Flynn (Oath of Honor #8)

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Taylor’s hands and knees stung from hitting the asphalt parking lot. With Flynn’s body draped over hers and Cassidy crouched beside her, she couldn’t see a thing. But she had heard the gunfire.

“Get her inside! Hurry!”

She didn’t recognize the male voice but wasn’t surprised when Flynn answered. “No way. We’re getting her out of here.”

“The shooter is still out there,” the male voice protested. She realized the voice belonged to Rhy’s brother Brady. She’d remembered seeing the blond-haired guy coming out of the building. “I have agents scouring the parking lot, and I understand your concern about being found here, but for now, you need to bring Taylor inside.”

“He’s right, Flynn,” Cassidy said. “We’d be sitting ducks in the SUV.”

“Fine.” Flynn sounded upset, but the pressure of his body over hers eased back. “But we’ll cover her all the way.”

“Of course,” Cassidy murmured. Flynn rose as Brady joined them. Flynn and Brady towered over her, but Cassidy wasn’t as tall as she reached for her arm. “Can you stand?”

“Yes.” She told herself this wasn’t the time to fall apart. That she needed to keep it together long enough to reach the relative safety of the building.

Then the impact of Brady’s comment sank in. How had they been found here? Federal agents had asked to interview her. The same agents, she assumed, who were working the double homicide as it relates to the banking industry.

A shiver rippled over her, one that had nothing to do with the crisp November air. She huddled close to Flynn and Cassidy as they moved together toward the building.

Less than two minutes later, she stood in a vestibule between two sets of doors. Brady pressed his ID against a badge reader, unlocking the second set of doors.

“I don’t like this,” Flynn said as they entered the building. They stopped in front of a desk manned by an agent. Three visitor badges were already on top of the desk waiting for them. Flynn grabbed one, then offered her and Cassidy the other two before turning back to Brady. “Where’s your boss, the special agent in charge? I think he needs to know about the leak inside the agency.”

“Presumed leak,” Brady said, sounding a bit testy. “It could be that you were followed here.”

“We weren’t followed,” Cassidy said. “I agree with Flynn on this one. The FBI asked for this interview, then someone takes a shot at Taylor. The connection is obvious.”

Brady sighed heavily. “Okay, let’s get you situated in a conference room. I’ll update Donovan.”

Taylor was ushered through another set of doors and into a hallway. Brady turned into the first door on the left, indicating the rest of them should follow. The room consisted of a long table, several chairs, a phone, and a computer with a large screen mounted on one end of the room. She dropped into the closest chair, rubbing her hands over her knees. Her new jeans hadn’t been ripped, but there were likely bruises already forming beneath the fabric.

Better than being dead , she thought grimly.

“I need to know if your agents find anything related to the shooter,” Flynn said.

He and Brady eyed each other for a long moment before Brady nodded. “I understand your need to stay informed. But this is technically a Bureau case now.”

“Not until I’m convinced someone inside the Bureau isn’t dirty,” Flynn shot back. “I won’t let anyone get to Taylor.”

Brady sighed again, but surprisingly, he didn’t argue. Taylor was relieved when Flynn took one seat beside her, while Cassidy sat on her other side, so that she was sandwiched between them.

After Brady left, Cassidy leaned forward to look at Flynn. “I’m certain I wasn’t followed.”

“I believe you,” Flynn said. “I know Brady and Doug are good agents, but I’m not sure I trust whoever these guys are that want to interview Taylor.”

She glanced between the two of them. “I’m no expert, but it doesn’t seem logical that a dirty FBI agent would have the shooter show up here where it’s more obvious that they might be implicated.”

Flynn frowned, then nodded. “That’s a good point. But how were we found here if there isn’t an inside leak?”

She didn’t have an answer for that.

Cassidy did, though. “It could be that the same man who hired the gunman to get rid of Steve and Robin Miller knew the feds would be involved. And that they’d want to talk to the only witness to the murders. So he sent the gunman here to wait for us to show.”

