I hope like hell that’s all it is.
“Liam.” Christian looked to the tech genius. “The files Agent Atwell sent have the names and info on all three of the bank robbers in custody. We need a deep dive into each of them, plus the bank employees.”
“Guess I know what my plans are for this evening.” The tech genius feigned disappointment.
Truth was, Liam lived for that shit.
“Cross reference the employees with the suspects. See if there’s a connection between any of them. Also, if the bank’s security footage isn’t included in Foster’s email, access it. We need to see how these robberies went down and…” The man’s dark gaze slid to Rocky’s as he added, “I’d really like to see your neighbor’s reaction as the robbery was taking place inside her bank.”
You and me both, brother.
Asking someone point-blank questions was one thing. Watching the robbery take place as it had in real-time…being able to assess Raegan’s body language and facial expressions as she returned fire and then physically fought the asshole with the gun…
That would tell him a whole hell of a lot about her state of mind and intent. The witness he’d spoken to at the scene had sure acted as if Raegan was some kind of superhero.
Now it was on him to prove she wasn’t actually the villain.
6
Raegan staredout her kitchen window, relieved to see the house next door still blanketed in darkness. Rocky’s black Ford F150 Raptor sat motionless in the driveway, just as it had since she’d heard him pull in an hour before.
Given the concern he’d shown for her earlier today, she’d fully expected him to show up on her doorstep the second he got home. It’s why, after showering and preparing for tonight, she’d kept the lights off and her curtains pulled shut.
I think I’m just going to go home, crawl in bed, and wake up tomorrow as if this whole day never happened.
That’s what she’d told him earlier, back at the bank. At the time, Raegan had meant every single word of that statement. But on the drive home, she began processing all that had happened, and by the time she’d turned onto her new street, a different plan had begun to take shape.
It’s time.
She’d tried playing the long game, but that shit was done and over with. No more late-night stakeouts that yielded jack crap. No more sneaking around, peeking through windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of something credible to take to the authorities.
No more waiting.
Any one of those bullets could’ve struck her today. She could’ve died right there in the middle of a damn bank. And if that had happened…if she no longer existed…there’d be no one left to get justice for her friends.
I can’t wait any longer. I have to do this. I have to know for sure.
Only she already knew. In her heart, Raeganknewthe man she’d seen go in and out of the house down the street was the same son of a bitch responsible for the deaths of her friends. And after three years of being made to feel like she was crazy due to her life-altering grief…
I’m fucking done.
Another quick glance out the small window above her sink, and she felt confident in her ability to keep her actions hidden from the man next door.
Rocky’s face filled her mind’s eye as Raegan turned to leave the darkened room. Using the moonlight as her guide, she made her way through the living room and to the rental home’s back door.
Her pulse moved at a slightly heightened speed as a shot of pre-action adrenaline began making its way into her veins. Aside from today’s robbery—and that day a couple of weeks ago when she’d spotted a terrorist living among the innocent—Raegan had gone three years without feeling the familiar rush.
Battle-ready. That’s what Chief Tupper used to call it.
You know how to tell you’re battle-ready, Lieutenant? It’s when that rush of adrenaline hits, and you can’t wait to put boots on the ground.
Well, the adrenaline was there, and she couldn’t get her black-laced boots out the door fast enough. Only…
Slow and low, Lieutenant. The enemy spots you before you can get to them, it won’t matter how fast those short legs of yours can move.
Raegan’s hand froze half-a-second after she grabbed the doorknob. Taking a moment to recenter and regroup, she drew in a long, deep breath.
Five, four, three, two…