Page 45 of Long Past Deadly

Bailey snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. “Boss, wake up. Celissa says Sergeant Walker SDPD is on Line 1. It’s urgent.”

Quaid swore under his breath and pushed around Brad Conners, who frequently monitored the security of his house. He grabbed the wall phone in the kitchen area.

“Daniels. What do you need, Frank?”

“Your guy has been spotted in the East Village. I have patrols looking for him. You want in?” Frank’s deep, gritty voice cracked with fatigue.

“Yes. We’ll meet you. 11th and G work for you?” It had become QM’s standard meeting place downtown since the search for Delaney.

“I’ll be there.”

“Give us twenty minutes.”

“He could be long gone by then.”

“He could be long gone now. Let’s search and question anyway.” Quaid slammed the receiver into its cradle. “What the fucking hell? Why?”

“Sir?” Conners and Tanner spoke together.

“Tell Mackey we’re going out.”

“Who is we?” Conners grabbed his cell phone.

“Alanna and I. Weapons for both of us. Now.”

One of the other men rose. Geraldo Patina was a new hire, but knew his weapons. “Handguns? Anything specific?”

“Yes, handguns only. Tell Tinkerton in the Armory. She’ll know which ones to pull.”

“I got it. I’ll meet you at the main entrance.”

Conners raised a brow. “Shall I inform Mackey and Harrison, too, and get a detail on you?”

“Yes. Find out if Remy has search teams in the area and move them to 11th and G. Fast, dammit. Our guy has been spotted.” He skipped the elevator and took the stairs two at a time. Alanna’s room was on the left inside the fifth floor stair door.

This wasn’t what he planned. Careful, subtle, ease into it. No time.

He slammed a fist on the door. “Lani, wake up. PD may have found Mercer.”

No more than five seconds passed. She released the locks and opened the door, squinting against the light. “What did you say?”

“Frank. They clocked Mercer downtown. Hurry. Shoes. Let’s go.”

The room was dim in the late afternoon light and the bed wrecked, like she slept, but not easily. She slapped her hand on the light by the door. “Jesus, you know how to wake a girl, Daniels.”

“I’ll buy you coffee.”

She turned away, quickly unbuttoned her shirt, and pulled it off.

Quaid drew in a sharp breath – delicate pale blue lace and creamy skin ripped away thought. Which was just as well. Silence to the gorgeous sight of her was the better part of respect.

He stepped inside and let the door shut. By the time he’d verified the closed door, she had pulled a black FBI T-shirt over her head and was slipping on her black work shoes.

“I need a better pair of earphones. I don’t want Dr. Cait or Drucker yelling at me again.” She grabbed her current pair from the nightstand.

“I’ll get Niles on it.”

She put her hand on her hip and her disgusted expression spoke volumes.