Prestige, page 18
But that didn’t make sense because Randall and Ana couldn’t have been in town much longer than Troy had been. He’d only been in town eight days. Who would they have known well enough in eight days that Randall would not only have welcomed them into his home with his new wife but would have let his guard down enough that Ana would have been able to have been murdered in front of him?
It took years to develop that kind of trust. Especially for a guard who was used to seeing the darker side of people. That was why Randall had hidden his marriage to Ana from Troy. The trust was broken there, and he had wanted to protect his wife. He was too smart to let some stranger he didn’t know into his home.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he called the director again. “Did you reach the team?”
“Deon and Powell are on their way in. I haven’t been able to reach Hank yet.”
Troy’s stomach twisted into a tight knot. “When was the last time anyone saw him?”
“I put everyone on leave after we got done questioning them. So…three weeks.”
Troy dragged a hand over his face. “Check his phone records. See if he was in contact with Randall during that time.”
“That’s going to take—”
“Whoever killed Randall and Ana was welcome in their home,” he stated. “They weren’t expecting what happened to them.”
The director was quiet for a moment. “You think it was Hank?”
“I think it was someone who Randall trusted. I think someone convinced Randall I was a monster and used him to frame me. You said Hank is the only member of our team unaccounted for. Who else could get inside Randall’s head like that?”
The director let out a loud groan. “Goddamn it,” he muttered, but at least he didn’t argue with Troy about how Hank would never do something like that. “I’ll get on it and call you back as soon as I can.”
“Thanks.” Troy ended the call and immediately dialed Meri’s number. Despite everything he’d seen at the scene, his stress instantly eased at the sound of her voice. When he had said that he’d missed her, he didn’t think she could possibly understand how much he’d meant.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“It looks like this was a homicide. I don’t have any evidence yet, but I’m starting to suspect Hank was planting some pretty ugly seeds in Randall’s head to get him to do the dirty work.”
“Oh my God,” Meri breathed.
“Are you at the house?”
“Yeah.”
“Is Joanie still there?”
“No, she left about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Okay. I’m going to wrap things up here and then I’ll be on my way.” He glanced around before adding, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice.
Troy ended the call, but he couldn’t stop himself from grinning. A day ago, he was worried they’d never recover from all they had gone through. Now he wondered how he had ever doubted that she could understand the mistake he’d made when he had slept with Sarah.
He was about to tell Justin that he wanted copies of Randall’s notes once they had been processed when a uniformed officer came rushing into the house.
“We have footage,” he called. “We got him!”
12
Meri leaned on the table with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee as she listened to Logan slowly putting the letters of his new favorite book into words and the words into short sentences.
She had no idea what reading level a six-year-old should be at, but she thought his skills were pretty impressive. She had leaned closer, ready to help him sound out a word that he’d gotten stuck on when she heard a car approaching.
Unlike the other safe house, this one had neighbors, and more times than not, the vehicle drove past them to houses farther down the road. She tilted her head to listen.
This car stopped.
She slid her chair back and walked to the window, expecting to see Troy returning from Randall’s.
Her stomach dropped at the sight of Hank Malony easing his car door shut.
“Run!”
And just like that, Logan dashed off.
By the time she pulled her gun and flipped the safety, she heard his bedroom door close. He’d be at the neighbor’s house asking them to call 9-1-1 in a matter of minutes. Even so, she held her gun in one hand, ready to fire, and tapped out a text to Troy and Lynn with the other.
9-1-1
They would know that meant trouble. They would come running.
Her heart began painfully pounding in her chest as she watched Hank closing in on the house. The sense of danger she felt was intensified. Not only was the witness she had to protect a sweet, innocent little boy, but she had worked with Hank for a long time. She knew he was good with a gun and with hand-to-hand combat. Everything she knew about his strengths, he also knew about hers.
Though he had to have known better, the first thing he did was try the doorknob. As if she was sitting in a safe house with the door open. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was for him to knock and announce his presence.
Did he really expect her to answer?
“Meri,” he called through the door. “Meri, it’s Hank.”
She didn’t respond.
He knocked again. “Meri! Open the door!”
“Not a chance you mother…foxer,” she whispered so he wouldn’t hear. She glanced over her shoulder, verifying the bedroom door was secure. She had to delay long enough for Logan to escape.
Two knocks, two pleas to open the door. She had no doubt Hank wasn’t going to ask nicely a third time.
As she expected, a loud thud caused the door to shudder. He was kicking at the spot beside the lock. Too bad for him, there were two bolts, and the door was solid oak. She took several deep, calming breaths as he continued kicking. He’d give up soon and shoot at the locks. Then he’d gain entry, and she’d be ready.
Standing off to the side so she didn’t get hit by any bullet that might make it through the wood, she stood with her feet shoulder-width apart. Her gun aimed. Her breathing steady. Her finger on the trigger.
He would not get to Logan. He would not hurt that kid.
