the same memories making it so hard to get through this now— “they had no soundtrack until he joined in.” Hidden by the edge of the table, my hands curled
into fists. Suck it up, Cyn. “Plus, I couldn’t make out Ellery’s face either, thanks to some strange staticky mask. When we combined our talents, the mask cleared
enough to confirm Ellery’s identity.”
“The energy signatures were stronger,” Kayden finally spoke. “I think that’s
why I caught a glimpse of Ramirez’s face.”
“And you don’t think that could be attributed to the situation you two were
viewing?” Delacourt asked. “According to our phone conversation, Shaw, Arden
watched her sister being killed. You don’t think that might have more bearing on
the intensity of what you two saw than combining your talents?”
The stark words triggered a sucker punch of grief. While I did my best to relearn how to breathe, Kayden put a warm hand on my shoulder in an
unexpected show of support, before answering Delacourt. “What happened
didn’t change. The first time through, Cyn had no audio, and her visual was limited. When we linked up, not only did she get more information, but so did
I.”
Still stinging from the colonel’s unintentional hit, I didn’t mask the cutting edge in my voice. “Which means between the two of us, we got a positive ID, a
soundtrack, and a possible lead. So, yeah, I’d have to agree with Kayden, it was
worth it.”
She studied both of us, and whatever thoughts spun in her head were
indecipherable to us mere mortals. Finally, she said, “Perhaps repeat
performances should be avoided.”
It came across as an order, not a question. I didn’t dare look at Kayden as he
had no choice but to answer to her. As for me? My teeth snapped together before
some very unwise words fell out of my mouth. She was no longer my
commanding officer, but I needed her resources, so silence was my best option.
There was no way I could agree to not use something that might come in handy
down the road. Especially without knowing what facing Ellery would entail.
What I did know was that I wouldn’t hesitate to use whatever I could to make him pay.
Tag redirected her attention before either Kayden, or I were forced to
respond. “Sir, Ramirez’s last known is in Phoenix. You want me to check it out?”
Delacourt continued to eye Kayden and I, before she turned to Tag and gave
a small head shake. “No, I need you in Vegas to check out the last known addie
on our missing person.” She rose, stretched, and then turned away. “You can work with Risia.”
Despite the strain in the air, it was almost comical how fast Tag’s easy-going
expression morphed into one of male horror at Delacourt’s last order. It was the
kind of fear you saw when a man was faced with a crying, or raging, woman.
“Risia?” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “No offense, sir, but it’s probably better if you send Kayden.”
Slowly, Delacourt turned back to him, and pinned him in place with a
implacable stare. “That was not a suggestion, Gunderson.”
“Yes, sir.” He bit out. He turned back to the table and began to gather up the
various stacks. A muscle twitched in his jaw.
Just based on his reaction, I vowed somehow, someway to meet this Risia. I
