Shadow of Doubt (An SBG Novel Book 2)

by P. A. DePaul

  The door opened again and Cappy strode inside with Michelle a step behind him. An ethereal glow radiated off the pair. Only a really stupid person wouldn’t be able to pick up on the fact they emitted love and sunshine.

  Romeo wanted to stand and applaud.

  “Thank you all for showing up on time,” Cappy stated, making his way to the high-backed chair.

  Grady had already set a dining room chair beside it and Michelle dropped onto the seat.

  A new air filled the room and Romeo sat forward. Cappy still hadn’t turned and Michelle frowned up at him.

  Wraith plopped beside Grady on the loveseat and she whispered, “I told you.”

  Finally, the CO pivoted and his face bore his no-nonsense mask.

  Romeo’s gut tightened.

  Magician sat forward and bumped her thigh beside his and didn’t remove it.

  “I have no easy way to say this,” Cappy started with his hands on his hips, “but as of this moment, I’m resigning from SBG.”

  Nobody said a word or moved.

  The bottom dropped out of Romeo’s stomach.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Talon finally broke the rising tension with his eloquent question . . . Though they were all thinking it.

  The color drained from Michelle’s face and she held a shaking hand in front of her mouth.

  Interesting. So this wasn’t something they planned together.

  “You can’t quit,” Wraith breathed, her eyes swallowing her face.

  Cappy smirked. “You of all people know how true that statement is, but I’m doing it anyway, and God help the man who comes after me.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Romeo asked, still trying to comprehend. “The urban myth?”

  “Urban myth?” Michelle whispered. “What urban myth?”

  Everyone peered at Cappy.

  He nodded. “She knows the truth.”

  “Ah,” the Senator sighed. “You told her.”

  “Goddamn right, I told her,” Cappy bit back. “If we’re to have any type of future I needed to stop lying to her.”

  “The urban myth in SBG is that any operative who tried to leave the company died,” Wraith answered dully. Grady stroked her hand. “It didn’t matter if they retired or looked for a new job, something always seemed to happen to them and they ended up in the morgue.”

  Michelle sucked in a breath.

  “It’s also been rumored that any operative who broke their oath and talked would be killed,” Cappy added, his eyes hard as marbles.

  “I’ll ask it again,” Romeo clipped. “Is that what this is about? I told you it’s not the choice you think it is anymore.”

  “You don’t have to choose between her and us,” Magician said quietly.

  A soft cry choked from Michelle. “Jeremy, I can’t let you pick me. This is who you are.”

  “You’re choosing a piece of tail over your family?” Talon asked incredulously.

  “Say that again and you’ll be picking up your teeth,” Cappy growled, stepping in front of Michelle’s chair.

  “Simmer down,” the Senator boomed, hoisting himself off the couch. “Nobody’s choosing anybody. That’s all Victor bullshit.”

  “This mission has shown just how ineffective I’ve been as a leader,” Cappy dropped the next bomb. “You heard how I got my other team killed, and I’ve almost done it again. I’m too emotional.”

  “The hell you say,” Romeo barked, unable to take Cappy’s fucked up view of himself. “You have got to be the most levelheaded, badass man I know. You have the ability to strategize and think on your feet, changing plays midstream to keep us all alive.”

  “I’ll say it again. Bullshit,” Senator Harris rumbled.

  Cappy straightened.

  “No.” The Senator held up a hand. “My turn. I asked Delta Squad to help me find my son’s killer for a reason.”

  “We owed you,” Talon muttered.

  “Yes. But that’s not all. You all have the reputation as the best of the best.” The Senator drew his suit jacket back and clapped his hands on his hips. “I looked into that fact very hard to make sure it wasn’t some made-up honor to appease the egos. It wasn’t.”

  Romeo couldn’t help being a little impressed with the guy. Even in grief he kept his wits enough to surround himself with a team that would find justice.

