AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You really didn’t know that happened?” Gage wanted to say more, really rub it in for the brass. Instead, he let it hang there and figured they’d fill in the gaps.
“I’m sure the two of you can figure out all the particulars. Work the case. Figure this out.” Commissioner Franklin rocked back and forth on his dress shoes. “Show us what you can do.” He turned to McCauley. “Keep me apprised, Captain.”
McCauley said, “Yes sir,” and followed the boss to the front doors of the bank.
“I’ll send you a copy of my report.” Clare kept her face blank of any expression. “Just because Vanguard is assisting doesn’t mean we need to see each other.”
Over her shoulder he spotted the Vanguard guy, Peter Olson, enter. Gage realized this guy had a sister who was an EMT. He’d met Freya before—the responsible, upstanding half of the family.
Gage figured he had to say something. He settled on, “SWAT will let your office know when we need any help. Why don’t you give me the number for your lab. Just in case.” Then he wouldn’t have to contact her at all.
Peter found them in the crowd, turned back, and held the door for someone else—a young woman about the same age as him with the same coloring as the woman in front of him.
“Clare!” the younger one called out as she ran across the lob. “I heard what happened.” She slammed into Clare, and they hugged. “Are you okay?”
Clare nodded through the lean back. “I’m fine, Selena.”
“Selena, is it?” Gage glanced at Clare. “Is she my daughter?”
The girl was about the right age—the right coloring. Last he’d seen Clare, she’d been pregnant with his child. Then she was just gone. Both of them were gone.
Selena whirled around. “Clare isn’t my mom.”
So he was wrong about this. “Okay—”
She cut him off. “My mom’s name was Kara, and she died in Kunar Province, laying down cover fire for her teammates so they could survive and get out of there, even if that meant they had to carry her out. And ship her home in a pine box.”
Clare’s eyes reddened, filling with tears. “Honey.”
Selena shook off Clare’s touch. “I’m glad you’re okay.” She turned and strode to the door, where Peter’s expression shot daggers at Gage. Peter followed Selena out of the bank, and Gage realized everyone around them had heard that whole exchange.
“Are you satisfied?” Clare shot him a look.
Gage said nothing, aware his cheeks had heated.
“We were making progress.” She lifted her chin. “Thanks for tearing off the bandage and exposing that wound just because you want to be the injured party here.”
“And I’m not?” Either way, he didn’t have her. Or the life they’d created together.
“We just have to figure out how to work together without actually working together.”
“Or you can finally tell the truth about what happened.”
“It won’t change the past.” Clare sniffed. “Let’s just be professionals about this.” She turned and strode to the door.
Gage stared at her.
Someone slapped his shoulder. “Nice one.”
Gage ignored them.Work together?This sounded like a great opportunity to bridge that divide Clare had carved between them and find out what she was hiding. In fact, he was going to face this in a way that would ensure he got what he wanted. With both barrels loaded and C4 on hand.
SWAT style.
TEN
Clare knocked on the front door. A second later her phone buzzed in her pocket. She flipped her wrist so the notification showed on her watch.
It’s open.
