“I know what you mean.” Elisa sighed, and Rojas wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Forte leaned back in the hospital bed and ignored the twinge of pain in his back. Bruises would probably be showing up for days. “Captain Jones, I think the number of people in the room is going to remain steady at this point.”
Captain Jones exchanged a glance with Lyn and rolled his shoulders. “The intel you gathered by investigating Labs-Anders Corporation turned out to be valuable.”
Sophie turned and stared at Forte. He studiously kept his gaze on Captain Jones. “I’m relieved.”
“The video capture allowed us to confirm several operatives we’ve been investigating and looking to tie to unresolved cases. The connection to Labs-Anders is extremely helpful.”
Ky pushed away from the wall to stand next to Captain Jones. “The files Sophie audited were account records for at least one executive of Labs-Anders Corporations. There were transactions between private accounts and organizations also under investigation by the federal government.”
The odds had definitely not been in their favor there. Not only had the mercenary group Captain Jones had been investigating held a grudge with Cruz and Hope’s Crossing Kennels, but Sophie had stumbled across valuable proof of their activities.
“The account records Sophie audited, those will help build your case?” Forte waited until Captain Jones nodded. “And the video I captured?”
“Allows us to go after those individuals directly.” Captain Jones looked pleased, actually. “We wanted to go to the root of this issue, but it’ll be good to clean up the stragglers, too. This gives us key evidence to ensure this specific group is shut down permanently.”
Which meant Sophie was safe. Forte leaned his head back and allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. There were others who’d experience a similar moment out there, maybe more than they knew about. The people involved with Labs-Anders Corporation had joined either because they’d been warped individuals attracted to the company or because they’d been coerced. Hell, Zerta had attempted to threaten Forte, too. When a person had family, friends, loved ones, those people were points of leverage.
Labs-Anders Corporation had to be eliminated.
“You went in there with a camera on you?” Sophie asked him quietly.
He opened his eyes, drank in the sight of her beautiful face. “No, I didn’t.”
Her gracefully arched brows drew together. “Then how?”
Cruz cut in before Forte could answer. “We all got involved with Labs-Anders Corporation because Atlas’s camera had been on and capturing video feed during an unsanctioned interrogation. Seemed fitting to send Haydn in with a camera installed in the harness that holds his prosthetic on him. The dogs captured the video. The handlers were just providing escort.”
Captain Jones nodded.
“We’re done now.” At least, as far as Forte was concerned. They were all safe now and free of the shadow of this organization and the investigation.
“Your collaboration has been appreciated.” Captain Jones stepped toward the door. “It’ll take some time for the prosecution to complete, but we have the right people in custody. It’s only a matter of time, and for now, all of you can get back to your individual lives.”
The captain opened the door and exited. Lyn exchanged glances with Cruz and followed her stepfather, probably to have an extra word with him. Their familial relationship had been strengthening incrementally.
Kymani nodded to Forte and exited, too. They’d touch base once Forte was out of the hospital. With Captain Jones taking over the investigation, Ky had probably handed over all of his findings. They’d wrap up any last questions Ky needed answering.
Rojas sighed. “You know, I’m thinking we’re going to go find some coffee.”
He and Elisa took themselves out of the room.
No. Not obvious or anything.
It was several long seconds before he dared to look at Sophie. He’d been half afraid she’d find a reason to leave, too. He’d deserve it if she did.
She was staring down at the sheets, fussing with wrinkles. “You did this for me, didn’t you?”
If he said no, he’d be lying. If he told her what she expected to hear, she’d wallow in guilt. “It needed to be done, for a lot of people.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted any of you to go in there.” A tear fell and hit the sheet. Followed by another and another. “You couldn’t have been sure you’d come back home alive.”
“No. But then again, I wasn’t sure I’d come back in one piece when I left to join the military, either.” As soon as he said it, he cursed himself.