“The Greek god?” His smirk told her he knew exactly what she meant. And that he’d noticed the anger shaking her voice.
She didn’t take the bait. “The oil platform.”
He settled in the armchair across from the sofa and reached for a coffee mug atop it. “It’s the largest oil platform ever constructed in these waters and has more safety stops built into it than any other as well. Before it was approved to be erected, I wanted to make sure we didn’t have another Deepwater Horizon on our hands off our own shore. Has something happened?”
She considered how much to tell him. It was likely Homeland Security would contact him anyway. “It might be the target of a terrorist plot.”
His eyes widened. “Who would do such a thing?”
“I don’t have details yet, just suspicions.” She told him about Keith’s email and subsequent disappearance. “Reid is doing a documentary on the platform, and he’s hoping to find out more. I’ve called it in to Homeland Security as well.”
“You’re talking to Reid?”
She wanted to leap to her feet and make for the door, but she drew in a deep breath. “I’m not going to talk to you about Reid or Will.”
He banged his cup down hard enough, some coffee sloshed over the lip onto the table. “Oh, get over it, Jane. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. It all turned out okay. You have a relationship with your son now.”
It was all she could do not to pummel him with her fists. “I missed out on fifteen years, Dad!”
He leaned forward and pointed a finger at her. “And you’re alive. If I hadn’t lied to you, you’d be in an unmarked grave in Michigan.”
“There would have been time to get him.”
“You don’t know that! You didn’t see all the carnage scattered around us. After the birth, you were weak and shocked from loss of blood. If you think back, I’m sure you don’t even remember much about our escape.”
“You cheated me, Dad, and you haven’t even apologized. You’re so sure you were right, and you don’t care how much it hurt me. How much it changed me and made me afraid of any kind of normal life.” She rose and swept her hand toward the window where the top of his bunker gleamed in the sunshine. “And you’re no better! Hiding guns and food for a coming apocalypse. What kind of life is it when you live in fear?”
His narrowed gaze skewered her. “There’s nothing wrong with being prepared.”
“Was that wall around your heart the real reason Elizabeth betrayed you?”
His hazel eyes blazed under his bushy white brows. “I never want to hear her name again, and I’m surprised you would bring her up. She’s a murderer and a liar. If you want to talk about her, you can leave now.”
She spun on her heel and stalked to the door, which she slammed behind her. Parker came when she called, and she couldn’t wait to get away from her dad and his smug certainty he’d done the right thing. She texted Ruby asking for a meeting at Pelican Brews, then drove off with a plume of dust behind her.
* * *
Shadows loomed in the dark warehouse. He walked quickly to where the other two waited in the back. His boots clacked along the concrete floor and echoed against the tall ceiling. It sounded like someone was following him, but he knew he was the last to arrive.
He’d made sure of it, before he slid out of his truck and came inside. He wasn’t the most important piece of this puzzle to the Boss, but he knew his role would be foundational. He was the cleanup guy, the one who ensured everything happened as it should. It wasn’t a role he usually embraced, but this was his quest. He couldn’t rest until justice was served.
“There you are.” The Boss pointed to an empty metal chair. “Kind of you to join us.” He lifted a brow.
He smiled at the Boss’s displeasure and slid into the end seat without a reply.
The Boss focused his attention on the IT guy. “We’re ready for our event?”
“I am, sir,” the blond IT guy said. “It’s ready when you are. I can schedule it sooner if you like.”
“No, no. I have my reasons for the timing. This meeting is to ensure there are no hiccups.”
He was likely the only other person who knew the reason for the date. The other guy was a hired gun, whereas it was very personal for him and the Boss.
The Boss glanced at him. “You’re quite sure our lark is dead?”
He fingered the small scar on his upper lip. “Quite sure. I have pictures if you like.”
The Boss wiggled his fingers for the phone. He scrolled through the pictures and grunted with satisfaction. “Good work. You do realize there’s an ongoing investigation?”
“I assumed there would be, but they have no body.”
“That won’t stop the chief of police. Don’t underestimate her because she’s petite. She’s very smart and focused, and she doesn’t give up. We may need to think outside the box to dissuade her.” The Boss tapped the pen against his chin. “She has a son. A threat to him might do the trick.”
“I don’t hurt kids, Boss.”
“This one is fifteen, almost grown. If you can’t do what I tell you, I’ll find someone who can.”
“Fifteen is not a kid. Should I injure him or take him out?”
“I’d rather not kill him because that will have her on our tail like a small tiger. I want to discourage her from looking too hard.”
“If she’s as smart and focused as you say, a deterrent might spur her into looking harder.” He didn’t think the Boss was as smart as he thought he was, but he kept his opinion to himself.
“I just need to slow her down until after May 12. See what you can do.”
The Boss dismissed them, and he walked back to his truck. He’d have to think of something to deter her, but it might not be easy based on the lady chief’s description.
Five
Jane’s temper hadn’t cooled when she jerked open the door to Pelican Brews, but the scent of espresso and pastries took her anger down a notch. She scanned the tables and spotted Ruby. The skin under her eyes was dark enough to be mistaken for a domestic injury. Her red shirt was wrinkled as though she’d slept in it. She probably had.
Jane’s gaze went to the figure beside her, and she nearly groaned. Reid again. What was he doing here? Ruby hadn’t said anything about him when Jane had texted with a request for a meeting. After confronting Dad yesterday, Jane wasn’t in the mood for more drama.
Her idiotic pulse sped up at the sight of his tanned head and the muscular arms showing under his black tee. The smile he sent her way freed a flutter of butterflies in her belly.
Reid held up a coffee in his hand, then slid it along the table to an empty seat. She made her way to the corner and stood looking down at the two of them. “Did I miss a memo?”
The acerbic bite to her tone made her sound like a shrew, but she had a feeling Reid had orchestrated this.
She sat as far away from him as she could, but that meant she was looking him square in the face. To hide the irritation she was struggling to control, she bent her head and picked up the coffee cup. “Thanks for the coffee.”