Flynn grimaced, then nodded. “I can buy that theory. But I don’t plan to trust the feds until we know for sure one way or the other.”

Cassidy shrugged. “I understand your concern, but we need to consider the possibility that if the agents are clean, they have more resources to use when it comes to protecting Taylor. Specifically, a safe house.”

“We’re on the list for the MPD safe house,” Flynn said. Again, she felt like a spectator at a tennis match, her gaze bouncing from Flynn to Cassidy, then back to Flynn.

“I know, Rhy mentioned that.” Cassidy glanced over as the door to the conference room opened, revealing Brady and an older man with dark hair flecked with gray at the temples.

“Ms. Templeton? I’m Donovan, the special agent in charge. I understand you had an incident outside the building.”

“MPD Officer Flynn Ryerson.” Flynn rose to his feet. “I appreciate you coming to speak with us.”

“I’m MPD Officer Cassidy Sommer,” Cassidy added, also standing. “I can attest to the fact that we were not followed. The shooter was positioned north of the building. The weapon didn’t sound like a rifle to me. I believe he was using a handgun.”

“I have agents scouring the area,” Donovan said. “I don’t like knowing Ms. Templeton was targeted here. I want to assure you that my agents are clean. I don’t have any reason to suspect any of them of being involved.”

There was a long moment of silence as Flynn seemed to wrestle with a response. “I don’t want to believe anyone here is involved, but we haven’t spoken to anyone but Rhy and Brady. Your agents asked for this interview.”

“I agree that it looks suspicious,” Donovan said, looking surprisingly weary. “I find it hard to believe a dirty agent would be so bold, or stupid, to attempt to shoot a witness in front of the office building.”

Taylor had risen to her feet, too, but glanced around warily at Flynn, Cassidy, Brady, and the special agent in charge.

It seemed as if they might be at a stalemate.

“I’m happy to do the interview,” she finally said. “But I would like to know how we’ll get out of here when that’s finished. I want to stay with Flynn and Cassidy, and we need some assurances that we’ll be able to leave safely.”

Flynn didn’t look totally happy with her comment, but he didn’t argue. After a long moment, Donovan gave a curt nod. “I will provide an armed escort when it’s time for you to leave.”

Flynn scowled. “That only works if the vehicles are driven by you, Brady, and/or Doug. No one else.”

“That will be arranged,” Donovan said. Taylor was impressed he was being so cooperative. “Now I would like to allow Bureau agents Sally Fisk and Travis Goldberg to come in and speak with you.”

“I’m ready.” Taylor was anxious to get this part over with.

Brady hung back after Donovan left. “I’ll call Rhy,” he said in a low tone. “We’ll arrange for a rendezvous location to swap vehicles once we leave here.”

“Thanks, Brady,” Flynn said. “I hate to be a jerk, but Taylor has been under attack since the Millers were murdered.”

“I understand.” Brady stepped back as the two agents entered the conference room. Then after giving her a quick nod, he stepped out, leaving the five of them alone.

“Ms. Templeton? I’m Travis, and this is my partner, Sally.” Agent Travis Goldberg stepped forward to shake her hand. Agent Sally Fisk did the same. Flynn and Cassidy introduced themselves, too, making it clear they were staying for the duration of the interview.

When the introductions were complete, Sally and Travis took seats on the opposite side of the table. From there, the interview went exactly as she’d expected.

Did she know anything about Steve Miller’s bank? No. Did she know the shooter? No. Had she ever seen Nickoli Yurgis before the night of the shooting? No. Did she have any idea why the Millers had been targeted? No.

On and on and on.

It was only after she’d finished recounting the night of the murders that the two agents turned their attention to Flynn and Cassidy.

Mostly Flynn.

During the interview, Flynn’s icy attitude had thawed toward the agents. Maybe in part because they were clearly interested in his opinion regarding the various attempts against her.

