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Unexpected news. Simon hadn’t planned ahead for another new player in town. Nothing in Hank’s file pointed to him even having friends. “I had the impression after your military issues your support system disappeared.”
“All but this guy. He was there and tried to testify for me.” Hank remained as blank as ever. “I’ve actually been thinking about introducing him to you and the idea of the camp. He would appreciate what we do here.”
Simon didn’t care for the turn in the conversation. He’d learned from his short time in charge to be aware of tone and subtext. “Which is what? What do you think we do here?”
“Live our lives without hassles. No government interference. No rules except the ones agreed to long ago.” Something close to a smile formed on Hank’s mouth. “That’s why I came here and why I stayed.”
“And no one here is subjected to the government’s idea of criminal charges.” Simon believed in handling issues in-house, which explained Grant’s current state.
“Exactly. I’ve had enough of those.”
Simon liked that Hank didn’t try to deny or explain. Not that he could do the former. They’d talked about his past in the very first interview. “That’s why I think you should be a little careful with Ms. Pike.”
“Is that a warning?” Hank asked in a voice suddenly filled with venom.
Simon matched Hank’s attitude with some of his own. “Does it need to be?”
“I don’t intend to stop seeing her.”
Interesting. Simon still couldn’t tell if that insistence made Hank an ally or an enemy, but it did set off an alarm that Simon would not ignore. “Of course not, but I am considering increasing your duties here. Moving you into Grant’s position and providing you with more extensive training.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Of course he would. Anyone would, especially the type who came to the camp. Simon understood the need of men to belong and feel as if they were accomplishing something.
Up until now they’d been working behind the scenes. Fighting the government by supplying weapons to a militia here and providing men on the ground there against the ATF. For the next step to work, the promise of instability and the reorganization, New Foundations needed to move into the leadership role and not just be the might behind the fight.
Leading sometimes meant destroying and rebuilding. It was a general principle most people forgot these days. They threw money and people on the same problem over and over again. He would not make that mistake.
“The position requires, at times, taking on some difficult tasks,” Simon said, laying the groundwork.
Hank nodded. “I’m fine with that.”
“If Ms. Pike had something to do with Grant’s death, your loyalties could be tested.”
A stark silence pounded through the room. The clock on the edge of his desk ticked and the springs on his chair let out a slight squeak as he rocked back and forth.
It took a full minute for Hank to speak again. “If she did it, I’ll drag her up here myself to atone for her crimes.”
Right answer. “I knew I could count on you.”
* * *
HOLT BARELY MADE it in the door before he heard Lindsey’s heavy sigh.
She started walking toward him then jogged. She hit his chest with her arms wrapped around his neck. “You’re home.”
The relationship bounced around from on-the-verge-of-sex to trying to maintain control. After holding her last night, smelling her hair and touching her skin, Holt doubted he could go back to playing indifferent, so he didn’t try.
His arms tightened around her and he placed a quick kiss on her lips. “I should leave more often.”
Shane cleared his throat. Since he practically stood on top of them, it was hard to miss. “I was thinking the same thing.”
A red flush stained Lindsey’s cheeks and she tried to step back. “Sorry.”
Holt didn’t let her get far. He hated the idea of her being embarrassed or using the reaction this time as an excuse not to show him affection next time. He telegraphed all of that in a kiss, this one slower and a bit more lingering, before he let her go. “Don’t be.”
She stood there, fidgeting as she rubbed her hands together. “I just thought you could be in trouble. That—”
“It’s okay.” And it was...for now. He’d played the role of Hank without slipping even though he’d had to fight off the urge to smash a fist into Simon Falls’s face the entire time they talked in his office.
“Is it?”
Fear. He got that from her voice and the relief in her eyes when he walked in. She worried for him and he did not hate the sensation of having someone care about him. “True, Simon Falls threatened. He worked that in along with trying to plant the seed you killed Grant.”
