Page 63 of Concrete Evidence
“Praise God.”
“Really? Roden nearly bled out.” Marc sighed. “But he is alive.”
“And he’ll recover, unless you lied to me.”
“I told you the truth.”
She rubbed the chill on her arms, and it had nothing to do with the air-conditioning in the dining room. The reality that Roden andMrs. Wilkins had been targeted by a shooter alarmed and angered her. “I despise what is happening.”
Marc glanced across the room to where his mother ate dinner alone. Sadness filled his gaze. “She swears my father didn’t tell her a thing about what he and Liam were investigating, except they could be in danger. But her claim doesn’t keep her safe. I’ll arrange for tighter security, possibly a safe house.”
“Your sister too. I’m sure the grandmother will agree.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Been worried sick about Tessa. You should join them.”
“Not until I’m convinced Granddad is okay. I’m beginning to think—” She lifted her chin.
“What?”
“I want to return to the ranch. There I can help Craig and be of some value instead of hiding in a hotel room. Staying here isn’t keeping me safe or anyone I talk to.”
“No way. Are you hungry?”
“Marc, changing the subject won’t change my mind.”
“My stomach’s growling.”
She shrugged. “Okay, we eat. Afterward you can digest my words.”
“Won’t alter what’s best for you. I like the idea of all three of the females in my life safe in the same place.”
A stew of annoyance simmered. “Is that who we are? Helpless females?”
“Far from it.”
He secured the server’s attention, and they ordered sandwiches and salads.
The more Avery pondered the idea of going home, the better she felt. Answers would be found in the familiar. “Here’s a picture of a guy checking out my car. I assume he’s legit. Does my car have a tracker?”
“Not any longer. The FBI will see about tracing it through themanufacturer. Will take a while. The tracker might have led someone to follow you to the FBI office, but it doesn’t answer how the wrong people knew you talked to me. You were also tailed to the restaurant. I assume the person or persons already had surveillance on my mother.”
“Who? Why?” She shook her head. “Sorry. What can you tell me? Doesn’t take much to see your father, Liam, and Granddad are in the same pasture.”
“And you, my mother, and sister are in danger by association.”
Granddad had wanted her out of harm’s way, but her precautions attracted evil. “I have my weapon.”
“A Sig registered to you. My guess is the sniper already knows you have it. By the way, the same burner number is recorded on phone records linked to you, the senator, Liam, and my father’s phones. Another reason I want you in a safe house until this is resolved. Not the Brazos River Ranch.”
“Cowards run.”
“Sometimes it takes more courage to run than fight a losing battle.”
Definitely felt like she’d taken a loser’s stand. “Here’s a thought. If our sniper has my information, then why did he blow up the car beside me instead of mine?”
“Good question, and I don’t have an answer—yet.”
“If we had an idea of who held the winning hand, they could be stopped,” she said. “I learned more about the accounting discrepancy. I’d been thinking about it since we talked earlier.”
