“Morgan.” Ty’s voice was lower now. He stepped closer, as if his towering physical presence would be enough to intimidate her. And the truth was, usually, he’d be right. But there was nothing usual about their circumstances right now.
And while she trusted Ty with her physical safety, she knew that she wasn’t going to be able to shoot or punch her way into her brother’s safe. For that she was going to need some outside help.
Michael’s gaze focused on a spot on the far wall for a few seconds. His head tilted from side to side as he thought. Toward the end of their relationship, Morgan used to hate when he would get like this—so wrapped up in a problem that he tuned out anything but possible solutions…including her.
Right now, she was finding it one of his most attractive qualities.
“Tool or torch resistant?” he asked.
Morgan shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Michael’s mouth twisted up. “How much time do I have?”
Morgan looked at the clock on the wall. It was already 10:30. “Twenty-two hours.”
“Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Michael’s shoulders relaxed. “With that much time my team should be able to whip something together.”
“Thank you,” Morgan said, feeling instantly as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest. She had bet everything on Michael’s help. Without it, she wasn’t sure what she would have done.
Actually, she was.
She’d probably be off to FBI headquarters with Ty, filling out the paperwork that would change her into Miss Gertrude Parsons of Sarasota, Florida for the rest of her days. And that was the best-case scenario.
“Well, I better get started,” Michael said, turning toward the door.
“Wait.” Ty stopped him with a simple command. His brow was deeply furrowed as Michael turned back around. “That’s it? You’re just going to go and start working on some safe-cracking robot just because Morgan asked if you could?”
“Well, it’s probably going to be a device that can read the subtle magnetic feedback of electric pulses through several inches of solid steel which means it won’t have any servos. So, it won’t technically be a robot.”
Ty’s eyes narrowed, and Morgan would have sworn that the temperature of the room plummeted a good twenty degrees.
“But…in layman’s terms…yes. That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Michael continued.
Ty folded his arms in front of his chest. “Without asking any questions?”
Michael smiled. “I’m pretty sure I already know why.”
“You do?” Ty’s brows arched. He didn’t look convinced. Morgan couldn’t fault him. He didn’t know Michael.
Michael nodded.
“You have a Navy Special Forces patch on your jacket,” he started. “With your confidence and familiarity with command, I’m guessing SEAL. And I noticed when you got off your bike that you have a government issue Glock 22 strapped to your hip. Based on the high percentage of ex-military that go into public service and law enforcement, I’m guessing you’re FBI.”
Ty’s spine straightened but he didn’t say a word. Michael continued.
“And seeing how one of the main focuses of the FBI is bringing down organized crime, and the rumor on the street is that certain higher ups in the Russian Mob have started calling Morgan’s nightclub home, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess they’re your target and the reason for the blood on her dress.
“And since Gregg Kincaid is the only person I know who’s both greedy and stupid enough to get wrapped up with dangerous criminals, I’m going to posit that it’s his safe you need access to, and that Morgan is asking me so that you can circumvent the usual time-consuming legal avenues you, as a sworn government official, would have to take.”
Michael cocked his head to the side. “Is that about right?”
Ty’s face went as hard as stone.
“Close enough,” Morgan answered for him. “Except, we’re more concerned about blowing Ty’s cover than worrying about how long it would take to get a search warrant.”
“Ah,” Michael said, his eyes widening in understanding. “Then I’ll be sure to keep it quiet. And I’ll ask around and see if I can find any clothes in your size that aren’t splattered in bodily fluids.”
“That would be appreciated,” Morgan said as Michael turned to leave. Ty didn’t stop him this time. But he did turn to her the moment the door closed.
“What the hell just happened there?” he asked.
Morgan laughed. “You aren’t the only one in the world with highly specialized talents, you know.”
“I do now.” He went to the bed and sat down on the edge. He hunched over, elbows resting on his knees. “I’m still not sure about this plan. Do you really think that your friend can throw together a device that can do what he said in less than a day?”
“I do. He’s a lot like you,” Morgan said, leaning back in her chair.
“Why do you say that?”
“He doesn’t brag. If he says he can do it, he can.”
Ty looked up from the floor and locked gazes with her. A cocky smile played at the corner of his lips. “You’re sure that’s enough to make him a lot like me?”
Morgan shrugged. “Some kids dream of being James Bond when they grow up, some kids dream about being Q.”
“Which one did you dream about?”
“Me?” Morgan smiled. “I was Wonder Woman.”