Page 131 of Missile Strike

God Save the King blared from his phone.

Ryder.

“I heard there was drama at the gala last night.” Ryder wasn’t one to waste time with meaningless chit-chat.

He snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“How’s Isabella?”

Danny glanced over his shoulder at the door leading to the house. “Relieved. She’s still asleep.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Omar Hassan’s dead.”

Silence. Then, “How?”

“Heart attack after he got to detention. My CMPD liaison called late last night.”

“Bit young for a heart attack.”

“Yeah.” Danny stared out at the yard, his fingers tightening their grip on the phone. “He was in police custody, so an autopsy’s been scheduled. But, hey, his old man also dropped dead of a heart attack. Maybe the stress did him in.” He replayed every moment of his confrontation with Hassan the night before. The guy had been sweaty. Agitated. But he’d been breathing just fine when they handcuffed him and led him away.

“So the biggest threat we’ve identified appears to have been eliminated. I’ll let Senator Strickland know. If he still wants protection for Isabella, Caleb could cover it.”

Danny shot upright so fast the chair legs scraped the patio stone. “Hassan is dead, but we don’t have proof yet that he was responsible for the note on Bella’s car. Or my brakes being sabotaged.”

Or that someone had entered Bella’s townhome and let Trip get out.

Hassan could have easily managed all of it. But Danny wanted proof before he let up on Bella’s security.

“I’m sorry, mate. Lucas Caldwell needs our assistance. It’s time sensitive. I need you and Tavari on a plane to Phoenix this afternoon.”

“Send Caleb.”

Ryder’s voice held a note of regret. “I can’t. Caleb has to be in the background for this one. It involves his wife’s abduction.”

Danny’s temper snapped tight. “What the hell does an Assistant Director of the FBI need from us? We’re private security.”

If Ryder objected to his tone, he let it slide. “Remember the mole from the FBI’s Phoenix field office working for Espina Negra? Lucas is still trying to out him. But he thinks the corruption goes deeper than one person. He can’t move through official channels until he knows who, exactly, has been compromised.”

“So what’s the urgency?”

“He’s laying a trap in person tomorrow. It will be up to you and Tavari to follow the suspected mole. See where he goes. Who he meets up with.”

Danny hit mute and bellowed his frustration. “Fuck!”

Trip scrambled out of the way, cowering.

Shit. “Sorry, buddy. Come here.” He gave the dog a butt rub and took his phone off mute.

“How long?” The question dragged out of him on a sigh.

“Three days? A week?” Ryder’s tone softened. “Once that’s done, you’ll get your leave—you have my word.”

The air left Danny’s lungs, leaving emptiness in its wake. “What time’s my flight?”

How the hell was he supposed to explain this to Bella?

“Two-thirty. You and Tavari.” Ryder gave him some more instructions before ending the call. “And Danny, I’m sorry.”

Danny lowered the phone slowly until his hand hung limp by his side.