Page 36 of Twilight Tactics

Ollie took the device and stared at the screen. “Yeah.” She pointed. “Him on the left. I don’t know who the other scumbag is.”

He exchanged a look with Piper. “So he’s mob affiliated.”

“Definitely,” Ollie said. “He was there with the other guy who pulled the trigger first and shot the old man in the back of the head.” She shuddered and crossed her arms. “All because he was short paying his protection money.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “How can someone do that?”

“It’s okay,” Piper said, her voice soft. She slid her arms around Ollie’s shoulders. The fact that Ollie let her do it spoke volumes to Sully. Most of the time, she didn’t seem to care for the motherly touch Piper occasionally tried to bestow on her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Ollie shrugged, but her lips were tight, her face a shade lighter than he liked. “He’s not on the watch list we have,” he said.

“Rhino,” Ollie blurted.

Sully’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“They called him Rhino. I just remembered. He’s new. They said something about making sure he could be trusted. They made him watch, then had him shoot the man again.”

That name hadn’t been in her statement.

“Rhino? Has to be a nickname,” Piper said.

“You never know these days, but yeah, probably.” Sully frowned. “So what do the mob and the preppers have in common? What are they working for? What is it they want?”He looked at the pictures again. “Because they are working together. On something.”

“Coming after me?” Ollie asked. “If these preppers are like most, they know this land, this area. Wouldn’t surprise me if they decided to hire them or something.”

It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. The fact that she knew the man in the picture said that it was actually adistinctpossibility. He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know and I won’t figure it out standing here. I hate to admit it, but I also don’t know if it’s safe to stay here.”

Ollie wilted. “So you want to leave just in case?”

He hesitated. “Maybe not.” He looked at Piper. “What do you think?”

She sighed and raked a hand over her head. “The trial is coming up soon.”

“Which means they’re getting more and more desperate,” Ollie said.

“I wasn’t going to say that,” Piper said.

“You don’t have to say it. It’s just common sense.” She shrugged. “As much as I don’t want to, maybe we should keep running. All I have to do is run faster longer. Then show up for the trial, testify, and get my life back. Such as it was.”

Sully could only pray it would be that easy. He had his doubts, but he’d keep those to himself. “I need to get in touch with Claire,” he said. “She’ll need to be brought up to speed.”

“No,” Ollie said, dropping the empty plastic bottle into the garbage can by the door. “Don’t tell her yet. The truth is, I don’t want to run if we don’t have to.”

Sully’s heart ached for the brave girl. “I know. I don’t want to do that either, but she’s our boss and we have to keep her updated.”

Piper shook her head. “I don’t know. I think we should go. We don’t know they’re after her, but don’t know they’re not either. We shouldn’t take any chances.”

“No, please,” Ollie said, “I want to stay.” She bit her lip. “Unless my being here puts the others in danger, of course.”

He hesitated. “All right. But be prepared for anything.”

Relief settled over Ollie’s pretty features, but Piper’s face hardened. She didn’t argue, just nodded. “Guess that’s the plan then. I’m heading to the house to shower and change unless you need me for anything else.”

“No, we’re good right now. I’m going to talk to Maya and David and get their perspective security-wise. And Elena too, I guess, since she was there. Keep your phone handy in case we need to bolt.”

“Handy and on ring.” She nodded to Ollie and jogged toward the cabin. They had the use of a golf cart, but Piper preferred the exercise. He didn’t blame her. A lot of this current assignment consisted of sitting or standing. Most agents on protective detail moved when they got the chance.

He looked at Ollie. “I don’t want you too far from me until we figure out what this is all about.”

She nodded. Then sighed. “I’m tired. I’m going to get my backpack out of the locker, then I think I’ll go lie down for a bit before I meet up with Elena.”