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“Why didn’t you say anything? Keeping things like that from the guys makes them crazy.”
“How could I say anything when they were at their conference?”
“You need to learn that where our men are concerned, nothing is more paramount than our safety and wellbeing. They would have checked things out then. Afterward, if they found nothing, they would have had the camera video reviewed. If there is anything that I’ve learned from Carter and Jac, it’s that we need to pay attention to our gut instinct and what it’s telling us and inform the guys when things feel off.”
The door opened suddenly, and Mallory screeched. Becky put her hand over Mallory’s while Mallory’s palm went to her throat as though genuinely fearful. Monroe swore under his breath and grabbed her up, holding her tight to him.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry about that. I must have scared you, but we needed to check the area fast and then comb for any debris left that would have told us if anyone was watching close enough to leave a sign.” He kissed Mallory before ushering her out of the small reception office.
“I’m okay. I don’t know if I was really being watched. It was just a strong sense that someone was out there.”
“Well, your inner perceptions were right on track. We found a couple of empty water bottles, gum wrappers, a store sandwich wrapper, and a deep indentation where someone had sat for quite a while.”
Mallory squinted her eyes. “Why would they do that?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
“But wouldn’t your cameras show someone there?”
Monroe scanned the lobby. “Not necessarily at the angle they were at. They were just off of the property and behind some bushes that belong to the next business. We will have to extend our camera’s reach in the corner. We should have been better prepared.”
Jac came around the corner. “We were. Someone has moved the angel of the camera aimed at that spot.”
“What? Wouldn’t we notice the change in angle?” asked Carter?
“Maybe, maybe not. If whoever did it worked at night, at just the right time, like when a headlight hit it, or if it were pitch outside, it would be hard to pick up in a simple scan review.”
“Monroe, you and Garrett get Mallory home. Pack her up and bring her to my house first thing in the morning, so there aren’t any more surprises.” Jac turned to Mallory with what Sharlee referred to as his serious face and said, “Good listening to your gut. Monroe is rubbing off on you.”
“Excuse me? Maybe I’m rubbing off on him,” she answered.
“Oh, you are,” smiled Jac. “You most definitely are.”
Chapter 17
Monroe needed to keep his head on straight and his shit together. He quickly glanced over at his girl and wondered how long it would be before they eliminated the threat to her. It was apparent that there was someone else out there, a copycat or accomplice. It didn’t matter because both were just as dangerous, just as lethal. And whoever it was, had connected Jacquard and Associates to Mallory. And that set off all kinds of warning bells.
Monroe stopped at a light and turned to look at Mallory, interweaving his fingers with hers. “Now, tell me all about what was going on the first time you were outside earlier today.”
When she would pull her hand away, he tightened his hold. “Nothing really. We finished lunch and everyone had work to do, so I was sitting in the break room when I got a call from the district attorney, Mr. Rogers.”
“You didn’t tell me he’d called.”
“I didn’t have the chance before you were yelling at me to get Garrett. What is Code Gray, anyway?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Not changing the subject,” Mallory said while trying to carefully disengage her fingers from his. He held fast and sighed.
“Code Gray is suspicious activity. Code Red is fire, Code Black is we’ve got trouble—go indark. Code Pink is we have a naughty woman trying to get out of explaining herself.”
“What? Oh, cute. The call with Mr. Rogers was hard to hear so, I had to go outside to get good reception.”
“Okay, but what did he want?”
“To talk to me about another interview, but something didn’t sound right. He wanted me to come to him. I said he could come to me next week, but Mr. Rogers vetoed that idea. I said I would have to call him back and rushed back inside. That’s why I was in Becky’s office because it spooked me.”
“And she gave you donuts,” replied Monroe wryly.
