Page 59 of Under Fire in Big Sky

“Is a radio frequency detector really necessary?” It was designed to scan for hidden listening and tracking devices.

Tristan shrugged. “I’m only following instructions, Ms. Lane. I need to check you again with this before you can speak with Shepherd. Do I have your consent?”

She squashed a sigh, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her frustration. “Yes,” she said, hoping the thing glitched.

Tristan turned on the handheld device. The RF detector hummed faintly as he waved it around her. Each pass near the necklace triggered a chorus of beeps, the wand lighting up like a Christmas tree. “Please remove the necklace and hand it to me.” He held out his palm.

“Eli, hold your position. I’m fine.” She yanked off the necklace and gave it to the kid.

Tristan dropped it on the ground and smashed the pendant under the heel of his boot. He gathered the shattered remnants and tossed them several feet away. Then he took out a cell phone from the backpack.

“Where’s Shepherd?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the phone. “I thought our conversation was going to be in person.”

“That’s what he’d prefer, but it’s entirely up to you.” Tristan pressed a single digit, dialing a programmed number, and hit the video camera icon. “Everything that happens in this park is your choice.” The phone rang and someone picked up on the other end, but she couldn’t see the screen. “Shepherd, I have Ms. Lane for you.” Tristan offered her the phone.

She took it and stared at the man on the screen. He was exactly as Audrey described. A form-fitting Henley highlighted an athletic build. Full head of thick black hair. Beard. Glasses.

But his eyes.

Her breath hitched in her throat, her blood turning to ice. The hair was a different color. Darker. The glasses and beard looked strange, out of place.

Those eyes. She recognized those sharp green eyes.

But it couldn’t be.

“Hello, Olivia.” The familiar velvety voice she remembered so well.

It was her old partner. Sean Gannon.

Chapter Thirteen

Pressure built behind Eli’s sternum as he watched Olivia and Tristan through the binoculars. He gritted his teeth over the fact that he wasn’t at her side. Even though she was trained in hand-to-hand combat, she didn’t have a gun on her. The kid had checked her with an RF detector, and now, she didn’t have a GPS tracker, or an active listening device either.

The thought of her even needing to fight her way out of a situation while pregnant sent a bolt of cold fear straight into his heart.

“I wonder why the need for an RF detector,” Autumn said over comms. “Is it just to keep her conversation with Shepherd private?”

“Why the need for such privacy?” Chance asked. “You’re not law enforcement, so he can’t be worried about saying anything incriminating. What would Shepherd need to hide from you that he’s willing to say to Olivia?”

Excellent questions that did nothing to put his mind at ease. “I still don’t have eyes on Shepherd. Do you guys see anything on the drones?” Eli asked. “Anything unusual? Another person approaching?”

One by one, they all gave the same response. “Nothing.”

Eli adjusted the focus wheel on the binoculars, zooming in. The magnification was high-powered, the optics clear. It was easy for him to keep track of her at a distance with the yellow poncho she wore. Part of him was grateful to have her in sight. The other part was well aware the binoculars were a tool of control and manipulation to keep him from going into the forest.

Tristan reached into the backpack and handed Olivia a cell phone. She took it, holding the phone up—a video call—and spoke to someone.

Eli’s view of the screen was blocked by Tristan.

Was she talking to Shepherd? Did he drag her all the way out into the forest for a phone call? More importantly, what were they saying?

Anxiety welled in his chest.

“What’s happening?” Chance asked.

“She just got on the phone, presumably with Shepherd.”

“We’re not going through all this just for a phone call,” Bo said. “Are we?”