Page 67 of Long Past Deadly

He dumped their coffee and left Lani’s cup by the pot. Niles was nowhere around, but he didn’t answer to Quaid. He managed things, and Quaid’s life stayed in order and safe. He poured himself a full cup leaving some for Alanna, went to the terrace, and dialed Elizabeth’s number. Because the question that slammed him sideways was this: Where in the hell were he and Alanna going with this? And why was his inner voice shouting yes while his gut was tied in a knot?

She answered, not with a hello but a comment. “This place is humming. What happened?”

“Too many things to recount. Dubai, Whit, and Alanna with an idea which is making me question everything. Do you remember when I joined the Marines?” He didn’t usually bring this up because she had encouraged and helped him, then when her son had wanted the same thing, she’d signed his paperwork and supported him all the way, too. And now that much-loved son was dead.

“You were angry, struggling for purpose, and not wanting to go the direction of either your parents or your grandfather. I remember the talk.”

“I don’t regret the choice, Elizabeth. I was thankful I had you to talk straight to me.”

She stayed silent, then asked what he expected. “Do you need me to talk straight to you?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure what I expect to hear.”

Elizabeth was raised on one of the oldest ranches in California where horse manure was horse manure, and she didn’t mince words. “I like her, Quaid. She’s smart and dedicated, and isn’t the type who quits easily. Those are the three things I’d ask for you to find in someone you care about.”

That Elizabeth figured out he cared deeply about Alanna didn’t surprise him in the least. “She wants me to make a choice to support her professionally, and I’m stuck in hell no. This is personal. I’m losing objectivity.”

“She wants you to use her to draw out this maniac, and you want to protect.”

“How did you guess?”

“I sat in on a briefing in Operations during the night. I don’t usually stick my nose in there, but I had an extended conversation with Zephren about you and QM.”

“What about me and QM?”

“He expected you to tinker with this business and drop it like you did the Marines and the CIA.”

“I almost died in the CIA, Elizabeth. War is dirty, and so is spying, and so is killing people. Redemption isn’t simple. My service and those lasting nightmares changed my perspective of duty and country. I practice those ideals in a safer place now. Besides, that career introduced me to a circle of people I trust implicitly, which is more than I get from my family. What did you tell him?”

“I asked him how it felt out there in the cold. That if he wanted to come in, he should get his ass to San Diego and observe firsthand what you’ve built.”

“What we’ve built.”

“What we’ve built. This company has layers of integrity woven into its core strengths, and we’re strong financially because we’ve been smart and future-oriented in everything we’re doing. That’s you and Mackey, with Harrison and I, putting this company on the radar of every corporate and government entity who needs our assistance. He needs to analyze those connections, and until he does, ignore him and your parents. But back to Alanna. What’s your take?”

“This man is dangerous.”

“Agreed. But so is every employee of this company, minus me and Celissa. Even Cait has more grit than I do – the Navy SEAL influence.”

“And a humanitarian mission gone awry.”

“That, too. I wouldn’t want to be in a dark alley with you or Mackey or Bailey, or Remy, etc. etc. You are all a threat. Alanna is holding her own.”

“She is.”

“Trust that. Help her. Don’t hinder her. Enough said?”

“Yeah. I have to go talk to Cait and Hunt. Oh, and Elizabeth, lock down. Tell Mac to move us to the next security level until we find this motherfucker.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“QM, your house, Safe Harbor, my house. The whole thing. Alert everyone to go into ambush mode at home and at work. I am not trusting this guy to not try a missile through the front door.”

Elizabeth hissed. “You’re not kidding.”

“No, I’m not. I cannot tell you what it did to me at the LA Patton to have Alanna crash through that plateglass window and land in front of me with blood all over her. Let’s not do that again. To anybody.”

“Copy. I’ll pass that along.”