Marine's Mission - Rebecca Deel Page 0,32
the speculation in Zane’s voice. “You can’t have him. M team needs him.”
Zane laughed. “I hear you, but I’m not promising anything. How else can I help, Owen?”
“I sent you and Caleb a file from a flash drive that was hidden in Ellis’s apartment. I need to know if the file might be the reason Ellis and Toni are missing.”
“Did you look at it?”
“Are you kidding? I was afraid to open it. Ellis is a software programmer. With my luck, I’d trigger a nasty computer virus and bring the wrath of Brent Maddox down on my head.”
“The boss is fierce when he’s on a rampage,” Zane agreed. “The file just moved ahead of the background checks. I’ll take a look and get back to you soon.”
After emailing a copy of the file to his Fortress account, he shoved the flash drive deep into one of his cargo pockets, and locked his SUV. When he returned to the kitchen, Gigi was nowhere in sight. Owen’s stomach knotted. “Where’s Gigi?” he asked Emma.
“Dealing with a guest.” She wrinkled her nose. “Mr. Moser is kind of cantankerous.”
“Where are they?”
“Down the hall in Room 3. I’m sure Gigi’s fine, Owen.”
He started for the hallway. “I’m not, and I won’t take chances with her safety. Where’s Caleb?”
“Living room.”
Why wasn’t his brother with Gigi? He swung by the living room. “Have you met Moser?”
His brother glanced up from the computer screen. “He’s a cranky octogenarian. Why?”
“Gigi went to his room.”
“Yeah, so?”
“What do you know about him? Is he a danger to Gigi? Why aren’t you with her?”
“Relax, bro. Moser barely gets around with a walker. He has a bad case of arthritis in his hands and has been putting off a hip replacement for several months, hence the walker. He’s not a threat to your woman. I followed them to his room. Moser stays here every time he visits his grandson and family.”
The knot in his stomach untied itself. “Sorry I jumped down your throat.”
Caleb snorted. “No, you’re not. Don’t apologize for protecting someone you care about. Introduce yourself to Moser.”
“Why?”
“He’s former military and an interesting guy.”
“You said he’s cranky.”
A shrug. “He’s both. Go talk to him.” With that, he turned back to his computer.
“I sent you a file.”
That brought his brother’s gaze to him again. “Yeah? What kind?”
“Look at the file and tell me what you make of it, then we’ll talk. Be careful, Caleb. Could be a virus threat.” They’d have a more detailed conversation when they could talk freely.
“How fast do you need an assessment?”
“Yesterday.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why did I bother to ask? Security an issue?”
Owen nodded.
Caleb picked up his laptop. “Since you’re here, I’ll work in Gigi’s sitting room.”
“Thanks, bro. I owe you.”
“Yeah, you do, and I’m keeping score.” Caleb leveled a pointed stare his direction. “You already owe me about a thousand favors, bro. I’m going to collect one day.”
Owen chuckled as he headed down the hall to Room 3. Caleb might have exaggerated the favor count, but Owen definitely owed all of his brothers big. Of the five Montgomery brothers, Owen had been the last one to make it back to the Rocking M after separating from the military. The others had taken turns checking on Gigi until he’d processed out and moved back to the ranch.
The sound of Gigi’s laughter reached him as he neared Moser’s room. His heart turned over in his chest. He loved to hear G laugh.
“That might be the cutest baby picture I’ve ever seen, Mr. Moser.”
A groan followed Gigi’s statement. “If Bethany had dressed him in a baseball uniform instead of a pumpkin outfit, I’d agree with you. Boys shouldn’t be dressed as pumpkins. It’s not right.”
“I guess your daughter-in-law didn’t see it that way. Come on, Mr. Moser. You have to admit the baby is eye catching in that outfit.”
A snort. “My grandson should have put his foot down. He indulges his wife too much. In my day, boys weren’t dressed up like vegetables.”
That brought more laughter from Gigi. “If you really believe that, why are your eyes twinkling?”
“I can see my protests are lost on you.”
“I’m afraid so. I’m on to you. You just wanted an excuse to show off pictures of your adorable great-grandson.”
Owen nudged the door open wider and walked into the room. His girl sat side-by-side with a gray-haired man in jeans and a button-down shirt, a walker free-standing in front of him.
Gigi glanced up and smiled. “Owen, come meet Mr. Moser, one of my favorite guests.”
The older