Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,30

deep breaths of air as discreetly as possible trying to stay calm. The idea that something was wrong, and my mate was in trouble or even just hurt physically or emotionally was unbearable. My mate? I nearly groaned.

Was this what my friends had gone through? They had all gone a bit wild at first. Now I could feel that happening to me. I wanted to ask if she was coming back and if not where I could find her, but then I would remember why I was there and I couldn’t draw attention to myself like that.

Susan. The girl had said her name was Susan. It was a start. With a name and her employment at the café I could dig up everything there was on my girl in a matter of minutes.

“I think I’m going to rest a few minutes and then have one of those scrumptious looking pies I saw on the way in. That is, if we’re not a bother sitting here a while longer.”

“No problem at all. Things are already settling down from breakfast. We should be getting a lull for a bit before the lunch crowd descends. So really, take your time,” Sapphire said.

“You’re certain it’s not a problem? We’re just in the area for a day or two and this is a much more pleasant place to work than the hotel,” I told her setting up a story to work there through the afternoon at least.

“Oh, it’s totally fine. Tell you what, stay as long as you want. If we get too busy and I need the table, which isn’t likely, I’ll let you know.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

I took out my laptop and setup a workstation. I was more excited to stalk Susan than worry about my hacker. I would forever be grateful that Nonna accompanied me on this trip, and I didn’t have to deal with the entire team, especially if my fox was right and she really is my one true mate.

Nonna leaned over the table after Sapphire left and whispered. “Is this really all you do on these missions?”

I groaned. “No, there’s more to it. I’ve just been observing.”

“If by observing you mean checking out the local ladies, then you’re doing a splendid job.”

“Nonna,” I groaned through gritted teeth.

“It’s none of my business. I know.”

She sat back in her seat and started knitting again.

I tried to ignore the smirk on her lips as I got to work. I established a secure network and then immediately ran a search on Susan and Shay Vous.

While waiting on the results, Sapphire swung back by.

“Still good?” she asked.

“Yeah, hey, can you tell me who lives in that house across the street?”

She stiffened for a minute and I thought she looked a little pale. “Uh, that house? That’s Shay Dubois and her daughters. You know, Shay as in Shay Vous.” She held out her hands and then pointed to her shirt.

“Oh shit. It’s your boss’s house?”

“I guess you could call her that. Why?”

“No reason,” I said. “Daughters you said. No sons?”

She pursed her lips and then shook her head.

“Thanks,” I said dismissively.

Sapphire walked away, but Nonna kicked me under the table.

“There’s no reason to be rude to the girl,” she reprimanded me.

“Sorry,” I muttered. My profile of the hacker was certainly off just a bit. I had envisioned a man in his early twenties living in his parents’ basement, but apparently this was a single mother with daughters. So was I after the mother or one of the daughters?

I should have asked for ages. That might have lowered the suspect pool. Also, she had said daughters, plural. How many were there? There was a fine line between questions and interrogations. I couldn’t ask too many questions at once for fear she’d grow suspicious and stop talking to me. But I wanted all the answers now. I knew I was going to have to have patience that I wasn’t feeling at the moment.

Leaving my Susan inquiry in the background, I started running a search on Shay Dubois. I also took some time to check the firewall. I was surprised to find there still hadn’t been any new hits against it. Nothing. It was like whoever the woman was trying to hack my system, had simply given up.

I was surprised by my disappointment. She had seemed a worthy adversary, so why did she quit so soon?

There was a slight nagging feeling that maybe it was because she had already found what she was looking for. That would mean