Damage Control
“And Nick and his team are all damn good,” Seth adds. “They have a hacker they call GI Joe, whom they brought in on this last night, and I was damn glad. I worked with him on a CIA operation about six years ago. He’s top Gemini caliber and he’s a real asset right now.” He glances at me. “Can you walk me to the elevator?”
“In other words you want to talk about me without me,” Emily says. “I’ll go get my purse.”
“Emily—” I start.
“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m okay. Actually, really, I know more than I did and I think once I digest it all, I’ll be even more okay.”
“I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”
She nods, rounding the island while Seth and I head to the door, stepping into the hallway. I pull the door shut, having no intention of walking to the elevator. Seth faces me. “Her bank account is being drained in weekly chunks, each time under the amount that requires reporting.”
“What about his bank accounts?”
“They haven’t been touched, but he hasn’t had more than ten thousand in either of the two accounts in three months. Prior to that he had a chunk of change. We’re working on what happened to it.”
“Did he plan this, and move his money in advance?”
“That’s where my head is on this. As far as his plan to protect Emily or throw her to the wolves, I need more information. I need a man on the ground in Austin to try to locate the brother.”
“Make it happen,” I say, and shift topics. “What about BP? Anything on last night’s potential security breach?”
“Our men discreetly checked the building and found nothing, but as Emily said, I’m not liking what my gut is telling me.”
“I’ve already trying to reach Brody’s people.”
“I’m meeting with Nick on all of the above.”
“Go. Do. Get answers.” He hesitates and I arch a brow.
“We don’t know how well the Geminis know this woman. She lived with two members for years. We don’t know how much of a liability she represents to them.” He reaches into his pocket and hands me a thumb drive. “That’s information on the Geminis you need to know. I know I’ve said this before but I’m saying it again: They’re dangerous.” I accept the drive and he adds, “If she knows how dangerous they are, and she left to protect you, she’s a brave-ass bitch.”
“Sounds like you trust her.”
“Leaning that way,” he repeats stubbornly.
“Lean harder and find a way to protect her. She matters to me.”
He nods and turns, while I do the same, entering the apartment and shutting the door. Emily is not yet present, and I walk to the kitchen and put on my suit jacket before loading my computer into my briefcase. By the time I’m back in the foyer, she’s standing there in her coat, ready to go. “He still doesn’t trust me.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, slipping on my coat to downplay Seth’s concerns, which I know won’t last.
“‘Leaning that way,’” she says, repeating what he’d said about trusting her. “I was attached to the Geminis for a decade plus. He’s doing his job.”
Shifting my briefcase on my shoulder I face her, finding her oddly at ease. “You don’t seem upset.”
“I am upset. I’m scared. I hate my brother put me in this position. But the good news is that I have a full stomach or I might just plain flip out. I should really warn you that I’m unstable when unfed. Maybe I should take food to your father. Maybe that’s the key to soothing the beast.”
“Unless it’s raw meat,” I say, “don’t bother.” And I tell myself that I’m playing along with this façade of flippancy because it’s obviously her way of coping, a way of being strong. But silence is better than a comfort rooted in a lie.
* * *
Emily and I end up stopping the elevator four times on the way to the ground level and finally step out into the garage. “There are a few negatives to this living arrangement,” I say, as we walk toward the car.
“The pluses outweigh the negatives,” she says. “Room service. Security. Location.”
I click the button to unlock the Bentley, and the lights flash. At the same moment, a black Cadillac Escalade pulls out of a parking spot and drives just past us, then stops. Unease rolls down my spine and I stop walking, turning to look over my shoulder. Still, it sits there. “That’s weird,” Emily comments. “Why is it just sitting there?”
I have no idea why but I know in my gut who is waiting for me in that hundred-thousand-dollar SUV. I take Emily’s hand and palm her the keys. “Go to the office. I’ll meet you there.”
“What? Why? Shane—”
“I need you to do this and not ask questions. Text me after you meet with my father, and tell me you’re okay. But don’t say or text anything you don’t want hacked or listened in on.”
“Okay I will, but I can’t drive your Bentley. I’ll walk. What if you need it?”
“I have a spare key. I’ll pick it up at the office.” I firm my voice. “Take the car. Go now.”
She inhales and then nods. “Yes. Okay.” And then as if she senses the danger I know exists right now, she adds, “Be careful, Shane.” She turns and walks to the car and gets in. Only when she starts the engine do I turn back around and walk to the vehicle. When I reach the back window, it rolls down, exposing a man in his thirties with dark wavy hair and dark eyes. He leans forward; I know him from photos.