Caleb lifted both hands slightly. “We stayed behind the line.”
He glanced between them then let out a breath. “The show’s over. Let’s find your grandparents and call it a night.”
“Already?” she asked, glancing once more toward the protestors being loaded into a van.
“Already,” he repeated. His tone left no room for argument.
He rested a hand on her shoulder, steering her inside. The ballroom crowd had thinned, with the last guests heading for the exits. Arrests had a way of putting a damper on a celebration.
Coop walked straight to his parents. His mother looked up with a small smile. “Where did you find her?”
“Outside.” He immediately noticed the empty chair next to his. “Where’s Erica?”
His mother frowned. “She isn’t with you?”
Cold settled in his gut. “I asked an agent I know to escort her back. She should have returned by now.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Unknown number, extension not local.
“Cooper,” he answered curtly.
“Lieutenant, this is Price with the task force. We’ve got a situation in Garage Level One.”
Everything snapped into focus. “Talk to me.”
“The female you arrived with. She’s with Agent Morgan. There’s trouble.”
“Stay here,” he told his parents, already on the move.
“Forced movement from the elevator. She’s not cooperating. We’ve got men responding.”
He heard hesitancy in Price’s voice.
“Give me all of it,” he demanded.
“SUV idling nearby. We’re running plates now.”
He didn’t tell them not to bother. He already knew, but he was too busy dodging guests and servers as they cleared tables. He hit the corridor at a dead run. Skipping the elevator, Coop sprinted down the stairs to the lower level. When he pushed through the metal doors into the garage, the air smelled of exhaust.
A black Escalade sped past, moving too fast. Hazel eyes in a pale face appeared in the window.
“Erica!”
Their eyes locked for a moment. Then, he could only watch helplessly as the SUV shot toward the ramp, tires screeching.
He noticed movement near a concrete pillar. Kyle Morgan moved into the open, gun already raised. The sight stopped him cold.
“What have you done?”
Morgan tilted his head, appearing amused. “You don’t expect me to live on a government salary, do you?”
Rage roiled inside him. “You son of a—”
A gunshot rang out.
Coop ducked behind the nearest column, drew his weapon, and returned fire.
Morgan ducked as the round struck the pillar next to him, sending concrete dust into the air. He fired again while backing away. The shot pinged off the parked sedan beside him.
