Page 18 of Knox
“Then why the hell are they in here?”Cooper asked.
Knox stilled, the hair on the back of his neck standing up.Something felt very off about this entire situation.Given the intelligence Quinn had discovered, this scenario was all wrong.“I don’t like this.”
“What’s to like?”Xaden quipped.
“It looks like there’s a note,” Cooper said, his voice gruff.He reached in the trunk with gloved hands, carefully turning one of the crates.
Knox’s gaze slid toward his.“What’s it say?”he asked, his voice gruff.
“Help.”
Xaden leaned closer, aiming his flashlight on the crate and then into the corners of the trunk, assessing.“There was a note at the cabin, too.Remember it was written in sawdust?”
Knox nodded, his thoughts whirling.“Yep.The missing sister of one of the terror cell members wrotehelpnear the window.You think this note is from her?”
“I don’t know what else it could be,” Xaden admitted.“How many people do you think were held against their will?We were only aware of one.The crates were originally assembled at the cabin.”
Knox stilled, working that thought over.It was the most likely possibility.That didn’t mean it was correct.
“Boone and Radley already found the missing sister tonight,” Cooper said.“She was being held in the hotel room of that fucking asshole they were tracking in L.A.Boone rescued Radley, and they teamed up with Gage and intercepted the tango, rescuing the girl in the process.”
“Jesus,” Xaden said.“Those two had quite a night.”
“They sure the hell did,” Knox agreed.“They stopped the plot in L.A., and it looks like we’re getting closer to ending the one here.”He checked his phone as it buzzed with an incoming message.“Seattle PD intercepted another vehicle.That one was filled with live explosives.”
“Well shit.What the fuck happened to these then?”Xaden asked.
“It’s a good question.I’ll let Holt know this one was empty,” Knox said, shooting off a text to their boss.He decided to quickly message Quinn again, too.
Knox:Looks like I’ll be downtown with the guys all night.Are you back in the office yet?
She responded immediately.
Quinn:I wasn’t feeling well and headed home.
Knox frowned.
“What’s wrong?”Cooper asked.
“Quinn’s sick and had to go home.”
Xaden looked at him in surprise.“She must be really sick.That’s unlike her to disappear in the middle of an operation.”
“Yeah.That is unusual.”Knox hesitated a beat, wondering if he should call her.They weren’t really at that level of friendship though.Not yet.He’d go out of his way to see her at work but had no idea if she’d appreciate a call out of the blue.If she was sick, maybe she’d prefer to be left alone.She could already be sleeping.
He thumbed a quick response back.
Knox:Let me know if you need anything.Hope you’re feeling better soon.
The sound of sirens in the distance interrupted them, and Knox’s attention turned back to the task at hand.He paused for a moment, still unsure about Quinn, then slid his phone into his pocket.“We should search the entire vehicle,” he said.“If it’s clear of explosives, we can have this thing towed away.”
