what would have happened if Owen and Levi hadn’t been here. Nothing good, I’m sure.”
“You’re positive this is one of the men who ran you off the road and kidnapped Toni?”
“Jase admitted it. He said Toni was safe, but wouldn’t stay that way if I didn’t give him what he wanted.”
“Which is what?”
“A flash drive.”
Blair sat back. “What do you know about the flash drive?”
“Not much.” She glanced at Owen, a silent question in her eyes.
He gave a slight nod. Withholding information from Blair would hamper her investigation, possibly endangering her life and those of her officers.
“I found the drive in one of Ellis Matthews’s photo albums.”
“Where is this drive?”
“I have it,” Owen said. “You don’t want it, Blair.”
“The flash drive is evidence.”
“Ellis Matthews works for a government contractor, and his projects are classified. I don’t know if the file is classified, but there’s a high probability the drive shouldn’t be in your evidence room.”
“What will you do with it?”
“The flash drive’s being analyzed.”
Blair studied him. “Will you tell me what you discover?”
“If I can. I’ll tell you as much as possible unless I’m instructed to keep the contents confidential.”
She scowled again. “I have a good security clearance.”
“I was Special Forces, Blair.”
“Yeah, yeah. All of you were. So what?”
“Our security clearances are several levels above yours. And now we also work for a security firm that takes black ops jobs for the government.”
Blair blew out a breath. “Point taken.” She returned her attention to Gigi. “Can you think of anything else that might help me find Toni?”
“I wish. Kilgore guessed that we had the flash drive.”
“Did he mention Owen specifically?”
“Not by name. I reminded him that two cops were in the kitchen, and I was dating one of them. I didn’t identify Owen.”
Blair’s lips curved. “Not necessary. Anyone in the same room with you would realize you’re involved. Everybody in Archer knows you and Owen are crazy about each other. Just took your super soldier a while to own up to his feelings.”
Owen couldn’t argue with that. He was crazy about Gigi, even more than she realized.
The police chief flipped to a fresh page in her notebook and turned her attention to Owen. “Your turn.”
He gave the chief his statement in the same rapid-fire fashion as he’d delivered his military reports. “Levi forced Kilgore’s knife away from Gigi’s throat, then took him to the floor and cuffed him. He’s waiting for you behind the B & B.”
She glanced at Jackson. “What’s your role in this?”
“Night watch and medical support in the aftermath.”
“What was your take on Kilgore?”
“He had a hidden agenda and was too interested Gigi. I didn’t like it.”
“But you didn’t follow Gigi to the desk when she prepared Kilgore’s bill.”
“That’s on me,” Owen said. “Jackson was asleep.”
Gigi squeezed his hand. “You couldn’t know the kidnappers would be desperate enough to come after me with a house full of people, especially since Jase knew you and Levi were law enforcement.”
Blair held up her hand. “Let’s go through this again, then I’ll transport Kilgore to the station.”
Owen’s gut knotted at the thought of Blair driving alone with the kidnapper. “Kilgore has one other partner in the area, possibly two. Elliot should follow you to the station. Yes, you can handle yourself, and your deputies are well trained. None of you are in the same league as my brother.”
“I won’t argue as long as Elliot doesn’t try to take over the case.” Blair’s expression hardened. “Kilgore is mine. He attacked two of my citizens.”
“Elliot will cooperate as long as you share information.”
“Agreed.” Blair took them through the morning’s events again, asking detailed questions until she was satisfied that she’d learned everything possible. “If you think of anything else, call me.” Blair eyed Owen. “I want frequent updates.”
“As much as I can share, you’ll know.”
The police chief strode to the back door. “Be careful. My gut says this isn’t over.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Owen dragged a hand down his face as Blair shut the back door. “Go sleep, Jackson,” he ordered his friend. “Levi and I have the watch.”
Jackson stood. “I’ll be up in four hours. If you need me, come get me.”
“Thanks.” Owen took his coffee mug and Gigi’s tea glass to the sink. “What do you need to do, G? Anything I can help with?”
When a bell rang in the living room, Gigi stood. “That’s the front desk. My guests are starting to check out. The cleaning crew should arrive soon, too.”
“I’ll sit in the living room while you take care of your