Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“No problem. She won’t leave my sight, and this ward has several officers posted within.”


Tyler slapped Gunnar’s shoulder. “She’s also not to leave this building, or this floor. She doesn’t speak to anyone, and you don’t listen to any request she makes to go through re-identification without me. If she tries to bring up the subject, I want to know.” Tyler’s gaze sharpened on hers. “Have I covered everything?”

Jeez, she hated how efficient he was.

“Yeah, sure. Idiot.”

Brigs chuckled. “Sorry, inappropriate.”

Tyler ran a finger under her chin. “Take a seat with Gunnar. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I’m sure you will. If I holler, make sure you come.” With a huff, she turned on her heel and followed Gunnar to the waiting room where he chose seats in the far corner.

“Gunnar, I’d still like to talk about re-identification.” She crossed her legs as she sat.

“Are you trying to get me into trouble? I heard your man.”

“Yeah, but I’m the client, not Tyler. Would you at least hear me out?”

“I’ll give you one minute.”

She straightened, rubbing her hands together.

“Wait. I hear someone.” His gaze shot to entrance. A detective strode in. “Nope, he’s fine. He’ll be here to interview Drake’s mother.”

The detective raised a silver badge and flashed it Gunnar’s way before heading across to Drake’s mother. The woman eyed the detective, her mouth twisting to the side.

Whoa. Something about the woman was still infinitely familiar. Sure, she had the same slanted eyes as Drake and high cheekbones, but there was more. It was as if she’d seen her before.

The detective cleared his throat. “Ma’am, I’ve spoken to your son, and you’ve given me conflicting information. Your name is not what you told us.”

The lady stood and shoved her hands on her hips. “I agreed to an interview. I know I gave Ladd Hyena Drake’s address, but that’s not a crime. Drake’s father wanted it, so I found it.”

“Your son says your word’s not trustworthy. Give me your name.”

“Of course he’d say that, but he’s completely screwed up. As it is, he’s been in juvie and he’s only eighteen.”

Why on earth had she even come here when she clearly didn’t care about Drake?

She stood and took a step toward the woman. “Drake’s a friend of mine. Who are you? Why have you come?”

Drake’s mother spun and faced her, her gaze zeroing in. “You!”

Holy moly, she’d stood behind Taita Senior in the news footage Brigs had sent. How the hell was Taita Senior’s daughter Drake Hyena’s mother?

The woman screeched and lunged toward her.

Gunnar dived and tackled her.

Obscenities flew, her shrieks pinging against the walls. She kicked and clawed for her freedom.

Tyler sprinted into the room, Brigs, Ben and Gilchrist right behind him. He ran to her and hauled her into his arms. “What’s going on?”

“Drake’s mother is Taita Senior’s daughter. Drake said she was into computers, but I never thought like this.”

His hold tightened like steel on her as he scrutinized the woman. “Mia Taita leaked your information to the reporter.”

“This is such a mess. The entire family was cleared of any involvement at the beginning. Certainly none of them matched my description, but–” She clapped a hand to her mouth. “Oh my goodness. Kern Hyena needs a kidney transplant. He’s not family.”

“Damn it, you said the gunman had yellowish skin.”

“I never connected it to kidney failure.”

Drake’s mother’s fought Gunnar. “Get off me. I want access to a phone. I want to call my lawyer. Now.”

“You’re not going anywhere, lady.” Gunnar kept her face planted to the ground and his knee shoved into her back as the detective cuffed her.

She screamed, her gaze wild on Lydia’s. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Why Drake? Why are you here?”

Her gaze spat fire. “I promised Kern I’d find out where Drake was and I did, but he won’t stop using me until he has that boy’s kidney.”

No wonder Drake wanted nothing to do with her. “I hope you rot in hell. Drake deserves better than you.”

“It’s not illegal to find someone. I’ve done nothing wrong, and I’ll have my lawyer prove it.” Her cuffs rattled as she yanked on them.

“Just save it.” Gunnar heaved her around and pulled her to the doors. The detective followed Gunnar from the room.

Like sentinels, Ben and Gilchrist surrounded her and Tyler.

She shook, all that had happened hitting her hard.

“Here’s Taita’s purse.” Brigs leaned over the chair the woman had sat in and snatched it up. He tossed it to Ben.