A bitter taste filled Dash’s mouth. When a copper tang hit, he realized it was blood. He didn’t remember biting anything, but his jaws had clenched so hard, clearly he had.
Jackson waved the file again. “After I dug up what you asked for, I sat this in front of the higher ups. I’ve been tasked with gathering more intel for a potential broader investigation into Crenshaw. While I’m here, I’ve also got the greenlight to work with you on your missing person’s case.”
“Great,”Dash said without as much enthusiasm as it deserved. Thishadbeen a plan formulating in his head. Gather enough for probable cause and get the Black Guard involved—only he hadn’t anticipated doing it with Jackson Powell at his side.
And the plan had been for the missing alphas, not Crenshaw.
Missing alphas he had yet to verify.
“Good,” Jackson said before he glanced around Dash’s living room. He turned to Dash and smiled, another that looked forced. “Either way, we get to work together again. If that’s alright with you?”
“Sounds like I need to be alright with it.”
“You don’tneed tobe anything,” Jackson said, irritation in his gaze. “I thought you’dwantsome help, considering. You are the one who called me, remember?”
He’d be a fool not to offer Jackson a position with Keller Security. The man was brilliant. But they both knew those offers had been made simply because of an old friendship neither could let go of. At least, he’d assumed they both knew it.
“I appreciate the extra help.” Dash crossed his arms over his chest again. “Where are you staying while you’re here?”
“Not going to offer me the guest room, Dashiell?”
Dash met Jackson’s gaze.“No.”
“Well, damn,” Jackson said before planting himself in a living room chair. He grinned at Dash. “No worries. The company has me set up at a hotel near the Municipal Center.”
The company.Dash hadn’t called the Black Guard that in a long time.
“Good,” Dash said. “Now that I’m retired, do I get to peek at that fat file or not?”
Jackson’s broad smile—a real one this time—emerged. “Knock yourself out.”
He tossed the file onto the coffee table and a few sheets spread outside of it. Dash walked over and sat on the couch. Opening it, he scanned the first few pages but didn’t see anythingtooout of the ordinary. He was a good third of the way through before things started getting good. Dash scribbled notes here and there as he read, page after page offering new morsels that made his mouth water.
“What’s this?” Dash asked, sliding out a sheet and turning it towards Jackson.
Glancing past Jackson, he noted the sun low in the sky through the windows behind the man.
“I’m not completely sure. The email seemed strange—maybe in code? I haven’t seen anything else so far that has the same vibe, though. I kept it, just in case.”
Dash glanced at his watch and jumped to his feet.“Fuck!”
“What?”Jackson asked, his brows furrowing. He sat relaxing with a beer he’d snagged from Dash’s fridge, but his body was poised and ready to jump into action.
“I have a meeting across the province that’s supposed to start in five minutes.” Dash went in search of his phone and sent aquick text to Emerson. Turning back to Jackson, he sighed. “I’ve got to go. Can we meet up tomorrow so I can read through the rest?”
“Sure,” Jackson drained the last of the beer and set the bottle on the coffee table. “What’s this meeting?”
“Nothing really.”
“You sure?” Jackson asked.
“I’vereallygot to go.”
Jackson walked closer, standing an inch away. “I know your tells. Something’s up.What’s nothing?”
“I’m meeting with a patrolman with the local Red Guard. He might have details about the missing alphas.”
“Alphas?I thought you were only looking for one?”
