Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kip sat with Wes on a bench outside the clinic. “We did an imminent danger search next door. The Knolls are gone. Hartung left a message; he is waiting for a warrant to search the premises. We found shell casings—military ordnance, 5.56mm M855.”
“Finch heard them call Ellie by name,” Wes said.Why didn’t she tell me?He took a stabilizing breath. “I’ve got to notify Hazel Cortez’s family.”
“It’s done.” Troy crutched toward them. “Gwen North and I made the call.”
“She’s supposed to be resting,” Wes sighed.
“Yeah, well, she took herself off leave. Did you expect her to stay down?” Troy asked.
Wes shook his head. A familiar black Humvee pulled up in front of them. “This can’t be good. I thought it was only going to be Mike.” A wave of nausea ran through Wes.
“You still get queasy when you speak to Kieran?” Kip laughed.
“Damn straight. You know how he starts. ‘Now Alamo, is this the way you want to handle this?’ And if I say yes, he makes me think I’m about to cause the sky to fall in.” Wes took a deep breath. “And three deaths and multiple critical equals a sky falling.”
“You do realize, he’d never ask if he thought you were screwing something up. He’d just kick your ass,” Kip said.
Kieran Chase stepped down from the driver’s seat. “Alamo, Greece, Acrobat,” he said to his three senior executives.
“Boss,” Kip said while giving Wes a shove.
Mike climbed from the front passenger seat. Wes was focused on the tall, lanky man who climbed from the rear passenger side, Ray Ban aviators covering his eyes.Fed.
“Wes Crockett, Kip Brennan, Troy Bremen, this is Lance Starr,” Mike said.
“US Marshal.” Wes glared.
“Have we met?” Lance raised his sunglasses.
“Don’t pull that crap. You took over Eleanor West’s case after her parents died. I’m sure my security clearance covers this conversation,” Wes snapped.
“It doesn’t cover my relationship with Ms. West.” Lance took a step toward Wes.
Kieran placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled. “You two want a ruler? Measure your dicks and get inside,” he barked.
Mike led the way into the empty staff room and slammed the door behind the group. “Mr. Witsec.” Troy sat. “Speak your piece.”
“How many more know about me?” Lance frowned.
“As many as I deem necessary.” Kieran sat.
“Where is Eleanor?” Lance asked.
Relationship, my ass.“She’s lying in an emergency bed in our clinic, one gunshot wound to her flank.” Wes glared.
“Oh, God. Is she conscious? How bad?” Lance pleaded, “I want to see her.”
“She’s conscious. We don’t know how serious it is. No visitors allowed.” Wes followed Starr’s eyes toward the cuffs of his pants. “Yeah, Starr, that’s her blood.”
Kieran lifted his briefcase into his lap. “Lance, tell them what you told me this morning.”
The Marshal cringed at the use of his first name instead of his title. Wes knew that was why Kieran used it. “Eleanor Drake was fourteen when she reported to authorities that her parents, Malachi and Dinah, were selling weapons to local militia groups. They were the leaders of the Divine End, also known as Army of the Divines. She was instructed to return to the compound she lived in after verifying the weaponry...”
“Verified the weaponry—she brought them an anti-tank shell,” Wes spat. He held out his hands like Eleanor did telling her story.
“A live shell?” Kip shook his head. Wes nodded grimly.
