Page 12 of Hawkeye

5

JOSIE

The phone dragged me out of sleep. The bedroom was still dark, and the clock on the nightstand had not even reached six.

I stretched my arm out to hit the green button on my cell’s screen.

“Josie.” Mr. Smythe did not bother to wish me a good morning. “Someone broke into the building last night. Luckily, the loading wing alarm ran them out before they reached the vault or records. But your restoration workspace was specifically targeted.”

I sat up so fast, the covers slid to the floor. “How bad?”

“It’s been ransacked.”

I pressed trembling fingers to my lips. “Oh.”

“I already called Stryker. He’s sending Hawkeye to pick you up.”

“Okay.”

After disconnecting, I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and pulled my hair into a ponytail. Then I got dressed and had one boot in my hand when Mom’s door opened down the hall.

“What is it?”

“Wynnock.” I shoved the other boot on. “Stay here.”

Calder was there before I reached the bottom of the stairs. Two more Black Crowns came in behind him.

He tilted his chin up toward where Mom stood at the door in her robe. “They’re gonna stay to make sure you’re safe.”

“Thank you.”

I flashed my mom a grateful smile, relieved that she accepted the help without arguing. Then I followed Calder to the SUV waiting at the curb.

While he drove, I watched the dark streets without talking. My mind was on the damage I was going to see.

At Wynnock, Wraith met us at the service door with Breach at his shoulder.

“Building’s cleared.” Wraith tipped his head down the corridor. “It’s safe to go in.”

Calder’s hand slid to my lower back. “Stay with me.”

The conservation room door hung wrong. Inside, drawers were on the floor, and my printed notes were scattered across the felt countertop. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The catalog camera was gone from its stand. The external drive had also been taken. “They got the priority list I started yesterday, too.”

Mr. Smythe walked in with his tablet. “They used a duplicated vendor credential originally issued to the estate-clearance company subcontractor. It opened the loading wing and service corridors, but not the vault or fire-rated records room. Thank goodness the alarm went off when they forced this door.”

I barely heard him. Two pieces that should not have been in anyone’s way were wrecked in the search. I went to those first.

The leather portfolio had a crack down the spine. I lifted it with both hands and whispered, “I’m sorry. I’ve got you.”

Setting it down, I found a frame with a loose joint next. I set it on the felt and checked the glass before I let myself look at the empty camera stand.

Calder had not moved from behind me. When I finally turned, his jaw was tight in a way that had nothing to do with broken locks.

“It’ll be okay, baby doll. You’ll fix the damage.”

I appreciated that he understood how personal the harm was to me, but I couldn’t take the time to consider how much it meant to me.

Wraith joined us. “Safe bet they were searching for names and numbers connected to the lots you flagged yesterday.”