“The way the gunman—who we believe is Nickoli Yurgis—found us on Peabody Lake, then again here at the FBI building has me wondering who has hired him,” Flynn said. “It feels like the mastermind behind this has deep pockets. Not just financial resources, but a way to connect with professional hit men too.”

“Tell us again about the property you found on Peabody Lake?” Sally Fisk asked. “What was the company called?”

“Investments, Inc.” Flynn gestured to the computer screen on the wall. “You might want to bring up a map of the lake, see if we can pinpoint the location of the property owned by the corporation. I might be able to tell you if it’s the same one where the photograph of Lyle and Jake Paulson was taken.”

Travis pulled out his phone. “Ian? We need your expertise in the conference room. Thanks.”

Taylor remembered something about a tech guy named Ian who had a similar role as Gabe Melrose. Ian arrived with a laptop, booted it up, and then somehow projected the laptop screen onto the bigger one.

“Peabody Lake, property owned by Investments, Inc.” Ian spoke to himself as he worked the computer. Taylor had to give him credit, he was able to bring up the address onto the screen, then used a map application to zoom in on the home.

She gasped at the image on the screen. Glancing at Flynn, she saw he was staring in shock too.

There was no doubt that the house on the screen was the same one where her cousins had been photographed.

And likely the one belonging to the individual who had orchestrated the murders.

Flynn didn’t feel the sense of satisfaction he thought he would at being proven right. Maybe in part because he was still a bit shaken over the gunfire attempt outside the Bureau. He forced himself to concentrate on the case.

“That’s the house.” He nodded at the screen. “Taylor and I were on the boat and recognized that deck as being where the picture of Lyle and Jake Paulson was taken. We were heading back to our rental property when we saw the speedboat racing toward us. Unfortunately, I cannot say with certainty that the boat came from that property.” He gestured to the screen. “But he was clearly determined to eliminate us. He opened fire, sinking our boat and sending us swimming toward shore.”

“Surprised you didn’t succumb to hypothermia,” Sally said with a frown.

“We almost did.” Flynn knew that God had spared their lives. That was the only explanation as to how they’d gotten out of the lake in time. “Can you get a search warrant for the property? Dig deeper into who really owns it?”

The two feds glanced at each other. “Not sure about a search warrant,” Travis said. “We don’t have probable cause, especially since you can’t identify the shooter as coming from that location. But digging into the ownership is absolutely something Ian can do.”

“I’ll work on that,” Ian agreed. “But at first glance, it’s not going to be easy. Looks like this company is owned by another company.”

Sally drummed her fingers on the table. “I thought we had new rules that went into effect this year to prevent hiding the true owners of corporations?”

“We do,” Ian said. “But that doesn’t mean everyone has complied. And depending on how far behind the bureaucrats are, they may not have gotten around to following up with those who didn’t cooperate.”

Flynn bit back a sarcastic response. There was no reason to point out that it wasn’t the least bit surprising that government rules were rarely followed by criminals.

He stared at the house on the screen. Maybe they didn’t have probable cause for a search warrant, but they could still walk up to the door and knock.

“We’ll head over there,” Travis said as if reading his mind. “Maybe someone will answer the door. And we can talk to the neighbors, too, see if we learn anything that way.”

He nodded. “I like that idea. Maybe the neighbors don’t appreciate having a house owned by a corporation. Could be that different people are staying there throughout the year.”

“Exactly,” Travis agreed. “Anything else you think might help?”

He considered that for a moment. “I returned fire on the speedboat, and I know I hit the vessel. I’m not sure how badly it was damaged, though. If you do get someone to answer the door, you might want to ask to see the boat on the property. Finding a bullet hole in the vessel would give you the probable cause you need to search the house.”

“Can’t hurt to try,” Sally said, making a note. “I doubt we’ll get that much cooperation, but again, the neighbors might have seen something suspicious.”

A tiny flame of hope flickered in his heart. Maybe the investigation would get some traction with the feds working the case. He thought again about the banking aspect. “Have you uncovered unusual activity within Brookland Bank?”

