Page 10 of Night Watch
Thankfully, Malone answered, and Erik explained the situation.
“And you said the police don’t want to send anyone out for the break-in?” Malone asked.
“If Sierra finds something, they’ll take an interest. If not, we’re on our own. Either way, if we wait to dive for any evidence, we risk it washing downstream. So the dive needs to happen tonight.”
“Then exigent circumstances would prevail, and it should be fine. If you could have someone record the dive, that would be great.”
“I’ll ask Kennedy about that.”
Hearing her name, Kennedy eyed him.
“Let me know if I can help in any other way.” Malone ended the call.
Erik shoved his phone into his pocket and joined Kennedy to share the conversation. “So what do you think? Could I dive with you and record it?”
“Not necessary,” she said quickly. “Not if we can find another forensic diver to be my backup.”
“Backup?” He studied her. “But you said no one was good enough to do this dive.”
“Not as the lead diver, but as a backup, it’ll be fine. We just need to get someone out here in a hurry.”
“Why do you need a backup?”
“Forensic dives are just like your foot grid searches. A lead diver holds onto a rope and searches in a straight line to a designated point. Then the backup diver will do a secondary search to see if I missed anything. Which I never have, but this is too important to risk not doing a secondary search.”
Erik nodded his understanding. “Brendan used to be a deputy for Clackamas County. He might know someone on their team who’ll volunteer to work with you.”
“Great. I’ve got gear in my mom’s storage closet outside. So get Brendan on the phone, but you should know.” She fisted her hands on her waist. “Backup diver or not, I’m going in tonight.”
3
Thankfully, Brendan’s buddy Charlie was on the way to dive with Kennedy. She hated to admit it, but Finley’s call to Erik was fortunate in so many ways. They now had forensics on site and soon would have that second diver. And she was safe under Erik’s protective oversight.
She glanced out the window and spotted him striding toward the Veritas Center forensic van in the parking lot, where he’d gone to help Sierra carry in her supplies, the wind battering his shirt. Normally, Kennedy would be fired up to take a look inside the van, but she needed a moment alone to gather her thoughts before the dive.
Not only to get over connecting with Erik after so many years, but now Sierra too. In the two years Kennedy had dated Erik, she’d spent a lot of time with his family, and she’d come to love all of them. Sure, the five guys could be a lot to take in at once, but they each had generous hearts underneath their harder exteriors. His dad, Russ, was super supportive, and his mom, Peggy, was the kind of mom every kid dreamed of—except for when she interfered a little too much. She would’ve had Erik and Kennedy married after only a few months of them being together. Kennedy couldn’t even imagine how Peggy would go mother bear on Kennedy if they ever ran into each other.
She shuddered at the thought. Or maybe at the thought of an intruder. Something she was trying hard to pack away and not think about. She was almost thankful for the turmoil over being here with Erik and Sierra as it gave her something else to think about. Almost.
Erik started toward the house carrying Klieg lights under his arm, Sierra behind him with toolkits in each hand. If truth be told, Kennedy’s heart was overly happy to see him again. Beyond what she could’ve predicted. She wasn’t over him. She should’ve realized that in all those years when her relationships went nowhere. She’d compared the men to Erik, and they never measured up. She’d figured it was because they lacked many of his character traits. She hadn’t realized they didn’t measure up because they weren’t him.
He reached her gangway, and she stepped back from the window before he caught her watching him. She twisted her hands together and took several deep breaths.
“Where do you want the lights?” Erik looked back at Sierra, who hadn’t changed much over the years.
“I’ll want to start with the front door, so just outside.” Sierra was a female version of Erik with dishwater blond hair. Where Erik kept his hair in a buzz cut, she had bangs, and her hair fell straight below her shoulders. She was nearly six feet tall and still slender, though she’d filled out some and was more curvaceous. Kennedy noted a wedding ring on Sierra’s finger as she dug her disposable gloves from her pocket and stepped into the room.
Sierra’s gaze went to Kennedy, and Kennedy waited for a look of disdain, but Sierra cocked her head and studied her. “Long time no see. How many years has it been?”
“Six.” Kennedy tried not to gawk at Sierra for not sounding mad over the way Kennedy had dumped Erik.
Sierra tipped her head at her brother. “This bozo never told us what happened with the two of you. I won’t pry, but it’s good to see you again.”
She shot Erik a look and found him carefully watching her. Color her surprised. It almost sounded as if Sierra blamed Erik for the breakup. Had he not said anything because he was protecting her reputation with his family? Or was it just too painful to talk about?
“Let’s just get the forensics going,” he said.
Sierra wrinkled her nose at him then looked back at Kennedy. “I hear you’re a hotshot FBI tech.”