  “I’m told the reason you’re the best is because every single one of you contributes to the group’s success,” the politician stated bluntly.

  “But—”

  “So you found out you were human after all.” Senator Harris cut Cappy’s protest off. “Big deal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person at my side when the call came in about April.”

  Cappy’s mouth clicked shut.

  “As for choices? There is no either/or.” The Senator hung his head and a shudder ran through him. When he lifted his gaze his eyes were moist. “I’ve had the two people I love most taken from me. I’ll be damned if I’ll follow in some deranged—sorry, Ted—man’s footsteps and kill off my best resources because they fall in love.”

  Michelle stood and intertwined her fingers in Cappy’s hand.

  The Senator pointed to the loveseat. “Wraith exposed a glaring flaw with Victor’s insular style. He allowed no balance. It’s not healthy to separate you guys from your families or from living a life.”

  Romeo’s heart sped at the politician’s words.

  “If I can’t trust the very people I send out to stop a terrorist threat or end a sex-slave ring to keep SBG safe from discovery then we might as well shut the whole division down.”

  Home. That word kept singing in Romeo’s mind. I can go home again. He wanted to whoop and at the same time wring Cappy’s neck for not listening and trying to quit.

  “Cappy,” Wraith implored, “we were going to wait until this mission was complete to tell you but I think I need to say it now. I decided to come back to Delta.”

  Every eye turned to her. Romeo’s blood quickened some more. Maybe the dark days were coming to an end.

  “But I’m now stipulating two things.”

  “And they would be?” Cappy asked, his voice strained.

  “You are still my CO, and Grady is inducted as a full member. I will not go on an assignment without him.”

  “Nor would I let her without tagging along anyway.” Grady kissed her hand.

  “Reasonable terms,” Senator Harris pronounced. “I can have all the necessary paperwork, including the salary details, drawn up in a few days. In the meantime, consider yourself on probation, Grady.” The politician peered at Cappy. “Can we put this whole topic to rest and move on to how we’re going to catch the bastard who killed my family?”

  Chapter 62

  Cappy searched every face in the room. Expressions ranged from anxious (Wraith, Magician, Ted, Michelle) to pissed (Talon) to calculating (Isis) to blank-faced (Romeo, Grady).

  “You can’t give up who you are and what you excel at for me,” Michelle whispered in his ear. “I won’t let you.”

  “It could get rough,” he murmured, turning his back on the room.

  “Like we haven’t faced rough before.”

  Amazing. He ran his hand down her cheek. If the whole team wasn’t behind him, straining to hear every word, he’d show her just how much he appreciated her support, and find out exactly how sturdy the high-back chair really was. Hearing his real name rush past her lips again as she shattered around him was a sudden imperative.

  Two red spots bloomed on her cheeks and she bit her bottom lip, obviously figuring out the directions of his thoughts. Her eyes turned smoky and she shot a quick look around his bicep.

  Right. Not the time or place. He gave her a quick kiss and pivoted.

  His pride swelled and he couldn’t help admiring the hardened
warriors now on their feet in front of him. This was the second time in two days they humbled him. They believed in him so much they accepted his past without a qualm and now promised him he could have a future with them and Michelle.

  “Resignation withdrawn,” he rumbled, rubbing his chest as the anvil parked in its center faded.

  A collective sigh rippled across the room.

  “Excellent,” the Senator snapped. “Tell me about your plan to draw the bastard out of hiding.”

  And that’s that, I guess. Good. “It’s simple really,” Cappy answered. “That asshole shot at me three times. Me. Not Michelle. First time in the ICU was a headshot, the second grazed my arm, and the third missed completely thanks to Wraith.” He scratched the first-aid tape Michelle had insisted on applying after their first round before she seduced him into the second . . . then third. It irritated his skin but left awesome memories.

  “So you think this is personal,” Romeo surmised, tilting his head and seeming to weigh the evidence.

