agents who were taking pictures of the damage, “he was doing his rounds and someone came up from behind him. Analysts are combing through the footage of tonight to see if we can see which direction he left in.”
“He knew about our security system.” I said, finally voicing the thought that had been rattling around in my head for the past hour. “He was intimately familiar with the fact that there’s a safety feature which will open doors so that first responders can enter the residence. Cobb, if I hadn’t changed the security features he would have walked right in.”
Just the thought made my insides twist with fear. “We’ve got to move to a different safe house, Cobb, and not one in the city.”
Similar fears were clear in Cobb’s expression as well and he nodded his agreement. “I’ll get the process started.”
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Owen’s number. It took a few rings but the beta finally answered with a sleepy: “Hello?”
“Who else uses the same security system as us?” I didn’t have time for greetings. My protective instinct was riding me hard, and I didn’t have it in me to be patient.
“Theo? It’s four o’clock in the morning. What’s going on?” I heard someone murmuring through the phone as the beta’s voice cleared and he tried to wake up fully.
“Someone tried to get into our apartment tonight using the emergency unlock feature. Who uses this security system? Do you need me to wait for you to get on your computer?”
On the other end, I heard Eloise’s panicked voice and several others soothing her. I knew that my omega would be getting a call in about thirty seconds from her friend, so I strode back into the house and into the living room where Aria and Matteo were sitting on the couch with Tibby. Tibby had taken one look at the wreckage earlier and had burst into tears, twenty minutes later and she had pulled herself back together, but her eyes were still red and swollen. I put the phone on speaker before Owen could continue.
Owen said something to Eloise before answering, “Off the top of my head? No, I don't know. Your security is military grade, Theo, it’s not even accessible to most people. It is, however, really popular with tons of federal run institutions. Courthouses, government offices, federal prisons, certain banks....”
He continued listing off places that the security system was used, but I was ignoring him now. My eyes zeroed in on Aria who had gasped as the beta rattled off the different federal institutions.
The female alpha dislodged herself from underneath Tibby’s legs and leapt off of the couch, running for the office, and coming back thirty seconds later holding the age-progressed picture of Jamie Jordan in her hands.
“Owen?” She said loudly so that the phone could pick up her voice, “Is USP Atwater on that list of federal prisons that also use our security system?”
The sound of typing came through the phone, “I can’t figure out exactly which prisons use it exactly. That information isn’t readily available and would take me time to find, but it stands to reason that it would.”
“Okay, how long would it take you to look up a guard?” She asked, I wasn’t sure where she was headed with this, but judging by the look on her face it was nothing good.
“A few minutes, maybe. Why? Who do you want me to look up?”
“Jeremy King.” Turning to me she held up the picture, “I’ve been staring at this picture for the last week, wondering why it looked so familiar and yet not familiar at all. It’s been driving me crazy—but as soon as Owen said prisons....”
“Got it!” Owen crowed triumphantly over the phone. “I’m sending it to your phone Theo. You should get it in 3...2...1....”
My phone buzzed with a text message and I opened up and was greeted by a prison ID photo of a security guard. He was glowering at the camera with an expression that said ‘I’m better than you, and I always will be.’ It oozed narcissism, and an ego the size of the Golden Gate bridge.
“His nose was broken at some point,” Aria pointed at the nose which was incredibly crooked. “And he’s dyed his hair black. But...,” She held the age-progressed photo up next to the phone screen. “There are too many coincidences for it not to be him. Theo, he was the guard who led us into our meeting with Hezekiah Jordan.”
At her words, all of the pieces that hadn’t made any sense before began to fall into place. Hezekiah Jordan barely received letters or visitors. A guard wouldn’t need to do either of those things to have access to him. His understanding of our security systems and how cameras worked at the academy also fit under that as well. The bastard had been right under our noses this entire time.
“Owen, can you look up information about Jeremy King? Send me everything you’ve got.”
“Of course, but first...could you hand the phone to Tibby for a couple of minutes? Eloise is about to choke me to death if she doesn’t speak to her friend.” There was a feminine growl through the speakers of the phone, and I didn’t need to be told twice. I held the phone out to Tibby who quickly took it.
“Hey El,” She said into the receiver.
“Are you okay?” Eloise Taylor’s voice was high and thready, “Are you hurt? Do you need us to come and get you?”
“I’m fine, really. Everyone made sure that I was safe. But you definitely need to calm down or else you’ll go into labor early. You’ve still got a week to go.” There was a murmur of masculine agreement from Eloise’s pack, and a huff from the woman in question.
“I’m okay. The baby isn’t going anywhere for another week. Can I do anything for you?”