“Not yet, but we’re working on that,” Travis said. “We have to go through some red tape to get the access we need.”

Of course, they did , he thought with a sigh. Nothing was ever easy. “Will you let us know if you find something?” Sensing a lack of enthusiasm to share information from the pair of agents, he added, “Maybe Taylor will remember some snippet of conversation if you find something specific.”

Travis Goldberg scratched his chin. “Okay, sure. We’ll keep you in the loop.”

“We’ll need your contact information,” Sally said.

“No, you can reach us through Brady Finnegan,” Cassidy said, joining the conversation for the first time. “I’m sure you can understand the need to keep Ms. Templeton off-grid.”

Travis’s face flushed. “Despite what happened outside, we are not the bad guys here. We did not leak any information about this interview. We didn’t even know anything about this case until a few hours ago.”

Flynn held the agent’s gaze. “I understand your perspective, but what would you think in our shoes?” He leaned forward. “There have been multiple attacks against Ms. Templeton in the past few hours. We just met you. You can’t expect instant trust.”

Sally grimaced and nodded. “Okay, okay. Let’s call a truce. As Travis said, we’re not the bad guys. But you have a right to be wary. If we need to speak with Ms. Templeton again, or if we uncover additional information, we will go through Finnegan to reach you.”

“Thanks,” Cassidy said.

“Yes, thanks.” Flynn decided it would be best to smooth things over. “We appreciate everything you’re doing on this.”

Mollified, Travis rose and offered his hand. Flynn accepted the handshake peace offering, as did Taylor and Cassidy. After they all bid their goodbyes, the two agents and Ian the tech expert all left the room.

Brady appeared a moment later. “How did it go?”

“Surprisingly well,” Flynn had to admit. He was finding it difficult to imagine Travis and Sally as dirty cops. Maybe he was being na?ve, but they came across as earnest and anxious to get to the bottom of this nightmare. “They’re heading out to Peabody Lake to see if anyone is at the residence.”

“And to talk to the neighbors,” Cassidy said. “I have a feeling that will be their best way to get information.” She grinned. “You know how nosy some neighbors are.”

Brady laughed. “True.” Then his expression turned somber. “Rhy, Doug, and I have a plan to get you out of here.”

“Glad to hear it.” Flynn was relieved to have support from the Finnegan family. Doug Bridges was also a great guy to have on their side. Bridges had been instrumental in helping Roscoe protect Libby a few months ago.

He trusted these men and women with his life and, more importantly, with Taylor’s too.

“We’ll take my car out of here,” Brady said, leading them through the building. Flynn noticed they were not heading out the main doors where they’d come in. “We’ll leave the vehicle you arrived in out front. Doug has his vehicle, too, and he’ll leave ahead of us.” He frowned, then added, “I thought for now we’d rendezvous with Rhy at the City Central Hotel. I’ve asked Bax Scala to reserve the suite through the DA’s office.”

Flynn glanced at Taylor who eyed him curiously. “Is that the same City Central Hotel we stayed in with Sienna, Bailey, and Zeke?”

“Yeah, it is.” Flynn had been grazed by a bullet there too. “I know the plan was to avoid going back there, and they wouldn’t likely want us back either, but with the room being registered by the DA’s office, we should have the anonymity we need.”

“Bax is our brother-in-law,” Brady explained. “He’s also the assistant district attorney. They use the City Central for witnesses all the time.”

“From there, we’ll find somewhere else to go,” Flynn added, when Taylor still looked concerned. “We just need a temporary meeting place.”

Brady hesitated outside a door that appeared to have an alarm built in. “Ready?” He used his ID badge to disarm the security system. “Doug is outside waiting for us.”

Flynn nodded, his gut tightening as Brady pushed through the door. Cassidy went next. He nudged Taylor to follow Cass, sticking close behind her.

Doug was indeed standing outside in the cold. He gestured to the two vehicles parked within a short distance of the door. “Let’s go.”

