Giving in, I sat in front of the sofa. Beast––as I called him since he didn’t have a name yet––lumbered over, nudging his big head under my hand. He was already an attention-whore.
“He’ll need training, otherwise walking him will be a joke.” I scratched under his chin, chuckling when his hind leg began to thump against the floor. “I found your spot, huh, buddy?”
“Admit it. You love him.”
The ringing of my cell saved me from admitting the truth. I’d fallen for the four-legged shit machine. Snagging the offending device from the coffee table, I slid my finger across the screen when I saw who was calling.
“Gabriel, hang on a sec, man.” I got to my feet, holding the phone against my chest. “I’ve gotta take this, Sunshine. It’s about the case. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.”
“Okay, Gabe. Tell me what you found."
“You’ve got a mole, brother,” he started.
Gabe and his brothers had beefed up security at Sloane’s, but I’d also asked them to quietly look at the investigation into Erik Murray and Solace from back then. They had resources even Nelson didn’t have, namely the youngest del Toro, Enrico. Rico was one of the FBI’s greatest assets until he quit and joined his brothers to start Quattro Security. He made the best hackers in the world look like kindergarteners playing with an Etch-A-Sketch. If anyone could get the information I needed without tipping off the players, it was him. Quattro also wasn't restricted by the same governmental red tape we were.
Stepping onto the front porch, I rounded the corner, looking out over the yard where the twins' party would take place in a few hours. A mass of balloons, in all different colors, were tied to each of the five folding tables we’d rented from the same place as the bouncy house. The girl squad made an appearance last night to help put up the decorations for the superhero theme Reagan and Roganwanted. We’d even ordered red capes for the kids to wear. I wanted everything to be perfect for the first birthday I got to spend with them. Not even this phone call could dampen my mood.
“I figured as much. Who is it?”
“We don’t know, not yet.”
“Then what do you know?”
“Brace, brother.”
When Gabriel del Toro told you to brace, you fucking braced. Bending over, I put my forearms to the porch railing and my head in the hand not holding the phone. I sucked in a lungful of fresh mountain air, then gave him the go ahead.
“Hit me with it.”
“From what Rico found, he’s not able to tell whether or not your cover was blown, but Murray did know he was being investigated.”
“You’re positive?”
“Absolutely. I’ll forward you the file with the encrypted emails he found.”
“Fuck. So the IED…”
I left it hanging, unable to finish the sentence. Gabe didn’t have the same qualms.
“Could have been Erik Murray or someone else. We just don’t know.”
“Goddammit. Why does shit have to be so difficult?”
“Because if it was easy, we’d be out of a job.”
“Truth,” I huffed. “Let me know when you have a name.”
“Will do. And, Duncan?”
“Yeah?”
“Watch your back.”
“Couldyou maybe scowl for old times’ sake?”
“What the hell are you talking about, Shayne?”