Four shots was all it took to destroy the bolts. With one more kick, the door flew open, and she was face-to-face with her former teammate. His face was red from his effort, and his breath was loud and choppy. When he caught her gaze, he put his gun on her, but he looked sympathetic about it.
She thought for a moment that it was probably similar to the look she’d given Troy when she’d confronted him.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said.
“Tell that to the front door,” she stated.
“I’m here to protect Logan.”
She smirked. “Yeah. I keep hearing that line.”
“He’s in danger. Troy—”
“Troy was cleared of all charges.”
Hank quirked his brow, clearly surprised by what she’d said. “No, Meri. Listen to me. Troy killed the Bantams and took Logan because he needed a ploy to get close to you.”
She would have rolled her eyes if she’d dared take them off him for one second.
“Troy has been cleared. Randall set him up.”
Hank shook his head. “You can’t listen to him. You can’t trust him. He has lost his mind.”
“He turned himself in. They did an investigation. They released him, Hank. Randall set him up.” She saw the confusion in his eyes. He never was very good at having a poker face. “Put your gun down.”
He continued with his internal debate before shaking his head, clearly deciding he wasn’t going to listen to her. “Where’s the boy?”
“Put the gun down,” she said again, emphasizing each word.
“He’s a Lochlin Private Security asset.”
“He’s a terrified child. I’m not telling you again. Put the gun down.”
Hank kept his weapon on her. “I’m sorry, Meri. But you’re no longer a member of our team. You have no right to come between me and my client.”
“Hank,” she stated, her final warning. “Lower your gun.”
“Meri,” he said softly in response, “you’re standing between me and my job. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her finger twitched…
A shot rang out, and Hank took two small steps toward her before falling to his knees and crumpling onto the floor at her feet.
The shot had come from behind him.
She looked at the door, expecting to see Troy or one of the Prestige team members. Instead, Director Bruce stepped through, his gun still aimed at Hank. Meri finally exhaled the breath she’d barely been allowing so she could hold her gun steady. Lowering her weapon, she let out a slight laugh as relief filled her.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. “I thought you were in New York.”
“I flew back with Troy. He didn’t tell you?”
She shook her head. “No.” She watched him take Hank’s pulse before she felt safe enough to holster her weapon. “Where is he?”
“He’s still at Randall’s.” The director stood and smiled. “It’s just us. You and me. And Logan.”
Meri creased her brow. His tone, his posture, the strange look in his eyes. The hair on the nape of her neck stood as her instinct screamed at her that she was still in danger. Lowering her gaze to his right hand, she noticed he was still holding a weapon. But it wasn’t his. He’d taken the gun from Hank’s hand. He had his finger on the trigger. If he had to shoot someone—her…Logan—he was going to use Hank’s weapon.
“Where is he?”
She stood a bit taller, more aware, but didn’t want to let him know she’d realized something was off. Instead of telling him the kid had long ago climbed from the window and was seeking help, she licked her lip and nodded down the hall. “He’s hiding. Let me go get him,” she said. “Tell him it’s safe.”
She stared him down but didn’t open her mouth.
“Tell him to come out, Meri.”
After swallowing hard, she managed to shake her head. “He won’t come out unless I use our secret code. I have to knock out a pattern.”
He tilted his head. “Meri. Tell him to come out. Right now.”
Any doubt that she might have had vanished. Suddenly it all made sense. The killer was someone on the inside who could plant evidence and turn the other guards against Troy. Someone on the inside could find and murder the Bantams without being caught. Someone who had hidden the payoff so well that it couldn’t be traced.
Or someone so high on the food chain that his accounts hadn’t been investigated.
He smiled a know-it-all smile. He realized she’d finally figured him out.
“Logan!” he yelled.
The house remained silent. The bedroom door stayed closed.
“He won’t come out,” she told him.
He didn’t listen. “Logan. If you don’t come out right now, I’m going to shoot Meri. I’m going to kill her.”
“You idiot,” she said with a smirk. “He’s long gone. We didn’t show him where to hide. We showed him how to escape. He’s gone.”
“You’re lying.”
She shook her head at him. “How could you do this? How much did they pay you to sell your soul?”
He smiled. “Sell my soul?”
“You killed them for money, and now you’re trying to wrap up your messy-ass job by killing Logan. Why?”
“Why does anyone do anything, Meri? I needed the money. Bantam was dirty. He was laundering money through his company and got greedy. Pissed off the wrong people.”
“And you sold him out. You were supposed to be protecting him. His son! You’re going to kill a kid for money?”
“No. I was only going to kill Richard. Troy and his damn gut feelings. If he hadn’t taken them to a safe house, Sharon and Logan never would have gotten caught up in this. I could have killed Richard, and they could have gone on with their lives. Troy did this.”
“Seriously?” Meri asked. “You’re blaming Troy for being too good at his job? That’s your excuse for hunting down a little boy?”
