Page 25 of Shadow of Doubt
Ryan snorted. “That’s priceless.”
Russ groaned and looked at Colin. “You’re going to owe me big time for this, man. And you know I’ll collect.”
“Of course,” Colin said as if there was no arguing with Russ.
Russ might be younger than Reid, but Brooklyn got the sense that he acted independently and pushed his older brother. It would be interesting to see the family dynamics play out as she worked there.If she worked there for long. She really did want to stay. Surprised her. Maybe because these guys were obviously a family. Not just the three Maddox brothers, but the other three too. A team, yes, but a family as well, and she was missing that so very much.
She waited until Russ exited, then turned back to the others. “What about a security system? Surely he’ll have a top-notch system in place that we’ll be facing.”
Colin nodded. “But the four of us should be able to disable it.”
“Should beare the key words here,” Eryn said. “From what you say, this guy is crafty, and it’s going to be a challenge to get in and out unnoticed. Especially without proper intel and time to plan.”
“Should we hold off?” Reid asked. “Do more due diligence?”
“No time,” Nick said. “This is the first lead in three years where we know his potential location, and we can’t hang back. He could skate before we get there.”
“So we’re a go, then.” Colin stood. “And we play it by ear, knowing every second that he could have a backup to his backup and probably another one so he can bring anyone down who dares to enter his property.”
Brooklyn’s gut tightened. She desperately wanted to find something that would put Kane behind bars. But would they also find something that might hurt or even kill one of these fine people?
That was her greatest fear right now. She prayed God was on their side and would protect each and every one of them as they entered a dangerously unknown situation.
Colin watched Brooklyn pick lint from her slacks and fidget in the back seat of Nick’s SUV as they approached Tarver’s rental house. She’d been jumpy and ill at ease since they pulled out of the compound. Not that there’d been anything unusual in the surrounding area to cause agitation.
A winding country road spread out before them with copious hills lined with typical evergreen trees and thick undergrowth made lush from all the Oregon rain. But that was it. That was all they saw out in the moon’s bright glow.
Well, actually, he saw thatandBrooklyn sitting next to him in the SUV that Nick drove with Eryn riding co-pilot. Colin had wanted to drive. To declare that he was in charge. But Nick had brought surveillance and other electronic equipment when he’d made the trip from Portland, and it didn’t make sense to reload it all into Colin’s company vehicle.
That didn’t mean Nick was in charge. Not if Colin had his say. But Brooklyn’s good buddy wasn’t used to playing second fiddle, so Colin might be challenged. Didn’t mean he would give in easily. Not at all. Not when Brooklyn’s life was on the line. He would give his all to protect her even though she’d lied to him.
He sat back and eased out a slow breath of frustration. He hated that she’d lied. Well, technically,withheld informationfrom him. But he could understand why she’d done it. She needed a safe place to land after being stalked by a lunatic, and their compound was a secure location for her. Plus, she wasright. She hadn’t put them in danger. At least not yet. And it also explained her need to carry.
But more important now, he couldn’t look the other way and pretend she’d just come into his life to care for his mother. To ignore the threat. He felt compelled to find this Kane guy and bring him to justice. Colin had dealt with so many abusive people in his FBI career that he wouldn’t let this go until he’d resolved it. Let Tarver keep stalking Brooklyn. She deserved to live her best life. See her family again. Get married and have a family of her own.
He glanced at her again. Did she want to get married? Want a family? He did, but not now. Not while he was still torn up inside over the things he’d seen in his IT job with the FBI. Kids. Women. All placed in horrific positions to be exploited, and he had to look at the photos to help find them. Horrible, terrible things he could never unsee. Never let go. Never forget.
Never.
For a time he could handle being exposed to it. They’d brought enough of these abusive monsters to trial and put them behind bars to help erase the images. But then the abusers just kept coming. One after another. Long line after long line. Relentless.
How could he get married and bring a child into the world when the world was so messed up?
His hands started sweating, and he focused on the road and mission to force the images from his mind. For now at least. They’d be back all too soon, of that he was certain.
Nick glanced in the rearview mirror and made eye contact. “Get ready. We’re about a mile out, and all cell phone Wi-Fi should be turned off.”
“Already done,” Brooklyn said.
“Did it miles back.” Colin had made sure of that as their phones could appear on Tarver’s network list and, if he was home, alert him to people in the area and put him on edge.
“Me too,” Eryn said. “I only hope he picked up on and bought into the tracks I laid on the dark web. If so, he should now be on a wild goose chase to Portland to find Brooklyn.”
Brooklyn leaned forward to face Eryn. “I’ve always wanted to leave him a false trail like that. But I’d have law enforcement waiting on the other end to arrest him. Couldn’t do it. Not without just cause for an arrest. So there would be no point in it other than to mess with him.”
Eryn glanced back. “I might’ve done it for that reason alone.”
“Trust me,” Brooklyn said, “I was tempted. But I figured if I did it too often when it really was time to trap him, he would be suspicious and run.”
