Page 41 of Long Past Deadly

“Likely. All the information is fluid. We sorted out enough details to eliminate Quaid Daniels as the target.” Jeezus, Alanna. Say it. “I recognize him. He’s the man who attacked my friend all those years ago.”

“You’re there to work on a cold case, Alanna.” That he switched to her first name didn’t comfort.

“Yes, sir. I am. But I used to live here when I was homeless. The man who was taking care of me on the streets disappeared two weeks ago. I’ve been searching for him. SDPD thinks he was badly hurt in a street fight, but no body. This man who attacked us in the parking lot, no name yet, knows Whit, my guardian from those years.”

“And your search triggered all this?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

The man sighed heavily enough for her to hear the exasperation. “Your. First. Call. Is. Me.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.” Quaid was at her window, arms crossed, face neutral. Covering her back.

“Write me a report on the progress on the Tenney case asap. We’ll keep this other under wraps for the moment, but I’m in the loop. You can’t wear the badge going rogue. I won’t have it.”

“I understand.” She bit her lip, trapping the relief needing to escape.

“You’re good, Williams. It’s why I put you on this cold case. The Tenney family has some powerful friends. They expect progress. But there’s procedures. Follow them and call me tomorrow with an update.”

“On which?”

“Both, and don’t get hurt again. Include those details in another report, please.” He disconnected.

She blew out a huge breath, blanked her phone, and opened the door.

“Not happy I take it?”

“He has a point. I can’t go rogue with this. I’m an FBI agent. I know the process, the law, and the protocols. I should have…”

“Stop. I get it. We’ll do that going forward. Still doesn’t change the steps we need to take. Are we leaving? Or are you firing some more?”

“I need to stop. I get what Mackey’s saying, but my ear hurts. I need a rest.”

“You need a cup of coffee and a Cait check up. Unfortunately, she’s doing Delaney’s surgery this morning, so we’ll have to swing by the medical bay and have Drucker take a look.”

Alanna groaned, then held up her hands in surrender. “He won’t be happy with me, I know. I have to write a report on the cold case and explain my injuries, both to be turned in by the end of the day.”

“Covering bases?” Quaid sent a text message. “Telling Mackey we have to leave.”

“No, it’s Ryker’s way of reminding me who is in charge. He’s not wrong. What’s the deal with Delaney?”

“Got hurt in Afghanistan and his arm didn’t get treated correctly. He’s struggled with it for years. Cait met him in the ED. She’s going to fix it. In the process, we hired him. He’s a good supervisor. He was living on the streets, too. It’s how he knows Whit.”

“Yeah, I got that part. So she’s doing it because…?”

“She can.”

Mackey strode out the front door, opened the back of the SUV, and deposited their weapons. Quaid shut her door and got in the back. Mackey got in front to drive.

“Sorry, Mac. I’ll try again tomorrow.”

He nodded. “I need coffee.”

“You are not alone,” she muttered, closing her eyes and rubbing the bridge of her nose. Reports, threats, pain… hell of a way to start the day. At least all her shots were in bullseye territory on the target.

&&&&&&&&&&

Quaid left Alanna to her medic visit and report writing and went to his office. After keeping himself close to her since the shooting, he needed a minute to think. He was diving into the deep end with her, not his usual relationship behavior. Those were best described as one, gone, repeat with another woman. He guarded himself better these days.