Lucy was surprised to find Kane eating breakfast with Sean when she came downstairs Wednesday morning. She kissed his cheek. “Nice surprise.”
“Passing through.”
“Almost got himself shot last night,” Sean said.
Kane snorted and sipped black coffee.
Lucy poured herself a cup of coffee and added sugar. Sean dished up a plate of scrambled eggs, ham, and cheese for her. She sat down at the island and said, “Are you here because of the shooting Brad is investigating?” She liberally sprinkled hot sauce on her eggs and ignored Sean’s distressed expression. She liked spicy.
“Partly,” he said.
She waited for more, but Kane didn’t add to his answer. She’d grown accustomed to his brief communication style. “Ryan Quiroz has been working with him on it, he’s kept me up to speed.”
“Good.” Kane stood, drained his coffee, and said, “I need to head out. Thanks for the room and board.”
“Next time, don’t touch my security.”
Kane turned to Lucy with a half smile. “Sean hates that I’m as good as he is.”
“You’re not,” Sean said.
“You did nail me with the motion detectors. They weren’t in the pool house two months ago.”
Lucy watched the exchange, intrigued about what had happened last night while she was sleeping. “I’m heading to headquarters,” she said. “Do you need a ride?”
“No, thanks. I borrowed a truck.” He glanced at Sean, then said to Lucy, “Watch your back.”
She didn’t like his serious tone. “Okay. Any specific reason why?”
“Sean will fill you in.” Kane walked out.
“Sean?” She looked at him.
“He’s concerned that you’re the only one who’s seen Tobias.”
“Me and Michael.”
“But you’re the one who looked at photos.”
“So? No one knows I was there.”
“Kane’s being cautious. He always is, but this time I think he’s justified.”
There had to be more to it than Kane’s natural vigilance. “Why?”
“Because Kane came here last night.”
“And?”
“And I don’t need another reason. You don’t know Kane like I do. He doesn’t just stop by to talk. He went to see Brad Donnelly as well. Kane likes federal agents less than I do. A call would have sufficed, but he wanted to be here. I don’t think he’s going far. What do you know about this gang hit the other day?”
“Only what Brad told us the other night. Ryan said they’d ID’d one of the shooters as belonging to a different gang, possibly a rival of Trejo. I’ll be careful, I always am. And I’m partnered up with Barry. He’s good.”
“I’d rather you were with Nate or Ryan or MacKenzie.”
“Why? Because Nate and Kenzie were in the military and Ryan was a street cop?”
“Partly. But mostly because I know them. I don’t know Barry Crawford from Adam, and I didn’t like him when I met him.”
Lucy understood Sean’s protectiveness, but this was going a bit far. “Then trust me. Barry’s a smart guy. Yes, a little by the book and a stickler for protocol, but he’s good.”
“Of course I trust you. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“It’s Brad who needs to be careful. He’s DEA. He’s the one they wanted dead.”
“But Brad didn’t see Tobias.”
“And Tobias doesn’t know I saw him.” They were going around and around on this and would never come to an agreement. “Sean. Please. I know you worry, but I’m a trained federal agent. Better, Jack trained me before I even joined the FBI. I take precautions. I’m not even working with Brad anymore. I’m working an old-fashioned murder investigation.”
“There’s nothing simple about this murder investigation.”
“That we can agree on.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I love you. I’ll see you tonight, if not sooner.”
*
As soon as Lucy left, Sean went to his office and took his special laptop out of the safe. Overkill, perhaps, but this laptop could get him into a lot of trouble.
He booted it up using his own secure server and ran a program to search out the worm he’d installed yesterday in Mona Hill’s computer. His cell phone rang a minute later and for a split second he thought he’d screwed up and this was Nate telling him that the FBI was on their way to arrest him.
Of course it wasn’t. First, he didn’t screw up. Second, the FBI didn’t work that fast.
It was his old friend, PI Renee Mackey.
“You’re fast and wonderful, as usual,” Sean said when he picked up his cell phone.
“Don’t forget it, sugar,” Renee said. “I just sent you a report, with pictures, but thought I’d call and give you the four-one-one.”