Page 66 of Cold Silence
Eric hurried to keep up with Gage but he turned to him. “Thanks for your help. If you want to get back to work, we’d be glad to drive Julie to the institute since that’s where we’re headed.”
“Hey, thanks, man,” Eric said. “That would be great, but what’s in there anyway?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.” Gage cast him a tight smile. “Like I said. Thanks for the help. We appreciate it. If you’ll send Julie over, we’ll get going.”
“Anytime.” Eric went to his gleaming silver Porsche, where Julie waited for him.
Gage approached the window. “Envelope contains a typed letter to Claire with a picture of Julie. Basically, it says if Claire won’t consider her own safety, she should consider Julie’s as she’s completely disposable.”
Claire gasped. “That’s why you offered to drive her to work.”
Gage nodded. “We’ll need to read her in and bring her to the hotel with us today.”
Claire clasped her hands in her lap. “I hate that I put her in danger.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Travis said. “Our thief did.”
Julie got out of the car, and Claire’s focus locked on her friend.
“We’ll drop this conversation for now and hold off telling her until we can strategize and get my CO’s approval,” Travis said. “Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Gage said.
Claire kept watching her friend and absently nodded.
Gage opened the back door for Julie.
“Thanks, guys,” she said. “Eric hates to miss work and let his colleagues down, so it’s good for him to get back sooner rather than later.”
Travis looked over the seat at the pair. Claire smiled at her friend, but guilt consumed Claire’s face. Thankfully, Julie was looking out the window at Eric as he peeled out of the lot and didn’t catch Claire’s look.
“And he loves his car.” Julie laughed.
Claire joined in, and for a brief moment he saw the happy woman who he’d worked alongside to create CATS.
Eryn got them on the road, taking all of Travis’s attention. Thankfully, Claire talked to Julie about recent simulation test results and what they needed to schedule in the next few days.
“You have plans tonight?” Claire asked.
“Other than working late, no. I’m running behind and after everything you just mentioned, I have a full plate.” She chuckled.
Travis liked Julie’s easygoing nature and how much she cared for Claire. That proximity to Claire putting Julie in serious danger. Travis hated that. Hated seeing another woman targeted for death. He would do all he could to protect her.
Eryn turned onto the institute’s drive. “Whoa.”
Travis’s pulse kicked into gear, and he scanned ahead. The overflow parking lot was filled with rows and rows of vases holding vibrant red roses, slightly wilting in the hard beating sun.
Odd.Roses, why?
On the far side of the lot, a man dressed in a black tuxedo had his back to them as he attached a vinyl banner to the fence. He glanced furtively over his shoulder, then turned back to his work.
“It’s Robb,” Travis said.
“Mike?” Claire asked and leaned forward. “What in the world is he up to?”
“Whatever it is, you stay out of sight while I check it out.” Travis reminded Eryn that Robb could be Claire’s stalker. “He could be dangerous. React accordingly.”
“Roger that.” Eryn reached for her sidearm.
