Page 27 of Blind Trust
“And malware,” Jack said, “that Kekoa is currently battling before it steals our agency’s classified information.”
Lyla frowned at Jack. “And I have all the faith that Kekoa will win the battle.”
Nic clenched his jaw to keep from saying the words he wanted to unleash on Lyla’s optimism. He didn’t doubt Kekoa’s ability to defend their systems, but he wouldn’t have had to if Lyla hadn’t put herself into the situation. And his opinion wasn’t likely to make a difference. She was so determined to go her own way.
Lyla continued explaining her run-in with Genevieve Miller like the encounter was totally normal andnotdriving Nic’s blood pressure through the roof, and by the time she was done, he was ready to head back to the range and kill another paper target.
When Jack stepped away to answer his cell phone, Nic stretched his neck muscles, tilting his head to one side and then the other in a vain attempt to release the knots caused by a dead man.
Or his sister.
Or Lyla.
“I know I should’ve called the agency right away, but—”
“But nothing, Lyla.” His tone darkened her eyes, but he wanted so badly to get through to her. “Did you consider that your run in with Jerry’s sister might’ve been another part of his plan? A trap?”
“I did,” Lyla snapped. “I got it. I messed up and my computer was compromised, but all I was thinking about was what had Genevieve so scared.”
“Maybe that was the bait? Use your concern to get to you, infiltrate our files. Who knows what kind of damage the malware isdoing. You have no idea what her intention was, and you could’ve led her or someone else straight to your family. Did you think about that?”
Lyla didn’t move, didn’t speak, just absorbed his words as a glint of fear smothered the fire in her eyes.
“Nicolás.”
Normally his name rolled off her tongue with a tease or tension. This time it was vulnerability, and it caught him off guard. “All I’m saying is that we need to consider that Genevieve was another pawn in Jerry’s game.”
“We ran a cursory check into her when we first took on the Zane Investments assignment.” Lyla’s posture softened. “And on the rest of Jerry’s family, and nothing alerted us they were involved in Jerry’s crimes.”
“Then,” Nic said. “It’s been three years since Jerry’s address changed to Paterson. It’s possible his sister may have picked up where he left off.”
“Got him,” Kekoa said, interrupting their conversation with an energy that made Nic sit up. Kekoa unfurled his silicon keyboard on the table and brought one of the screens to life. “Connor Baldwin.”
Jack rejoined them. “Who?”
“The lolo who smashed Lyla’s windshield,” Kekoa said. “Surveillance footage pulled from a convenience store four blocks away shows a man fitting the description of the one we pulled from our cameras. Metro picked him up, and it didn’t take much pressure before he confessed to the crime. But says he was paid to do it by his uncle.”
“Who’s his uncle?” Lyla asked.
“Terrel Baldwin. Convicted of mail fraud and served five years at Paterson Correctional Facility.” Kekoa looked at them, his eyebrows wiggling like they did whenever he had the goods. “His cellmate was Jerry Miller, and I sent a copy of Terrel’s parole papers to Jack’s handwriting friend at the FBI. They’re a match.”
“Nice catch, brother.” Jack fist-bumped Kekoa. “Has Metro picked up Terrel?”
“He missed his check-in with his PO this morning, but I did a little recon and learned Terrel Baldwin, while a criminal, is at least a loyal lover.” Nic about choked on his spit, and Kekoa laughed. “Before he went to prison, he had a girlfriend, Shondra Jackson. According to the visitor log at Paterson, she was a regular visitor. So, I checked out Ms. Jackson’s social media, and she just posted this.”
He pulled up a photo of a nice-looking woman wearing a bright turquoise bowling shirt that matched the rest of the smiling women around her.
“You think Terrel blew off meeting his parole officer to go bowling with his girlfriend?”
Nic’s skepticism stole a bit of Kekoa’s moment until he pointed at an overhead screen behind the group with the bowler lineup. Terrel was bowler number four.
“Yes.” Lyla stood. “Let’s go get him.”
“Hold on.” Nic held up a hand. “Kekoa, contact Metro and let them know you have a lead on Terrel’s location.”
“No, don’t, Kekoa.” She turned those blue-green eyes on them, and Nic recognized the single-minded look. “You heard Walsh. If you believe Genevieve is a pawn, then Terrel is another piece on the board. We don’t know why he didn’t check in with his PO, but if you send the police over there he might run, and we lose our chance to find out why Jerry is still coming after me when he’s six feet under.”
Nic blew out a frustrated breath. She was right, and from the look on Kekoa’s face, he agreed with her. Nic rubbed his forehead, trying to find an argument he could win to keep Lyla from diving headfirst into this—but from the look on her face, she was all in.
