SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,76
she doesn’t live with me. No one complains when I’m gone all night on watch.”
All of that matched up with the information Rafe had read on Adams’ team. “Who fired a bullet through Kristi’s window yesterday?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kristi’s breath caught at Rafe’s blunt question. Guess he should have told Kristi that he suspected one of her security team members had fired into her workroom.
Adams stared at Rafe. “I didn’t know about the window. How do you know one of the security team fired the shot?”
“Educated guess. We saw the company’s logo on the side of a tactical boot.”
“Doesn’t mean one of us is the culprit. Ward Security employs hundreds of people.”
“We’ll tear apart the lives of every person in your company if necessary to find the culprit.”
“Including Hugh Ward?”
“Already in progress. I won’t let him slide.” Especially since Ward had a motive for having Kristi kidnapped for ransom. If he’d engineered the kidnapping, Ward either did a poor job of planning the snatch-and-grab, or hired inept kidnappers. They had botched the job by hurting Kristi and allowing her to escape.
Adams looked at Eli. “Need more information? I have to check in soon.”
“We’ll find you if we have more questions.”
“What about the equipment? WS will want it returned.”
“Tell your supervisor that Kristi’s new security team confiscated the cameras and flushed the bugs. If WS wants the cameras, your supervisor will have to contact Maddox. Can you access the security footage recorded before we removed the cameras?”
A nod.
“Will you duplicate the footage and send it to Eli?” Rafe appreciated Adams analyzing the situation before answering. The man had honor and integrity, and wouldn’t cross those boundaries.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“What you plan to do with the footage.” He flicked a glance at Kristi, then returned his gaze to Rafe. “I may not be on Ms. Stewart’s security detail any longer, but she was my responsibility and I don’t want the footage to wind up all over the Internet.”
Rafe held Adams’ gaze. “I won’t allow that to happen. Kristi means too much to me. I’ll always have her best interests at heart.”
“Strong words, but you still didn’t answer my question.”
“I’ll review the footage to look for anyone nosing around Kristi’s property and inside the house while she was gone.”
“I’m on the footage.”
“Then I’ll see what you were doing and when, won’t I?”
“I could tamper with the footage before I send it to Eli.”
“Will you?”
Adams shook his head. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
“Neither do we. Our goal is to protect Kristi. The footage will help us do that more effectively. By the way, our tech wizard would know if you tampered with the footage.”
A frown. “He’s that good?”
“Z is a genius with technology of any kind. You could try to fool him, but you’d fail and destroy any hope of landing a job with Fortress in the process.”
“I realize you don’t have much reason to trust me, but I want to help. I don’t like the way this is shaking out. I’m concerned about Ms. Stewart.”
He wasn’t the only one. Rafe needed to unmask the culprit soon. “Getting the security footage will be a start.” Rafe wouldn’t assign Adams another task until he ruled the soldier out as a participant in Kristi’s kidnapping.
“I’ll send you the footage after I’m off shift. Why aren’t you asking me to lie to my supervisor about the cameras and bugs?”
“Letting the people above you deal with Maddox is more fun. The boss will make mincemeat of them.”
“They deserve it,” Adams muttered. “Somebody up the food chain thinks spying on women is acceptable. It’s not.”
“What do you know about Hugh Ward?” Eli asked.
“Enough to be glad I don’t deal with him one-on-one very often. He’s an arrogant jerk who throws around money and influence to suit his own ends.” He glanced at Kristi. “Sorry, ma’am, but that’s the truth.”
“Don’t apologize, Mr. Adams. You’re right. I’m sorry I didn’t see him for what he was before now.”
“Know anything about his financial situation?” Jon asked Adams.
His brows furrowed. “No. Should I?”
“Are you aware he’s drowning in gambling debt?”
The Ranger’s jaw tightened. “No, sir, but I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
“He shows up once or twice a week during the day shift to talk to Hale. I thought the discussions concerned Ms. Stewart’s security. Now, I’m not so sure.”
“Does Fleming know Ward met with Hale so often?”
“He said he didn’t.”
“They’re partners. Why didn’t Fleming push for more information?”
A snort. “Have you seen Hale in person? Fleming is eight inches shorter and one hundred pounds lighter. When Hale