“How’d you get in?” she demanded, stalking over to her desk and dumping everything on top of the map to hide it. She casually laid a hand on her SIG, still in its holster. How’d he sneak up on her? Such a big guy, she should have heard him coming a mile away. Except he wasn’t really that big, was he? Definitely not as tall as Andre, he just…felt big. With his Asian features, shaved head, massive shoulders. “Who the hell are you?”
“Oshiro. Timothy Oshiro. Deputy US Marshal.” He pointed to the insignia on his windbreaker, but it was faded to the point of being barely legible. As he shifted his weight, the jacket fell open to reveal a ballistic vest and the distinctive circular silver badge with a star in the center clipped to a chain around his neck.
“Oshiro.” She’d heard of him. “You’re leading the FAST team.” The Marshals service led multi-agency fugitive apprehension strike teams throughout the country. The one for Western PA had a particularly stellar success record.
“Yes, ma’am. Lucy Guardino thought I might find Morgan Ames here. As you can imagine, we’d appreciate a conversation with her. I understand she might have some insights into Clinton Caine. My men never saw her enter, but we spotted her leaving a little while ago with your associate, Mr. Stone, so I thought I’d come introduce myself.”
“You’re surveilling us?” Jenna wasn’t certain whether to be outraged or relieved. Morgan had increased security around the building, and Jenna had added more herself, especially to the loft upstairs that she shared with Andre, but no amount of security could keep anyone safe from Clinton Caine.
“Seemed a good idea, given you and Lucy were the two responsible for Caine being locked up in the first place. Not to mention his daughter working here.” He wrinkled his nose. “Can’t find much of anything on her, we’re not even sure of her exact age, but if she really is Clinton Caine’s daughter, wouldn’t she be a bit young to be assisting a pair of security consultants?”
She restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Of the three of them, Jenna, Andre, and Morgan, Morgan had the greatest real-life experience with criminal activity and thwarting security. Not that she’d ever admit that to Morgan’s face. “Do you have people following her and Andre?”
“Yes. But right now, I’m more interested in where you’re going.”
It was strange. Oshiro hadn’t moved from where he’d planted himself between the door and her desk, all he’d done was flick his eyes toward the map on her desk, yet Jenna felt compelled to confess. As if he’d become the center of gravity and there was no way she could resist that force.
Only one other person made her feel this way: Lucy Guardino. The thought brought with it a wave of resentment stronger than any invisible pull Oshiro wielded. “You have no right. Client confidentiality—”
“Only applies if you are a licensed private investigator. But seems like neither you nor Mr. Stone are licensed for anything…”
A loophole in the law she and Andre had taken advantage of: consultants didn’t need to waste time or red tape with official licenses. “We get the job done. Our customers certainly don’t complain—but they do expect that we respect their privacy.”
His chin inclined a fraction—a very, very minute fraction—of an inch. “Of course. But public safety comes first. I’ll have my men follow from a distance. As much for your partner’s and Ms. Ames’ protection as anything else.”
If Oshiro saw Andre and Morgan leave for Monroeville, maybe Caine or one of his fellow escapees had as well? Damn it, she’d told Andre they should not have taken that job. “Did they see anyone?”
“No one else followed Mr. Stone and Ms. Ames.”
That was good. Maybe she could use Morgan as bait to keep the marshals off Jenna’s back while she collected Caine and the reward. “If you don’t mind waiting until they finish our client consultation, I’ll text Andre and tell him your men will be taking Morgan into protective custody.”
Instead of relaxing, his lips tightened at her concession. As if he could see right through her ploy. Lucy would have if she’d been here. “Where is Lucy? She’ll be at the top of Caine’s list. Is she safe?”
“She is. Her daughter, as well.”
“And Nick? Her husband?” Jenna had no clue how he put up with Lucy as his wife, probably the same reason why Nick was so good at his job—had counseled Andre, in fact. Occasionally, Jenna talked to him as well. Just with stuff she didn’t want to dump on Andre.
“He insisted on staying in the city until he could clear his patient schedule. But he’s safe. Compared to you and Ms. Ames, he’s at low risk. Perhaps we should talk about protective custody for you?”
“No. I’m fine. Clint’s beef is with Lucy, not me.” She cringed at the memory of how useless she’d been during that final confrontation with Clinton Caine.
“Clint?” Interest sparked his gaze. “Exactly how well do you know Caine?”
“Enough to know you shouldn’t be wasting your time here with me. You should be out there trying to find him before he kills again.”