Her unsure tone had Rocky sitting up a bit straighter in his chair. “What do you meanifshe was acting out of duty to her job? From what I understand, Raegan singlehandedly took down the suspect, withzeroloss of life or injury to anyone other than the guy with the gun. A highly volatile situation involving open gunfire and hostages…” He glanced around at the others. “That’s impressive by anyone’s standards.”
“I’m not implying Miss Perry had anything to do with the robbery or its planning,” Foster addressed him directly. “In fact, Agent Atwell gave her props when she spoke to Perry at the bank shortly after the incident. But you know as well as I do that in cases such as this, everyone’s a suspect until they’ve been cleared.Especiallythe bank employees. In addition, knowing she recently moved into a house that’s right next door to a Delta Team operative, we also can’t rule out the possibility that this has something to do with you or your team.”
The powerful woman had a point, and Rocky fucking hated it. Oftentimes, bank robberies ended up being an inside job. Not that he believed Raegan would ever be a part of something like that.
Because you know the woman so well? It’s been less than a week, Rock. And in that time, Raegan’s shared bupkis about herself or her past.
His inner voice was right. Shehadbeen pretty tight-lipped about herself the other night. In fact, the woman had changed the subject damn near every time he’d tried asking more about her.
Raegan had also seemed more than a little interested in the private security firm he worked for. But, like an idiot, he’d gone straight to her being in danger.
The extra locks…the woman’s somewhat odd behavior when it came to revealing anything personal…breaking eye contact the second he mentioned her childhood or where she’d grown up.
It had all seemed like blaring signs of distress or some sort of perceived danger. But what if he’d had it all wrong?
Feeling more confused than he had in a long damn time, Rocky’s muddled thoughts churned up even more unsettling questions…
What if Raegan wasn’t in danger herself, but instead, shewasthe danger? What if she and the men who’d robbed the banks were working together, and this whole thing really was part of a bigger plan to terrorize the citizens of Chicago?
A swirling pool of doubt began to churn deep inside his gut as he went back over Agent Foster’s other concern. The one implying the possibility that Raegan had purposely rented the house next door to him because either he or the team as a whole were the real targets.
That can’t be it…can it?
Rocky let his back fall against the chair’s deep red leather as he ran a hand over the slight bit of stubble covering his jaw. God, he hated feeling this way. It was like his thoughts were alloverthe fucking place where she was concerned.
Best case, Raegan was simply in the wrong place at the right time today, and she had nothing to do with the bank robbing scheme. Worst case, she was involved ass-deep, and her decision to relocate next to him was either part of the plan or pure coincidence.
Either way, he was determined to uncover the truth.
“I’ll dig into Rock’s neighbor and the dumbasses the feds have in custody first,” Liam offered. “Once I see where they stand, I’ll start in on the other bank employees. If there’s something there, I’ll find it.”
“I have no doubt.” Agent Foster smiled.
“Anything else we can do from our end?” Jagger’s dark gaze fell on the attractive Homeland agent. “You know…something other than sitting on our asses and waitin’ for shit to happen, that is?”
“Well, Mr. Brooks…” Foster turned her pretty gaze Jagger’s direction. “I assumed you’d be reading over the files I sent a few minutes ago. But feel free to stand while you look it over. I’d hate for yourassto get too tired from all the sitting.”
Rocky’s lips twitched with the urge to smile. Cade and Liam both let out audible snorts, while Christian and Brody did their best not to smile.
I think I might like Agent Foster even more now. After all, any woman who can stand up to Jagger Brooks…
“I’ll contact you again when I know more,” Foster addressed the group as a whole. “Until then, watch your backs and stay diligent. Today could easily have been a one-off organized by a low-level gang of bored, entitled millennials. Or?—”
“It could be something else,” Rocky finished for her.
“Exactly. And until we know for sure, we have no choice but to treat this as a possible start to something bigger. With that in mind, I’d appreciate you keeping yourselves available. Just in case.”
“We’ll clear our schedules for the rest of the week and go from there,” Christian offered.
“Perfect.” A friendly smile lifted Agent Foster’s bow-shaped lips. “Thanks again, gentlemen. I’ll be in touch.”
The screen went black, and Liam immediately turned Rocky’s way. “Give me a few hours, and I’ll have everything there is to know about your neighbor. If you want, I can just email it all over when I’m through.”
“Actually, can you hold off sending it to me?”
The other man looked thoroughly confused. “You want me to wait? I mean, I can, but…why?”
They had no choice but to dig deep into her life, he knew. Not when the city’s safety was potentially on the line. But until he had the chance to talk to her first…