“And you didn’t kill this asshole, McManus?”
“Och, I wanted to break his neck, but I couldnae because I was holdin’ her and he had two armed goons wi’ him.”
“Shields?” Tower was getting impatient.
Elizabeth gave them a report as if she were checking in from the field, keeping it professional, focusing on relevant people and events—and omitting the fact that she and Quinn were sleeping together.
“Then, this evening when I was printing Jack’s phone records, the man who attacked Quinn made it past the hotel’s security cameras, hacked our door locks, and planted a total of six kilos of cocaine and small amounts of other drugs in our rooms. Because Quinn had turned on his security camera, we were alerted and able to get rid of the drugs before the police arrived. It was a very close call.”
“Why didn’t you just show them the footage?” Tower asked.
Elizabeth deferred to Quinn on that question.
“We’d likely be facin’ vandalism and privacy charges if we’d done that.”
“Let me make sure I understand this.” Tower wasn’t happy. “Two of our key operatives took vacation time following a successful but exhausting mission and are using that time, which is intended for them to rest and return to peak performance, to track down a murderer, resulting in physical injury and a threat to their freedom and their lives? Do I have that right?”
Elizabeth knew it was best for them to own it. “Yes.”
“Shields is only here because I asked her—”
“Yeah, man, we got that part.” Corbray seemed to mull it all over. “A guy decks Shields when you asked him about drug smuggling yesterday, and someone planted drugs on you this evening.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Suspicious timing,” Tower said.
“Agreed.” Corbray nodded. “I’m guessing neither of you is willing to let the police handle this and come back to the US on the next flight.”
Quinn shook his head. “Jack was my best friend. We fought together for ten years. You both know what that means. I promised his wife I’d do whatever I could to help catch this bastard.”
“I promised Quinn I’d help with the intel side of things.”
Corbray nodded. “That’s what I thought. We’re going to end the call now. Tower and I need to talk. We’ll call you back shortly.”
The screen went blank.
“Well, that wisnae so bad.” Quinn stood, moved behind Elizabeth, rested his hands on her shoulders.
“They’re not happy. I can tell you that much.”
“Aye, but they didnae fire us.”
“Not yet.”
Fifteen long minutes later, Corbray and Tower were back.
Corbray spoke first. “McManus, we understand you standing by a brother like this. Shields, in your way that’s what you’re doing, too, standing by McManus. But the killer is onto you. You were right to call, though we wish you’d called sooner.”
Elizabeth tried not to let her relief show.
“We’d like to go over parts of this in detail—the possible terrorist threat, in particular. But right now, the priority is getting the two of you to a safe location. Clearly, the hotel is not safe. We’re moving you to our suite in Glasgow within the hour.”
Elizabeth and Quinn looked at each other and then back at the screen.
“You’ve got a facility here—in Glasgow?” she asked.
It just figured.