luck one night in a casino.”
“When a man tries to gamble his way out of a gambling debt, he has a problem,” Jon said.
“You know for a fact that’s what he’s doing?”
“I’m sorry, Kristi. There’s no mistake. The amount of money he owes takes a while to accumulate. This wasn’t an overnight binge.”
“Keep digging,” Rafe said.
“Look at the hedge fund,” Josh said. “If Ward was over his head in debt and desperate for money, he might have looked for short-term cash flow until he could make other arrangements.” He looked at Kristi.
Rafe frowned. Was Kristi part of Ward’s solution to his problems? Talk about cold-blooded calculation. He hated the distress and hurt on Kristi’s face. He threaded his fingers through hers. “We’ll find out what’s going on. If he’s behind the kidnapping, he’ll pay.” In more ways than one. No matter what happened between him and Kristi, Rafe would see to that personally.
“Have you connected the kidnappers to Ward?” Cal asked.
“Not yet. I’m juggling several searches,” Jon said.
“Can Zane help?”
“He’s buried with other priorities at the moment. I’ll get it done.”
“We’ll help when we’re not on watch.”
“If you have more information, talk fast,” Josh said. “I’m due in a training class soon.” He sent a wicked grin Rafe’s direction. “Close quarters combat.”
Rafe groaned, remembering multiple deep bruises he’d suffered sparring with Durango’s leader in after-class sessions with the Delta soldier. “Better them than me.”
“Your time for a refresher course is coming soon, Torres. I have several new techniques to teach to you.”
He scowled. “Where are you finding these techniques? I’m as well trained as you are.”
Josh chuckled. “I’ll tell you when you come in for class.”
“Can’t wait,” he lied. Even though he learned a lot from Cahill and his partner, Alex Morgan, Rafe hated the sessions that reminded him of the worst days in BUDS.
Josh shifted his attention to the sniper. “Anything else before I head to class?”
“I looked into Alan Stewart’s background and his company.”
Oh, man. Rafe didn’t know how many more blows Kristi could take.
“Stewart Group has cash-flow issues.”
“This situation keeps getting worse,” Kristi whispered.
“More revelations will come. By the time we finish, no one will have secrets.”
“Including me?”
“Do you have something to hide?” Jon countered.
She frowned. “No, but I don’t want my life under a microscope.”
“It’s necessary,” Rafe said. “Someone you know is probably responsible for your kidnapping. We have to look into your life to find the connection.”
“How would you like it if your life was on display?”
“I’d hate it,” he admitted. “But I was a federal cop long enough to understand why it’s necessary.”
“You and your team looking into my life is bad enough, but I feel terrible that you have to tear apart the lives of my friends and family, too.” Kristi sighed. “By the time this investigation is complete, I may not have any friends left.”
Eli stretched, pushed away from the conference table, and stood. “Rio extended an invitation to stay with him and Darcy tonight.”
Rafe breathed a sigh of relief. Rio’s Victorian home was large enough to accommodate all of them and was a fortress. Although a medic, Rio was as deadly as his fellow Delta soldiers and just as safety conscious. He was fiercely protective of his wife. “When do we leave?”
“Another hour. You’re with Kristi until then. The rest of Wolf Pack promised to lend a hand in Crime Town.”
His eyebrows rose. “You’re offering to play victims?”
Jon snorted. “Not a chance. We’re stalking the rescue team while they attempt to rescue a hostage.”
Rafe turned to stare at Josh. “A new training technique?”
A shrug. “We have to deal with that on the field.”
“Yeah, but most of these recruits are bodyguard trainees, not operatives.”
“We have a few possible operatives in the mix. The training is good for all of them, though. Criminals don’t play fair.”
“True. Kristi and I will be at the indoor S & R training arena, playing with the dogs.” After the latest revelations, Kristi needed more time with Oliver.
“I’d rather play with dogs than stalk trainees,” Jackson said.
“Tough.” Josh rose. “You can play next time. For the next hour, you’re stalking trainees.”
“You never let me have any fun,” he complained.
“Keep it up, Conner, and I’ll be adding to the list of fun things you and Wolf Pack do when you return for training.”
Cal clamped a hand over Jackson’s mouth and maneuvered the medic toward the door while the rest of the men followed, chuckling.
Rafe waited with Kristi until Wolf Pack and Josh filed from the conference room. When they