stood and helped him collect the papers. Handing him a pile, I held on until he
looked at me. “What’s wrong, Tag? Did you finally meet a woman wise to the ways of your charm?”
If fire had been his ability, I’d have been a little charcoal brisket. “Not funny,
Cyn,” he hissed, snatching the pile out of my hands. “The woman’s a pain in my
ass.”
Patting his arm, I snickered. “There’s an ointment for that.”
He growled.
Teasing Tag carried a comforting familiarity and loosened something tight
and painful inside me. “This Risia, is she part of your team?”
“She’s a seer.” Kayden took an empty glass from the table to the kitchen.
“Scary accurate, too, but she’s zealous about her privacy.”
“Hopefully she’ll be able to work with Tag on locating Megan Rouser,”
Delacourt chimed in, as she paced the living room, most likely tired of sitting around. The colonel was never one for sitting still.
Running through my recently ingested information, I placed the name.
“Lance Corporal Rouser left on leave two weeks ago, right? So why is she listed
as a possible victim of Ellery’s?”
She came to a stop near the French doors and kept her back to us. “Rouser
took vacation. That vacation was up a week ago. She’s been my administrative
assistant for the past two years and is not one to disappear on a whim.”
“Is she psychic?”
Considering who she worked for, Delacourt’s answer was unexpected. “No.”
She didn’t turn around, but if her spine straightened anymore, it would
shatter. “But she does have access to information Ellery would find very useful.
I’d like to make sure she’s not in his hands.”
“Understandable.” I handed Tag one last pile to tuck away.
Delacourt turned back around. “Shaw, Arden, you two check out Ramirez’s
last known.”
“Roger that.” I grabbed the report on Ramirez and tucked it in with my notes.
“We may come up empty.”
She retrieved her satchel, took some papers Tag offered her, and tucked them
inside. “Find him, track his friends, and run his ass down. Ellery needs an into
the less desirable connections, and based on Ramirez’s history, he has those.”
She looked at both of us. “Let’s make sure Ellery hasn’t reached out lately.”
She settled her bag on her shoulder. “Watch your asses tomorrow. I don’t have time to play nice with the locals if you get stuck in a ten by two cell. Clear?”
“Sir,” Kayden acknowledged, and I dipped my chin.
“I want verbal reports at sixteen hundred tomorrow.” She included Tag in her
orders. “In the meantime, I suggest you all get some rest.” Then she looked at me. “Arden, walk me out.” Without waiting for an answer, she spun on her heel
and headed down the short hall.
Shooting Tag and Kayden a worried look and getting shrugs in return, I
