Page 14 of Long Past Deadly

Mackey rose, too. “I’m going to grab some food and get some sleep. I’ll message in a few hours.”

Quaid followed him to the door. “Thanks, Mac. Let me tell Hunt and Cait about their house.”

“Oh, I’d already made that decision. Day after tomorrow they’ll be home. They’re all yours.”

In a rare move, Mackey pulled him into a bro hug. “Glad you’re not dead.”

“Thanks for having my back.”

“Always.” Mackey left, leaving him alone with Alanna. Their only buffer would be Niles.

Given her prickly attitude about his money, he had no idea how the next few hours would go, but Niles would need to support her requests, too. They had to meet.

&&&&&&&&&&

“You have a butler?” How had she missed this in the two weeks she’d been at QM? Not that they’d taken her around and introduced her to everyone. They hadn’t.

Meeting Niles Benton had throw her for a loop – a truth she didn’t utter. But she never lied to herself no matter what the subject. Trying to be cool and cooperative before having any food and coffee left her shaky, and she sighed in relief when the man left.

Quaid’s lazy answer finally came. “He’s more of a body man. He handles so many things including houses, cars, QM stuff, friends, clothes, guns, money, and family events. Cooks to boot.”

“And you’re telling me this, why?”

“Because he’s going to be in and out, organizing what he brought to get us through, and you needed to meet him. He’s a good resource for every problem you want handled discreetly or fast.”

Alanna paused with her fork ready to take another bite of the chicken. She had coffee at her elbow, but would kill for some mac n’ cheese. “I can’t even imagine what that would be.”

“Watch and learn.” Quaid sat back, his empty coffee cup in hand, tiredness in deep lines across his face.

“Any news on our investigation?” She took a bite, determined to fuel her body even if she’d expected not to like the meal. She was pleasantly surprised by the taste and worked her way through the courses. If she wasn’t careful, she’d gobble.

“No identity on our shooter. His car is in police custody and being analyzed. I’m reviewing my CIA cases in my head. You should do the same with your FBI ones.”

“I told you. It’s not me. I wasn’t working on anything in any way that would cause this.”

“Do it anyway, if only to eliminate possibilities.”

She stayed silent through several more bites. For some reason, agreeing with him scratched at her sense of self. But there was no logic in disagreeing. Plate cleared, she sipped her coffee. “You need sleep. I could use some more.”

Quaid glanced at his watch. “Close to four a.m. I’ll sleep for four hours and get started.”

“On?”

“I have a few ideas, but they’re better left until I’ve rested for a bit. How are you at computer research?”

“I can hold my own.”

“Deal. Let’s rest.”

Alanna wiped her mouth, assessing security options and what would make the uneasiness in her gut go away. “I’d prefer to take a weapon to bed with me.”

Quaid rose and went to the bar. “Me, too. Keep your door unlocked, though. We can get to each other faster if there’s no barriers.”

He came back with her Glock. Careful not to touch him, she gripped the handle he offered her. She checked the weapon and verified the load but stopped mid-check to stare.

Quaid was stacking the dishes. He loaded them on the rolling cart and moved the food trolley into the hallway. She tried to hear the conversation with the guard, but gave up. Quaid returned to the table and grabbed the burner phone.

“Good night, Alanna. Leave the lights on.”