“What other case?”
Whitaker looked down at his phone. “Look, you haven’t heard from Tanner? He texted me over an hour ago. He should be back here any second. I’m sure he’ll explain everything then.”
Bree’s eyes narrowed. “What would he need to explain, Richard? Where is he?”
Whitaker shifted on his feet. “I think it’s better if you hear it from him. I’m sure he’ll—”
Bree’s phone chirped in her hand. She looked down and saw a text from Tanner. She shooed Whitaker away with her hand. “You’re off the hook, poker face. I’ll get him to tell me what’s going on.”
“Good,” Whitaker muttered, and took off in a hurry.
I need something from you.
Bree’s brows furrowed at the message. Tanner usually started texts with a greeting when they hadn’t been around each other. She shot back one of her own.
Everything okay? What do you need?
I need you to sit down at the air gap system and make sure no one is paying attention to you.
Bree froze and stared down at the phone in her hand. If she’d had to have guessed she would’ve said that Tanner wouldn’t even have known what an air gap computer system was, much less that they had one here. It was an internal system, not connected to the internet.
Are you there?
The terse words had her moving quickly to the terminal. Tanner needed something from her and if she could give it, she would. She could ask questions later.
A few seconds later she was in front of the system, using the DOS operating function to get to a workable spot on the computer. She typed back on her phone.
Okay, I’m on. What do you need?
She waited, but nothing came back up on her phone. Finally a near-silent beep on the computer itself got her attention.
And two tiny words.
Hello, Bethany.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bree stared at the screen. How was Jeter contacting her through this system? It was a closed system, not utilized for communication outside of the Dallas law enforcement department.
Had Jeter somehow found a way to hack into their system from the hospital? She thought he was still unconscious, but obviously not.
Her cell phone buzzed in her hand, a video call from Tanner. She needed to let him know that Jeter was somehow in the law enforcement system. God only knew what he could do from there.
She was still staring at the computer screen when she pressed the receive button for Tanner’s call. Was there any way to trace Jeter through the air gap system?
“Tanner, we’ve got a problem. Jeter has somehow—”
Her stomach dropped as she finally looked away from the computer and at the screen of her phone. It wasn’t Tanner’s brown eyes looking back at her. It was the face from her nightmares.
She stared at the picture in silence, unable to even force any words past her throat that seemed suddenly completely closed. If she could figure out anything to say anyway.
Why did Jeter have Tanner’s phone?
The computer screen beeped softly in front of her.
Put in headphones. If you’re interested in seeing Deputy Dempsey again alive.
Bree couldn’t stop the small cry that escaped her. She reached down into her bag and pulled out the headphones, placing them in her ears.
