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“Zero percent of this is your fault. The only person to blame here is your ex.” His mouth curved in a faint, wry smile. “That goes for the entire team. This is what we do. What we choose to do. Besides, we’ve got plenty of sins to atone for. You have no idea.”
Jane searched his face, wanting desperately to believe him. To believe she was worth it.
Yeah. About that…
Jane took a deep breath. “Can I ask you something?”
Bridger grabbed his mug and took a long sip. “Of course.”
She hesitated. “Are you ever gonna fill me in on your history?”
Bridger’s smile faded. He looked away, a muscle in his jaw ticking. Several heartbeats passed before he spoke. “Someday.”
She took a big swig of coffee, concentrating on the rush of sugar and caffeine while she considered how hard to push him.
But an insistent ding from his laptop shattered the moment.
Bridger strode to the device. He waved her over to the table. “It’s the team.”
The video feed was divided into four sections, Mason, Paige, Fenn and Tai filled the four segments.
Paige waved a silent hello and started in. “We got something big. Romero’s tip about the embezzlement case Pete was involved in panned out. He and his corporate partners at Sunshine Solutions were skimming money from the firm’s clients for the past two years. We’re talking millions.”
“The FBI caught on eventually,” Paige continued. “Gave Pete a choice—turn informant against Sunshine or go to prison. He took the deal. Only he clearly had other plans all along.”
A pained look crossed Bridger’s face. “Let me guess. The embezzled money vanished when Pete did.”
“You got it. There’s more than ten million unaccounted for,” Paige confirmed. “Pete was supposed to be under surveillance, but he must have given the feds the slip when he ran.”
Jane pictured her ex biding his time in some tropical paradise, waiting for the right moment to retrieve his ill-gotten gains. Living off her money in the meantime. His son stashed who knew where? The thought made her sick.
She looked at Bridger. “You really think he hasn’t accessed the money yet?”
Bridger nodded firmly. “Pete’s greedy, but he’s clearly not stupid. He’ll make certain the feds have stopped looking for him before he touches those funds.” His eyes narrowed. “But he still needed quick cash. That’s why he squeezed you for the thirty grand. He’s got no intention of retrieving the bulk of the money until he’s sure he’s safe.”
Fenn got a faraway look in his eyes. “Safe… That’s it! He would’ve needed a place to stash the money even the feds couldn’t find.”
Bridger snapped his fingers. “And he had access to Jane’s financial records when they were married. Check for accounts in her name.”
Jane tensed. Had Pete really been so brazen?
“On it,” Paige said tersely. A few clicks of computer keys, then a long groan. “Not good. There’s an obscure account registered to Jane Sanderson with a balance of...” Paige whistled under her breath. “Ten million, three hundred thousand and change.”
Jane’s mind reeled. In an account under her name? She felt violated, and furious at Pete for his audacity.
She met Bridger’s stunned gaze with growing unease. Where did they go from here?
Bridger studied her closely. “You okay?” His voice was gentle.
Jane let out a shaky breath. “No. But I will be once we find that lowlife and get him locked up for good.”
Mason gave an approving chuckle over the feed. “I knew I liked this gal.”
Paige spoke up again. “There’s been no activity on the account since it was opened two weeks ago. The money’s just sitting there.”
“He’s waiting to access it once the trail goes cold,” Tai said grimly.
“Or until Jane’s been arrested for his crimes,” Bridger added, his voice frighteningly frigid.
