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Shane smiled. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“Right.”
“I like you, Lindsey Pike.” Shane reached for the coffeepot. “And I promise you Holt will be fine.”
She decided to believe him. It was either that or storm up to the camp, and that couldn’t happen...though she might make an exception for Holt. And that scared her to death.
Chapter Nine
Simon leaned back in his chair and eyed up the man in front of him. He had the look of someone skating on the edge. Stayed in shape and scored off the charts on the shooting trials, but there was a certain something bubbling under the surface, as if he stood a step away from causing chaos. Simon liked that about him.
Without the Lindsey piece, Hank would be the ideal candidate to groom as second in command. But Lindsey’s presence put that plan into serious question. Nothing new there. She had a tendency to ruin everything and everyone she touched. She would understand that soon enough.
“You’ve had a busy few days.” Simon tapped his fingertips together as he quietly assessed and analyzed every move and reaction.
But Hank didn’t give anything away. His expression never changed. His temper stayed even. When questioned about his shaky past, he insisted the day he fired on the collaterals in that Afghanistan village he was following orders and worried for the safety of his men. Instead of being honored or winning an award he got booted. Faced charges and had to start over.
Simon knew all about starting over. It took years but he’d worked his way up at New Foundations, taking every crappy job and learning how the camp operated. When he found the training subpar, he left and acquired the skills and contacts he needed.
He returned renewed and when a position of power opened, he went for it. He removed the people in his path and made a grab for what he wanted. And when the day came to take over and spin the camp’s direction, he did not hesitate.
He sensed those same qualities in Hank. Simon just had to bring them out. Mold them to what he needed.
Hank continued to stand half at attention with his arms folded in front of him and legs apart. “I’m just trying to keep my head down and do my job.”
“That didn’t work.” When Hank frowned at that, Simon explained. “My understanding is you recently ended up in the middle of a crime scene.”
“That’s not exactly what happened.” Hank hesitated over each word as if wondering how much he should say.
“Tell me what did.” Simon knew but he wanted to test Hank’s ability to tell the truth. The man bucked authority since authority had jerked him around, but Simon demanded full obedience. It was one of the things missing from his predecessor’s regime. The first thing Simon did after he cleaned out the members who would slow them down and try to tinker with his vision.
“My friend owns the property where Grant’s body was found,” Hank said.
A sanitized version. Simon appreciated that Hank could offer one, but he needed more. Mostly, he needed Hank to know all of his moves were being watched and accept it. “Lindsey Pike.”
“Do you know her?”
“Of her.” An understatement, but the answer worked for now and Simon was not ready to explain. But soon. “The deputy sheriff has been asking questions about her and Grant.”
Hank leaned in. A subtle move but noticeable if you watched closely, and Simon did. A potentially dangerous thing since jealousy and ridiculous talk of love had led to the downfall of more than one man.
“What do you mean?” Hank asked.
“Grant had a crush on Lindsey.” Simon repeated the made-up tale. “He came over and you two kicked him off the property. Not to state the obvious issue but now he’s dead. Even ignoring New Foundations’ stated preference for its members not to draw attention, the timing is not ideal.”
Hank returned to his expressionless stance, looking both rigid and disinterested. “You think I’m involved.”
Simon dodged that question more to test Hank’s reaction than anything else. “Surely, you can see where law enforcement would draw some conclusions.”
“They’re wrong.”
The guy stayed solid. Didn’t shake. Good to know. “I’m sure, but still we need to play this the right way.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sit down.” Simon gestured to the seat in front of him and waited until Hank, like the good soldier he was, obeyed. “You should come back to the bunkhouse. For now.”
“I would prefer to stay with her.” Before Simon could respond, Hank continued. “I have a friend in town and he’s staying with me at Lindsey’s house, as well. It would be awkward for him to be there while I’m not. She barely knows him.”
