SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,85
to track you down at the hospital to ask more questions.”
“Can’t wait,” Rafe muttered.
When the officers moved their squad car, Eli approached Rafe. “Jackson will drive your SUV to the hospital,” he murmured.
“Thanks.” Rafe tossed Eli the key fob, then helped Kristi into the back of the ambulance and climbed in behind her.
The next hours passed in a blur with medical personnel coming in and out of Rafe’s exam room. To the aggravation of the nurses, he pushed hard to be moved into Kristi’s exam room. They ignored him. He opted not to relocate himself because Jackson used his paramedic license to gain access to Kristi’s room and stay with her, and the room was across the hall from Rafe’s. If he sat at the end of the exam table, he could see who came and went from her room.
Finally, two detectives arrived to question him and Kristi about their presence in the warehouse after hours. When he explained that Kristi’s father was Alan Stewart and had asked his daughter to meet him in the warehouse, the detectives exchanged glances.
“You entered the warehouse and went to the offices. All of them were empty, and the bomb was in the last office.”
“That’s right.”
“Know anything about bombs, Mr. Torres?”
“Enough.”
A frown from one of the detectives. “What does that mean?”
“I’m in black ops, Andrews. We’re trained to handle explosives. Some of the Fortress operatives are experts in that field.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
Narrowed eyes glared at Rafe. “I ran a background check on you.”
“I’d have been disappointed if you hadn’t.”
“You’re holding out on me.”
“I’m not required to give you a detailed history of all my training. I can’t discuss much from my background.”
“You used to be FBI.”
Rafe inclined his head in silent agreement.
“Why did you resign so soon after starting a career with them?”
“I don’t play well with other feds. No patience for bureaucracy.”
Andrews’ partner, Detective Willis, snorted. “I hear that,” he muttered.
“You were in the Navy,” Andrews continued.
“Ten years.”
“I couldn’t see anything in your record aside from the basics. You weren’t a regular sailor.”
Willis straightened. “A SEAL?”
Rafe didn’t reply.
“That’s enough confirmation for me.” Andrews folded his arms over his chest. “So, Torres, you’ve had more than Fortress Security’s basic training in explosives. Could you have disarmed the bomb in that office?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t have time to examine the device. EOD isn’t my specialty, but I can hold my own in a pinch.”
“More than that if my information about SEALs is correct. You have a reason to blow up that warehouse? Maybe to get back at Alan Stewart?”
“No to both questions. I don’t have a problem with Stewart.”
“That’s not what I hear.”
“I wouldn’t put Kristi’s life in danger or wantonly destroy property.”
“We attempted to contact Stewart to inform him of the destruction of his warehouse without success. Where is he, Torres?”
“I don’t know. Kristi is my priority, not her father.” Not entirely true, but close enough.
“Why did he want to meet his daughter late at night in that particular location?”
“I don’t know. He said he needed to tell her something in person.”
“Why did you go to the warehouse with Ms. Stewart?”
“Would you let your wife or girlfriend go to an industrial complex at night by herself?”
Andrews’ cheeks flushed red. “This isn’t about me. It’s about your motivation for being at that warehouse tonight.”
“Protecting Kristi.”
“How long have you been together?”
“Not long.”
Willis shifted his weight. “How did you meet?”
“I’ve known her for a few years. She was friends with my former girlfriend.” That led to a discussion of Callie’s death.
Andrews rubbed his jaw. “The Hunt Club was a bad business. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks. Any more questions, Detectives? I want to check on my girlfriend.”
“Stay available.”
Rafe stood. “I’m on deployment rotation this month with Fortress. My team could be sent out of the country at a moment’s notice.” Unlikely, especially since Rafe would refuse to go if Kristi’s life was still in danger.
A scowl from both detectives. “How long would you be gone?”
“Unknown. Our missions last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you have more questions while I’m deployed, contact Fortress headquarters. They’ll send me a message, and I’ll call you as soon as possible.”
“We’ll hold you to that, Torres,” Willis said. “If you don’t cooperate with our investigation, we’ll meet your company plane with an arrest warrant.”
“Not necessary. I want answers more than you do.”
“I doubt that.”
“You’d be wrong. Someone set that bomb to blow with us in the warehouse.”
“How do you know?”
“The bomber was either in the area to