  “At first, no,” Cappy answered slowly. “Colin’s murder threw me off but when I saw April’s body I realized the killer had a personal stake.” He flicked a glance at the Senator. The politician’s knuckles whitened against his hips. “Sorry, Senator, I’m not trying to be insensitive.”

  Bob Harris tightened his jaw and motioned for Cappy to continue.

  “The marks he induced were reminiscent of Michelle’s.”

  Michelle sucked in a breath.

  “He didn’t torture her.” Cappy gripped Michelle’s hand. “Just made it look similar. Then we discovered the pictures left in Michelle’s apartment. They were a statement. They came from the camera in my unit and captured us together. Taunting me that someone out there knows my weakness while ensuring Michelle remains a part of this whole fucked-up thing. Doesn’t get more personal than that.” He dropped Michelle’s hand and ran his palms over his hair. “But the killer’s directing his anger toward me. The flying bullets make his point hard to miss.”

  “Okay.” Romeo canted his head. Cappy could see the man processing and working through the information. “If that’s true, what are you planning to do?”

  Cappy pulled an old-style flip phone from his side cargo pocket. “I’m going to call the bastard on the cell we stole off Victor and set up a meeting.”

  “Just like that?” Isis asked, her frown letting him know she wasn’t a fan of the forthright approach.

  “Just like that,” Cappy repeated.

  “If it is personal,” Romeo interjected, “then that may work, but what if he demands you bring Michelle? She’s a key factor in this too.”

  “Then I abandon the plan and we come up with something else.”

  ***

  Michelle’s entire body trembled but she tried to cover it when she placed a hand on Jeremy’s arm. “Hang on. You can’t abandon the plan because of me.”

  “The hell I can’t,” Cappy retorted. “I’m not risking your safety.”

  She straightened to maximize her height, but still only came to his shoulder. “I’m capable of making decisions for myself.” Heat flared over her cheeks. “I believe that’s my call to make, not yours.”

  Cappy turned to face her. “Didn’t yesterday’s debacle at the hospital teach you anything?”

  “Yeah, that the best-laid plans can get screwed up.” Michelle clenched her hands together to hide their shaking. She was absolutely petrified but knew if the killer accepted Cappy’s terms it would be the right thing to do.

  Talon snorted. “You got that right.”

  “Not helping, T,” Cappy ground through his teeth, then peered back at Michelle. “You’re not trained for this.”

  “But you all are,” she shot back. “I have confidence in your skills.”

  “Are you really arguing to put yourself in a bullet’s path? You need to stay here where it’s safe.”

  “A bullet’s path?” She swallowed. “Uh, no, I don’t think that’s what I’m asking for. I’ll admit this scares the snot out of me but that’s not going to stop me from getting the man who tried to ruin my life and ultimately caused my father to be fighting for his in IGH.”

  She needed to establish she wouldn’t be a pushover or a simpering damsel clamoring to do his bidding just because he got loud. Like she had done with the Senator, she needed to garner Jeremy’s respect by standing up to him. “I’m coming with you whether you like it or not.”

  The look on his face was photo-worthy. She could only describe it as angry with a side of incredulousness and befuddlement.

  “What about a compromise?” Grady asked. “She can come but stay in the SUV with Ted.”

  ***

  Cappy opened his mouth, then closed it. Had she just turned the tables? He blinked. Her mouth was set and her eyes glowed with determination.

  Holy shit. She had. He didn’t know whether to laugh or wring her neck for demanding to be put in harm’s way.

  He turned to the room, grumbling, “Fine. She can ride along, but that’s it.”

  Michelle’s eyes flattened and her mouth opened.

  He plowed forward. “As for the logistics, the spot I’m thinking of is along Canal Walk in downtown Indy. Grady, since we know the killer won’t associate you with SBG, and you were never at the hospital, you’re going to be on the ground with me.”

  “Us,” Michelle interjected.

  Cappy scowled, but decided to continue the briefing instead of arguing. He’d duct tape her ass to the seat if he had to. “The city designed Canal Walk to be a walking or running path with touristy things to do at different intervals.”

