Page 36 of Finding Carly
Jag waited impatiently for a response. He respected Baker. The man had an uncanny sixth sense. He knew whathethought, but wanted to know what the former SEAL was thinking, now that he’d been looking into the situation.
“My brain tells me that there’s nothing to find,” Baker said. “But my gut says differently. I can’t say for sure that I’m even looking at the right people. Keyes was an asshole, but he wasn’t stupid. He worked with a lot of people at the Coca-Cola plant, he could’ve talked any one of them into helping him. Detective Lee has done a good job interrogating the people Carly told him about, but Keyes likely had friends Carlydidn’tknow about.” Baker turned and met Jag’s gaze. “I’m on this.”
“On a scale of one to ten, how much danger do you think Carly’s in?” Jag asked bluntly.
“Five,” Baker said without hesitation.
Jag scowled. That wasn’t helpful. Not at all.
“It’s been months since that night,” Baker continued. “It’s obvious the accomplice is lying low. Not to mention, Carly’s been hibernating—which, for the record, I don’t think was a bad thing. There’s a good possibility that kept any accomplice from getting to her already. I hear she’s started working again.”
Jag nodded. “Part-time. Started yesterday, actually.”
“Right, trying to get back out there. Trying to reclaim her life. I admire that,” Baker said. “One of two things could happen…going about her regular business could light a fire under whoever Keyes was working with, set him off, make him try to finish what they started that night. Or he could slink back under the hole he came from, deciding she’s not worth the trouble.”
“And which do you think will happen?” Midas asked.
Baker looked at him. “I honestly have no clue.”
“Fuck,” Jag muttered.
“You can’t keep her in a gilded cage to protect her,” Mustang said quietly.
“I know,” Jag said. And he did. It was why he’d encouraged her to talk to her boss. To start working again. But that didn’t mean he was completely comfortable with it. “I’ve arranged for her to take some self-defense classes from Senior Chief Petty Officer Albertson,” Jag said.
Slate whistled low under his breath.
“Good choice,” Midas said. “I have to admit, she kind of scares me.”
Jag nodded. Elizabeth Albertson was in the Naval security force and was damn good at her job. She wasn’t a SEAL, but she’d actually gone through the training just to prove that womencoulddo it. She was the perfect choice to help Carly gain some confidence that if something happened, she could defend herself.
“Any chance Elodie can tag along?” Mustang asked.
“Oh, yeah! Kenna would love to try something like that,” Aleck agreed.
“Lexie too,” Midas said.
“Fuck. Well, we can’t leave Mo out then,” Pid said.
“I’ll try to convince Ashlyn to attend,” Slate added. “She thinks she’s invincible, and I hate that she goes to so many strangers’ houses delivering food.”
Jag nodded. “I’m sure Albertson wouldn’t mind.” He sobered and turned back to Baker. “If you were me, what would you do? Would you lock your woman away until we’ve got some concrete evidence, or would you encourage her to go about her normal life, albeit with a lot more caution?”
“I can’t answer that,” Baker said.
Jag sighed.
“If it was Monica, I’d lock her up and throw away the key,” Pid said. “But then again, Molikesbeing by herself. If I’d known she was in any danger whatsoever from that piece of shit Shane Beyer, I would’ve done just that.”
“Carly tried that. It didn’t help. It made her paranoia worse,” Jag said.
“She thrives on interacting with people,” Aleck said. “Like Kenna.”
“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Mustang said. “Let her live her life…while taking precautions.”
“Anything you need from us, you’ve got it,” Pid agreed.
“You need me to stay at your place?” Slate asked. “Give you another pair of eyes?”
