Page 112 of Missile Strike

In Nathan-speak, that meant he’d hacked into files not available to the public.

“What did you find?”

“University officials pulled out the free speech rhetoric and pressured the general not to pursue charges. But according to the police report, Ms. Flores told General Volker in front of a crowd of two hundred people, and I quote, ‘People like you deserve to burn with the cities you destroy.’”

Danny went still.

Do you think you can escape the missiles? Watch them fall. Watch the people burn.

The note on Bella’s car.

“Three guesses as to whose daddy was secretary of defense at the time,” Nathan added.

Anger, cold to the touch but just as potent, flooded Danny. He paced the length of the yard. What if Olivia hadn’t left her activism behind but had simply cloaked it under the guise of reporting?

She’d been at AegisShield the day Bella found the threatening note.

“Olivia Flores doesn’t get into the gala.” The more he learned about the woman, the less convinced he was that running into Bella at the Ethiopian restaurant was a coincidence.

“Well, amigo, that’s not our call. You can’t keep the press out of a political campaign function. You can contact her boss and express your concerns, but you’ll open a legal can of worms if you disclose how we accessed sealed information. They’ll bitch about violating her rights and all that crap.”

“Find out if Flores and Hassan have ever crossed paths.” He’d underestimated the reporter. She’d researched Bella in advance, maybe even stalked her.

“Add Olivia Flores to our threat assessment and alert the senator’s security detail,” he told Nathan. “If we can’t keep her out of the gala, I’m putting eyes on her the second she walks in.”

“Agreed. I’ve got one more piece of news. The senator invited Lachlan and Sophia to the gala. Last minute—probably at my father-in-law’s request.” Nathan’s chuckle held a wry note. “The admiral can be a royal pain in the ass, but he’s our top source of business referrals.”

Danny stopped short. “Lachlan’s going to bring his pregnant wife to an event with this many security variables?”

“Hell no,” Nathan drawled. “If Lachlan had his way, Sophia would be locked in their condo twenty-four-seven with Dìleas-vetted concierge service until this baby arrives.” Now his laugh held genuine warmth. “He’s going to be a nightmare once that kid’s born. Emily and I are stepping in for them.”

Tension eased out of Danny’s shoulders. Nathan would pull double duty as guest and security professional. Emily could help monitor the reporter.

After he hung up with Nathan, he called Caleb. “We’ve got a new addition to our threat assessment—Olivia Flores, The Charlotte Times reporter.”

“What’d she do?”

“She threatened a general at a college panel. Got arrested, but the charges were dropped and her record sealed.”

A pause. “That would have been years ago. How does that make her a threat to the gala? Or Bella?”

“Nathan did his thing and got into sealed records. When Flores made her threat in front of an auditorium full of people, she used language similar to the note left on Bella’s car.”

“Which happened the same day Flores interviewed Bella at AegisShield.”

“Yep.”

Caleb’s sigh gusted in Danny’s ear. “She’s credentialed for the gala.”

“I know.” Danny’s jaw tightened. “And we can’t tell the paper how we got the information. I think we’re stuck with her. Nathan and Emily scored a last-minute invite as guests. They’ll be working as part of our team.”

“What do you want me and Tavari to do?”

“I want media access points locked down.”

“They already are,” Caleb said. “You want me to assign an agent to Flores? I’m not sure we can dedicate the personnel with Hassan still an unknown factor and the planned protest.”

“We’ll have Nathan and Emily keep eyes on the reporter.”