  Grady scratched his stomach. “I haven’t run in too many days. It’ll be good to get in some laps.”

  “Ted, can you hook him up with some tech that’s not like ours?”

  Ted lifted his head from the computer. “I don’t have much with me, but I can go old school. Make it look like he has headphones with a mic hanging low on the wire.”

  “Perfect.” Cappy grinned. “Can you also record everything?”

  “Shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Romeo and Magician—”

  Romeo held up a hand. “Before you assign us to anything, we need to fill you in on last night’s merriment.”

  The dull ache behind his eyes grew more intense.

  “SAC Bingham threw a royal hissy when he reviewed the security footage from the parking garage.”

  Cappy sighed. “Are your aliases finally burned?”

  “No,” the Senator replied. “When I got the call about the latest arrests—”

  “Arrests?” Son of a bitch. He peered at Magician’s grim face and Romeo’s sheepish one.

  “Yes,” Bob Harris confirmed. “I threw my own tantrum and made Bingham release these two and wipe it off their records.”

  “Should I ask how?” Cappy rubbed his gut. Maybe he should start carrying antacids.

  “Let’s just say Frank in the DoD has been avidly following the goings-on in this investigation, and has graciously allowed it to fall under their classified heading.”

  Damn. The more they had to call on the Department of Defense, the worse it showed that SBG couldn’t handle their Black Ops contracts.

  “Thank you, Senator,” Cappy replied, worried about the new wrinkle. “Can we at least get the agencies’ cooperation to have the area free from interference?”

  “We’ll do our best to help with that while working our zone,” Magician answered.

  “Good.” Cappy adjusted his side holster and asked, “Do we have an extra Kevlar vest with us? Michelle may be in the Suburban but I don’t trust the bastard to not stumble on her and take a shot.”

  “Yeah,” Ted answered. “I put it in my luggage with the one Grady and Wraith gave me.”

  “Excellent work,” Cappy enthused, and the genius ducked his he
ad. “Everyone, load up. I want to make the call near that spot. I don’t know where he’s stationed so I’m not taking a chance he could get the jump on us.”

  Chapter 63

  Griffin prowled his hotel room. So far, he hadn’t come up with anything substantial to draw Cappy and Michelle out.

  He had sat in the Cerise’s first-floor atrium area last night and caught bits of conversations as the agents and Marshals strode past. Seemed as if his evidence to frame Michelle was slowly falling apart. Her dress had been free of Colin’s blood and some tech wizard had reconstructed the champagne bottle and reported “anomalies.” Griffin had been too hasty when he snatched her fingerprints off the bottom half and managed to fuck it up by adding two forefingers.

  He snorted. Bet the tech had a ball with that one.

  It didn’t matter. The lost money—thousands, actually—to buy the grand-opening tickets, then sending a set to Colin’s friend implying that Ardent’s management wanted the Senator’s son present, then ensuring Michelle attended the same event with her coworker, had only been to set the stage.

  The whole point of framing Michelle was to turn her life upside down like his had been and draw Cappy here. Mission accomplished. He just needed to complete the job and finish them off.

  His cell phone resting on the nightstand rang and vibrated. He stopped pacing and frowned.

  “Victor, I’m not going after a gang member.”

  Second ring, vibration.

  He marched to the phone and stared at the display. What the hell? Victor’s number scrolled across the screen.

  My phone’s been compromised. Victor’s words crossed his mind and the memory of the Senator blaring in his ear right after he killed the man’s wife.

  Malone. Had to be.

  Third ring, vibration.

  “Well. Well. Well. This should be interesting.”

  He cracked his neck from left to right and answered the phone but didn’t say a word.

  “I’m thinking playing cat and mouse with me is Victor’s game,” Cappy stated by way of greeting after a few beats of silence. His chain-saw voice was unmistakable and one he’d never forget.