Page 93 of Long Past Deadly

He closed his eyes. “He yammered all the time. How the man maintained operational security, I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t. He talked all the time, about guns, about missions, about food, and about local gossip. He had what he called his sweet honey. I figured she was a local prostitute, and I warned him about messing with the locals. We were the same rank, so I had no leverage against his behavior. And Iraq then…” His voice trailed off.

A tingle spiraled to her gut. “Was bad. Go on.”

“One of our soldiers died, not in battle. It was ruled an accidental death. I’m not sure of all the details anymore, but I thought Merc had killed him from what he told me, bragging like. No accident about it. Command disagreed with my suspicions about the death. Mercer took it personal. Might have been his first assassination work, but I can’t confirm or deny. I got out after the second confrontation with him, similar situation, and figured that ended it. He found me here on the streets, and told me I was right about everything. Went for Esme. Attacked you. But nobody cared.”

Alanna met Quaid’s eyes where he stood next to the closed door. He asked the next question like he’d read her mind. “Why did he come back for you?”

Whit eyed the stranger in the room like a viper.

Quaid moved to the end of the bed. “Daniels. Our team found you.”

“Our team?”

“QM.”

“Delaney told me.”

Alanna didn’t like the way Whit stared at Quaid, but let it go. Quaid could take care of himself. “So why come back for you?”

Whit fussed with his gown. “The man holds a grudge like no other, needs an audience to his killing brilliance if you ask me. But revenge isn’t out of his skillset.”

She pointed at his wounds. “And what was this about?”

Whit’s eyes hardened. “Unfinished business.”

“Why hide from me? You knew I was looking.” She finally couldn’t stop the question and didn’t try.

“You don’t need the likes of this messing with your new life.”

Alanna’s mouth fell open. “The likes of this is what I do for a living, Whit. And I’m trained to do it, authorized to do it by the FBI.”

He vehemently shook his head. “You should drop this. Just being stubborn like you were when you were fifteen.” His heart monitor beeped faster.

“Not fifteen anymore, and not a chance.” She rose from her chair and carefully put it in place. There was no more to gain here, and she would be mindful of Cait’s warning.

Quaid’s phone dinged. He read the text message aloud. “Mackey. Manhunt preparations are in the works. Frank wants to see us.”

“You should protect her better than this.” Whit’s mouth was a hard line again, his face a mask of anger, and his words whipped across the empty space like a bullet traveling to a target.

Quaid was unfazed and leaned closer to Whit’s face. “She can protect herself. And I’m not going to stop her from completing a case she has neatly walked to the closing act. Smart plays are better than old memories.”

“So you’ll do nothing.”

“I’ve partnered with her for the last seven days, and I would again if need be. Anytime. Anywhere. She’s handled herself like the skilled, smart professional she is, and if you discount that, I don’t know what to say to you. Mercer is doing the same, and he’s about to find out the error of his ways.”

“Big talk.”

Alanna stepped in. He’d offered to be her partner again. God. This man had a way of making her feel secure. “It’s not big talk. It’s methodical investigative work that builds a solid case, then finds the bad guy. The police do it, the FBI does it, and QM does it. And this time he won’t walk away.”

She took Quaid’s arm. “Let’s go visit Frank.” She turned back to Whit. “You get some sleep and do what Dr. Hunter tells you to. And if you disappear on me again, I won’t be gentle about how I hunt you down. That’s a part of who I am, too. Rest.” She squeezed his leg under the covers and walked to the door.

Quaid anticipated her move and had it opened. He followed her out. The door swished shut, and she stopped in the circle with Quaid in front of her and Bailey and Welker on either side. His other security had stepped away. The nurses and patients flowed through the morning routine, quiet and unaware.

Quaid shifted and put his hands on her shoulders. “Did any of this help?”

Alanna’s thoughts tumbled one right after the other. “Do you know how many troops were in Iraq in 2005, in that area alone? If he killed one, there will be others. And sweet honey? Identifying any women now is a non-starter.” She drew a deep breath, calm just a sliver away.

Quaid shifted his hands and rubbed her neck. “We’d have to find contacts in Iraq who can search for murders in the population. Hunt might have a few under the table.”