Page 57 of Night Watch
“How so?” Sierra perched on a chair.
“I figure if the guy was looking for something at Wanda’s place and thought Kennedy wouldn’t be there because her tracker was displaying at the lab, that he didn’t intend to harm Kennedy. He could be thinking Kennedy saw him. Erik did too. So he must think you can ID him.”
“Which means you’re now a protectee as well,” Clay said.
“What?” Erik snapped his chair forward. “What? No. You aren’t going to lock me up here. I have an investigation to work.”
“We can handle it,” Drake said calmly, but his hands were tightly clasped on the arms of the chair.
“No.” Erik shook his head. “No. No way.”
“All I’m suggesting,” Clay said, “is that we do a risk assessment before you leave the building, just like we’d do for Kennedy. Then take proper precautions.”
“It’s going to be more of a challenge since we’re now down to one SUV,” Drake added. “Or at least I assume we are.”
“I’ll put up a picture of the damage for you.” Erik tapped his phone, and an image of the bullet-riddled SUV filled the TV mounted on the wall.
Sierra gasped.
“Whoa.” Brendan leaned forward. “Amazing that it held.”
“It would still probably be useable, if we could see out the windows.” Erik changed the picture to another view, this one of the windshield.
Sierra lurched to her feet and hugged Aiden. “I thought you were mad for spending so much money on those SUVs. You were very wise.”
“As usual.” He grinned over her shoulder.
She eased free and swatted at him, then turned to hug Erik. “I’m glad you’re fine.”
“Don’t worry so much,” Erik said, but his voice cracked.
“I can’t help it when you guys all decide to work in professions where guns are needed.” She moved on to Kennedy and leaned down to envelope her in strong arms.
The hug was warm and sincere, but instead of relishing it, Kennedy felt like a fraud in this tight-knit family. She wanted to be part of the group again, but she had no right. Would never have the right.
She pushed free and smiled up at Sierra. “Thank you.”
“Of course. You’re one of us again.” She gave Erik a pointed look before addressing the group. “I just dropped by to tell you about the evidence before I turn it over to Johnson.”
“Won’t that get you into trouble?” Kennedy asked.
“I haven’t gotten his signed contract yet, so I’m walking a fine line.” Sierra wrinkled her nose. “All but one set of the prints I processed matched Kennedy, Finley, or the prints I believe are Wanda’s, due to the quantity and locations.”
Erik eyed his sister. “Only one set?”
“Yes, which is kind of odd, unless Wanda didn’t have visitors.”
“She only lived there for about a year and wasn’t a social person,” Kennedy said.
“Still, I would expect a print or two from the former occupant,” Sierra said. “Unless your mother fastidiously cleaned the house before moving in.”
“She was a neat freak, so it wouldn’t surprise me.” Kennedy couldn’t stem the smile at the images arriving in her brain. “Not only did I see it growing up, but I worked with her in the lab long enough to know the lengths she took it to.”
Erik nodded at the evidence bag. “I want that back after you print it.”
“Won’t take long.” Sierra took a small plastic evidence bag from her pocket and scooped the tile tracker into it.
“You know most sisters carry tissues or lipstick in their pockets, but not ours,” Drake said.
