After slipping on disposable gloves, Stryker examined the blackmail envelope and its contents. “This sucks.”
“I’ve got a giant target on my back. For all we know, he’ll be coming after you next.”
“Have you told the guys?”
“No.”
Stryker dragged a laptop off his desk and started typing. “Offshore accounts are hard as hell to hack into. That’s why they’re so popular.” He looked at Dakota. “This might take days and I might not be able to hack in.”
“You’re good. You’ll get it done.”
“Thanks, bro. What’s your strategy when the ransom isn’t paid?”
“Make sure my daughter and her nanny are safe.”
“What about you?”
“As soon as I figure out who he is, I’m gonna rip his fucking heart out.”
* * *
Despite not hearing from Patricia Stearns, Providence had shown up for work at The Dungeon on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stryker didn’t know her job was a cover and she wasn’t about to bail on him. But she was treading water, at best.
The pit in her stomach hadn’t gone away. Her decision to sleep with her target could result in a misconduct violation. She’d be removed from the case and placed at that desk job Patricia had warned her about. Being Dakota’s sole alibi didn’t help her situation, especially if he was the vigilante the FBI believed him to be.
Dakota hadn’t shown up at the club, nor had he reached out to her. She kept telling herself it was for the better. But she didn’t feel that way.
On Thursday, she got a text from her dad. “Mom is worse, but won’t go to doc. Call me when you can.”
She phoned him right back. “What’s going on, Dad?”
“Hey, honey. I’m hoping you can talk some sense into your mom. The nausea has gotten so bad, she’s had to cancel a bunch of appointments with her patients, and she never does that.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“She doesn’t want me to know, but I heard her throwing up. And the dizziness is getting worse.”
“Where is she?”
“Camped out in the family room. She insists she’s just overexcited because Randy is back, but I don’t think that would make her sick.”
“I’ll swing by on my way to work.”
“That would be great. I made her an appointment for next week, just in case we could get her to change her mind. Please don’t make a big deal about it, okay?”
“I’ll be chill,” Providence said and hung up.
Later that afternoon, when she arrived at her parents’ house, Randy was sweeping out the empty garage. He extended both arms, gesturing at the empty space. “What do you think? Am I pretty damn amazing, or what?”
Providence laughed. “I’m impressed. You guys work fast.”
“What guys?” He chuckled. “I did this. Pocketed a wad of cash, too.”
“Where’s Lizzie?”
“At work. She teaches preschoolers, remember? We already told you that.”
She couldn’t miss his annoyed tone. Providence had forgotten about her brother’s short fuse. Rather than respond, she stayed silent.
