Dex shook his head. “No. Just that she was tired of L.A., and looking for somewhere better. Somewhere that was a technology hub so it would be easy to network and find more work, and somewhere with a good fetish scene.”
Tanner made a general grunt that Dex took for agreement. “We just want to be ready if she bolts this way.” A yawn sounded across the line. “Oh, I talked to Ed Ralston this morning…which reminds me. Several of the people who were targeted last night are members of The Dungeon. There were four injuries in L.A., and one death. With a handful more injuries around the nation. Hopefully none of those will result in additional deaths.”
Dex’s mind recoiled. “What were the incidents that happened here?”
The sound of shuffling papers told him Jason was referencing a list. “In L.A., injuries among members of The Dungeon included a severe knife wound. He made it to the hospital, but died an hour later. The others include a traumatic brain injury from a beating, a few cracked ribs after being hit by a car, and multiple injuries from an apparent fall down three flights of stairs.” Tanner blew out a breath, causing a crackling sound over the phone line. “Anyway, I figured letting Ed Ralston in on those up front would allow him to clamp down on any panic within the club. After all, it’s one day after Stanton’s murder, and now there are four more members attacked and injured, with one dead. That might cause some concern among the members.” He paused. “As for Ralston, he seemed so concerned we don’t suspect him of anything that it’s making me suspect him. Is there anyone else there who set off your alarm bells?”
Dex thought back and then shook his head. “No. There were a few horrible Doms I met. Senator Balkins, for one, but I didn’t have a chance to talk to him other than saving Kate from a night with him. And you already know about Stanton.”
Tanner’s yawn sounded over the line again. “Balkins is still fine, as far as we know.”
Dex blew out a breath. Balkins was an ass, and there was a tiny bit of him that wouldn’t have minded if he had been on the main hit list. But the fact that he was still healthy might say something too.
“You sound like shit, Jason. Why don’t you get some sleep, and I’ll make my way home?”
“All right, Dex. Get back here as soon as you can. I have someone watching your place in Phoenix to make sure it’s secure. Why don’t you go straight to Club Desire, and I’ll meet you there?”
Dex shook his head, convinced he hadn’t heard correctly. Something else was going on here. “Jason?” He hadn’t meant it to come out as a question, but he did have lots of them he was hoping his boss could answer. “I’m fine with that, but why didn’t you ask me to meet you at the FBI office, downtown? It seems like there are a few puzzle pieces missing.”
“Sorry, Dex. We aren’t sure if you’ve been made or not, but just in case, we want to keep your FBI life and the rest of your life very separate while we sort this out. We can discuss it in detail when you get back.
“Wait until you get to Phoenix to let Miss Fretwell know you’re gone. Even then, be very sparing in the information you give beyond that you were called back to work on an urgent matter, and aren’t sure for how long.” Background noise drowned out Jason’s voice for a few long seconds, but Dex couldn’t make out what the sounds were.
“Sorry about that, Dex. Anyway, if you can be vague about the location of where you were recalled to, that might be a good idea as well. Until we figure out if you’re a direct target, and who is involved, it’s better not to invite trouble.”
Dex clenched his jaw. Even without all the details, he could understand the need for discretion, but he didn’t have to like it. After the night he and Kate had shared, such a cold goodbye would hurt her. He just hoped that once all of this was sorted out, she would forgive him.
He should be telling himself that until she was cleared of any wrongdoing, he shouldn’t even consider seeing her again. But deep down, he knew Kate had done nothing wrong. Now he had to prove it.
Because the thought of never seeing Kate again squeezed his chest and tightened his throat. That wasn’t an option, so he would just have to find a way forward.
Dex kept watch in his mirrors as he took side roads and then freeways, and made unexpected direction changes. He didn’t see anyone tailing him, and he needed gas for the long, unplanned drive to Phoenix. He pulled into the next gas station he came to and cut the engine. “Jason, both you and Shapiro have asked me some odd questions, and you have a protection detail on Kate. Have you found something new on her? Or is she in some kind of danger from last night? I need to know what we’re dealing with.”
His boss cleared his throat. “Some details that made the rounds were apparently those you only told Miss Fretwell.”
Suspicion snaked through him before a flash of anger filled his chest. “How the hell would anyone know if it was something I only told Kate?”