A few minutes later, they were out on the street, leaving the Bureau via the back exit. Flynn and Taylor were in the back seat, and he scanned the area as Brady drove.

There was nothing to see. No surprise the shooter had vanished as quickly as he’d popped up.

“Do you really think agents Travis and Sally will let us know what they find out?” Taylor asked. “I always heard the feds weren’t good about cooperating with local cops.”

“Hey, I always cooperate with the locals,” Brady said defensively. “We get a bad rap because of a few TV shows.”

Taylor flushed. “Yeah, sorry. I have to admit that until today I’ve never met a federal agent in person.”

“It’s fine.” Brady waved a hand. “I’m sure there were jerk agents at some point to start the rumor.”

“I would like to think they’ll keep us in the loop,” Flynn said, getting the conversation back on track. “That’s why I added the part about the possibility of you remembering something important if prodded by additional information.”

“Yeah, well, don’t hold your breath on that,” she muttered. “I was the nanny; my job was to take care of the baby.” Her brow furrowed. “I really hope Max is okay.”

Flynn reached out to take her hand. “He’ll be fine.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

That was true, he didn’t know where Max was or what sort of foster family he had been placed with. “We’ll pray for him, okay?”

Her fingers tightened around his. “I’d like that.”

“Dear Lord Jesus, keep baby Max safe in Your care. Amen,” Flynn said.

“Amen,” Cassidy, Brady, and Taylor echoed in unison.

Taylor clung to his hand during the rest of the trip to the City Central Hotel, and he was in no hurry to let her go. Flynn noticed Brady’s knowing smile when their gazes met in the rearview mirror.

So much for his attempt to keep Taylor at a distance. If anything, the recent shooting attempt had drawn them closer together.

He was fighting a losing battle. Despite the mistakes he’d made along the way, of which there were many, he couldn’t step aside to let someone else take over the task of protecting her.

Not even those men he deeply admired, like Rhy, Brady, and Doug Bridges.

Up ahead he could see Doug driving slowly enough that they could stick close. Daytime traffic wasn’t too bad, and their rush hour was nothing compared to other big cities.

But he was relieved when they finally reached the City Central Hotel. Doug parked his SUV in the front lot, but Brady went around back. When he caught Flynn’s curious glance, he said, “Doug is going to get the room keys. Then he’ll open the back door for us. He’ll eventually park in the back too. Rhy will join us after his meeting with Michaels.”

“Sounds good.” The feds had implemented the plan to get them away from Ravenswood very well. When Bridges appeared in the doorway, they quickly worked together to escort Taylor inside.

“I see they made repairs to the drywall since we were here last,” Taylor said as she flopped onto the sofa.

Brady arched a brow, but Flynn ignored the unspoken question. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? We can order something from room service.”

“No thanks. We can grab dinner later.” She yawned, then said, “Maybe coffee. I don’t normally drink this much coffee, but I am surprisingly exhausted.

“That’s adrenaline for you,” Cassidy said. “I’ll make coffee.”

“I feel like having everyone hovering here is overkill.” Taylor frowned at Doug and Brady standing on either side of the door like sentinels guarding a post. “Don’t you guys have criminals to catch?”

“I have a feeling that finding Nickoli Yurgis will be a huge step forward in uncovering other criminals,” Flynn said. “And I promised we’d keep you safe.”

“I know.” She abruptly jumped off the sofa and headed to the closest bedroom. “Excuse me.”

He took a step after her, then stopped. Each room had an attached bathroom. She was obviously looking for some privacy.

But after one minute passed, then five, then ten, he grew concerned. He shot Cassidy a panicked look.

“I’ll check on her,” Cass offered.

“No, let me.” He couldn’t explain why he brushed past Cass to knock on the bedroom door, then he cracked it open. “Taylor? Are you okay?”

No answer. He opened the door farther. Seeing her curled in a ball on the bed sobbing was like a knife to the chest.