The director lifted his gun, taking aim at her head. “I didn’t want to hurt him, but I won’t lose everything over a kid. Or a former employee.”
Meri swallowed. The cold look in his eyes made it clear that she was out of time. She slid to the left as she reached for her gun in one quick movement. She had just grasped the butt when the director pulled his trigger.
Pain burned her right arm as the bullet grazed her. She was still able to pull her Glock from her hip. However, before she could take aim, she heard the distinct sound of Logan screaming.
As she looked over her shoulder, he opened his bedroom door and ran toward her.
“No!” she ordered, but he kept running anyway. Putting her body between the director and Logan, she gasped as another bullet hit her. This time above her right hip. If she hadn’t blocked the way, Logan would have taken the shot. That knowledge gave her the strength to ignore the pain and finish what had been started.
She managed to get two shots off. She didn’t know where they hit Director Bruce, but he jerked twice before stumbling back.
Grabbing Logan’s hand, she dragged him toward the door. She had to get him out of the house. Stumbling across the deck, she managed to get them to the stairs before a car came speeding down the road.
Troy.
Meri focused on getting Logan down the stairs and into Troy’s arms. That was all that mattered. Troy could save him. She had to save him. She made it to the stairs before her strength started to fade.
“Go,” she said, urging Logan to run faster. “Get to Troy.”
“Meri!” a voice called from behind her.
She spun as Director Bruce stopped on the deck, glaring at her. Raising her gun, she got off two more shots. One missed, but the other hit him in the forehead. She watched him collapse on the wood before she fell to her knees, no longer able to stand.
The pain was too much, and her head was spinning.
But Logan was safe.
That was all that mattered, she told herself as she closed her eyes and fell forward.
Relief rushed through Troy as he carried Logan into the room where Meri was after a surgeon removed the bullet from her hip and stitched her up. Her face was pale, but she opened her eyes and offered them a soft smile.
Logan squirmed down and rushed to the bed.
“Take it easy, bud,” Troy warned.
“It’s okay,” Meri said weakly as she lifted her arms. Logan climbed onto the bed and gave her a hug. “Oh, you scared me,” she said, hugging him close.
“You scared me too,” he said. “You got shot.”
Troy ruffled his hair. “She’s okay.”
“I’m better than okay,” Meri said. “How are you?”
Logan sank back. “I’m okay. I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I was scared to leave you with the bad guy.”
“It’s okay,” Meri told him. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”
“But you did,” Logan said quietly.
“I’m all right.”
Troy couldn’t be happier about that. She had lost some blood, but she would be fine. He had a million questions about what had happened, but that was going to have to wait.
Lynn said the police who were investigating were already starting to figure some things out. As soon as Troy had seen the director approach Randall’s house on the security footage, everything fell into place. Well, not everything, but enough for him to realize his entire team had been patsies for the director’s scheme—whatever his scheme had been.
They hadn’t found money in the man’s accounts like Troy had expected they would, but they’d found the files on Meri. The director had known all along that Troy wasn’t behind the images. He’d set him up and turned his team against him.
When Troy had pressed Deon and Powell about what had happened that night, they confirmed the director had called and ordered them outside to check the perimeter. When they returned, the Bantams were dead. There was no evidence that the director himself killed the couple, but he had made it possible for someone else to. Until they found out who, there could still be danger, but for the most part, Troy felt comfortable that the mole had been found, and as soon as Logan was placed in a new safe house, he’d be safe.
Lochlin Private Security was going to put him with someone. A family member, but if one couldn’t be found, the boy would end up in foster care.
Tears unexpectedly stung Troy’s tears. A side effect of being so damn exhausted, he decided as he blinked before Meri could notice. But she looked up at him, and her eyes were also glazed. He knew her heart was aching too. She knew the score.
“Oh my God,” Trista said as her eyes grew wide. “You guys are so much cuter than the Donnellys ever were.”
Troy laughed softly as he sat back. However, when he looked at her, he realized that Trista hadn’t come in to tell them that they were adorable.
“What is it?”
Her face sagged, and sadness touched her eyes. “There are some guards here to transport Logan.”
Damn it. That was sooner than Troy was expecting. Meri hugged Logan closer and pressed her nose into his curls.
“No,” Logan whined and tightened his hold on Meri.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. She kissed his head, but the dread in her eyes as she looked at Troy was unmistakable. She didn’t want to let him go. “Listen, buddy, they’re going to take care of you now.”
“I want to stay with you.”
“I know,” she said. “I wish I could take care of you forever, but I can’t.”
“But you’re my mom now. We said so.”
Meri closed her eyes and creased her brow. “Troy will be with you. He’s going to stay with you.”
“What about you?”
She looked up at Troy. Asking her to explain that she’d never be allowed to see him again was a bit much given all she’d been through. Troy reached down and tugged Logan’s hold on her free and lifted him off the bed.
“We’ll talk to Meri soon, okay?” Troy said.
“Go,” Meri said.
