Page 24 of Long Past Deadly

“What did you tell Frank?”

“Only what he had already figured out, and I added the Coronado Patton and where your vehicle had been. Since you’re not driving it anymore, the info doesn’t matter. He doesn’t know your sports car is in Cait and Hunt’s garage, though. They’ll be home tomorrow.”

Quaid put a hand over his mouth and rubbed his lips. “That’s going to be a hell of a conversation. The gear is all with Niles. We can return everything we took.”

“Good plan. I’ll be implementing some supply locations going forward.” Mackey turned into the entrance and waved at the double guards at the security booth. “We’re also reorganizing our security arrangements.”

Quaid stabilized Alanna so her head didn’t wobble. “Pull up under the portico.”

“Really? I was going to park at the back end of the parking lot.” Mackey’s sarcasm had a cutting edge.

“I’m tired, Mac. Give it a rest. I’m worried about this whole situation.”

“You, my friend, are not alone. It’s been a rough twelve hours.”

Mackey pulled to a stop under the awning of the building and put the car in park. Delaney exited, too, and went to the driver’s side to move the car when they were out. Clean clothes, a shave, and a job had improved the man’s looks and disposition. His arm in a sling from a long ago war injury, he was scheduled for surgery with Cait to fix the damage in two days. “I’ll take it around to the shop. Nobody will see the vehicle if they saw us leave the hospital.”

“Good plan.” Mackey opened Quaid’s door while he dithered about whether to carry her to bed or wake her. Considering who was in the building, she wouldn’t want to be carried like a damsel in distress. He could already predict that with one hundred percent confidence.

“Lani, wake up,” he muttered, then rolled his eyes. She couldn’t hear him. He used his free hand to shake her, gently. She jerked awake, eyes wide, hand slapping for her weapon.

He put a hand over hers and squeezed. “It’s okay. We’re safe.”

She focused on his hand, then on his face. It took her a moment of closed eyes and measured breathing to calm herself. He left his hand over hers for a moment longer, but mindful of her edict not to be touched, he stepped out.

He waited for her, making sure she was steady, and stifling the urge to slip an arm around her shoulder. He needed a distance reset, and he wasn’t likely to get it. “Inside. Now.”

The double glass doors slid open and Ty Drucker, their medic, strode through. “What do we need?” The man defined steady. Compact and bald with an affection for humorous t-shirts, he was dressed all in black without a bit of humor anywhere. His clothes described the last twelve hours if anything did.

Alanna glared at him, apparently not happy with the fuss. Tough.

Mackey handed the man her emergency room release packet. “Let’s get her upstairs to the clinic.”

The man was nothing if not efficient. “Harrison briefed me.” He signed to Alanna to follow him, and for a moment she hesitated as if digging for defiance. In the elevator, she leaned against the wall.

With Drucker, Mackey, and him staring at her, he took pity on her situation. He leaned in to force her eyes to his.

“We need his name.”

Lani’s face turned to stone, and her eyes held an expression he couldn’t identify – anger, fear, reluctance.

“Mercer.”

Quaid stepped out of her space. “First or last.”

“I don’t know. Probably military, though.”

“When did you first meet him?” This slow talking for her to read lips was a bitch.

“I was fifteen. Years ago. And I wouldn’t describe it as meeting him.”

The elevator doors opened on the fourth floor, but Quaid didn’t move. “Where?”

“Here. San Diego.”

Quaid contained his surprise. He had no idea she was originally from San Diego. “You used to live here?”

She sighed. “Yes. Four long years. Arizona before that. I lived with my grandfather.”