The problem was that she’d just spent hours being grilled by the police who seemed to think she knew more than she did about Damien’s disappearance.By the time she was two hours into the interview, she’d realized the police considered her a suspect.They believed she knew exactly where Damien was hiding.Her denial had fallen on deaf ears.
Tears pricked her eyes.Would calling the police about the shooting at her home help her case or make her situation worse?Bryn wasn’t sure.Either way, staying put wasn’t an option.She slid off the barstool and hurried back outside.She turned away from the parking lot and walked toward the side of the building that was farthest from the road.
“Micah, there’s something going on.I can’t explain now, it’s too complicated, but I don’t want to call the police.I need to get out of here, but my car is back at my house.”
“Don’t go home.”Micah’s blunt statement sounded like an order.“Can you get to the airport in Madison?I can arrange for a rental car to be waiting there for you.”
Glancing around, she tried to ignore the feeling she was being watched.She went around to the back of the building, wrinkling her nose at the awful stench coming from the dumpster.Was the gunman still out there?Or was she just being paranoid?Gathering her scattered thoughts, she forced herself to answer.“Yes.I can get a rideshare to the airport.”
There was a brief pause.“Is it too far for you to walk?”
“I ran into Chicory Park and headed in the opposite direction from the airport.”She had no idea how far she’d gone.“I’m wearing stupid shoes, which makes it difficult to walk long distances.Besides, I feel exposed out here.”
“Okay, then take a rideshare,” Micah said.“I’ll make sure the car is waiting.I want you to head south toward me.We’ll meet someplace halfway, okay?”
“I understand.”She hunched her shoulders against the cold.Her feet were wet and sore from running.Her flat-soled office shoes were not meant for hiking.“But, Micah?Please hurry.I’m scared.”
“I’ll be there as quickly as possible.And don’t be scared.”His voice gentled.“If you need to talk, call me back.”
“Okay.Thanks.”She felt slightly better when she lowered the phone and pulled up a rideshare app.She arranged for a ride that was only five minutes away.Watching the progress of the driver approach the pub on her phone screen, she waited until the car appeared to be pulling into the parking lot before leaving the safety of the building.
The rideshare driver was behind the wheel of a silver sedan.Sprinting across the parking lot, she wrenched the back door open and slid inside.“Horacio?”she asked as she eyed the driver, matching his face with the one on her screen.
“Yes, are you Bryn Sinclair?”The Hispanic driver’s brown eyes met hers in the rearview mirror.“You’re going to the airport?”
“Yes, please.Thanks.”She wanted to scream at him to hurry as he slowly turned around in the parking lot and headed back out onto the road.
After clicking her seatbelt into place, she turned to look behind them, half expecting more gunfire.
But there was nothing but silence.
She tried to relax as Horacio drove toward the airport.She’d only been to the airport a handful of times, but that was only to pick up Damien after his trips.She’d always stayed out in the car, never going inside.She had no idea where the rental car counters were located.
Damien.Just thinking of him made her blood boil.If her boss was guilty of embezzling money from the company, she hoped and prayed that he’d be found and arrested very soon.
Micah Newton pushedthe speed limit as much as he dared as he headed north toward Wisconsin.He didn’t want to get pulled over and knew the cops monitored speeders via the tollway, but every nerve in his body screamed at him to reach Bryn as soon as possible.
What was going on?Who had fired shots at her?As much as he wanted answers, his first call was to his boss, Rex Grayson of Grayson’s Guardians.
“Yeah?”Rex’s voice was wary.
“I’ve got a problem.”Micah got straight to the point.“I’m going to need resources to help Bryn Sinclair out of a jam.”
“Tommy’s younger sister?That Bryn Sinclair?”Rex sounded concerned.“What happened?”
“I’m not sure why, but someone fired shots at her.She took off running, and when she was safe, she called me for help.”Micah moved over to get around a semitruck.“I arranged for a rental car using our corporate account.She’s on her way to the Madison airport now.”
Micah wasn’t too concerned about the money, but he didn’t want to hide anything from his boss either.Rex knew Bryn’s older brother, Tommy, had been killed during the exfiltration that had gone sideways.“That’s fine.But who is after her?And why?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”Micah hated knowing he was so far away.“I just wanted you to know I’m basically hiring us on her behalf.”
“That goes without saying.”Rex shrugged that off, the way Micah knew he would.“We take care of our own.Protecting Bryn is the least we can do.”
“Yeah.”Micah bit back a curse as taillights flared with a traffic jam up ahead.He smacked his palm against the steering wheel.He did not need a construction delay.“I’ve asked her to head south so we can meet halfway.”
“What do you need from me?”Rex asked.“I can see if the other guys are available to help.”
“Don’t worry about that now.I’m the closest, right?”When Rex didn’t argue, he added, “I’ll let you know when I have Bryn.”
