search on Sydney and her brother, but that would make it official.”
“I’d rather not get anyone official involved, just yet,” Frank said, unable to shake the need to protect Sydney, even if it was from herself.
“We could use some other options to get the information. A good hacker could probably get us what we want to know.” Jake paused a moment. “And of course the one we know the best and trust the most just left town on his honeymoon, they’re probably already tucked into their private island retreat.”
“Yeah, he was proud there would be limited Internet and cell phone connection. Leave it to Luke to go off the grid just when we’d need him to do some special computer research for us.”
Before the youngest Edgars brother had gone into government law enforcement, he’d dabbled in some amateur black hat hacking. His oldest brother got wind of it and suggested—Frank gathered Dave had used a fist or two, as well as some persuasive words to convince the teenage rebel—that he find a more honest way to use his skills before finding himself behind bars.
“We’ll be able to leave a message on their phones and hopefully they’ll contact us in the next few days.”
“What if we don’t have a few days? I’d like to know who and what I’m dealing with, ASAP.”
“There’s always Doyle.” Jake said after a few moments.
“Your old partner on the local PD? Didn’t he retire years ago?”
“Yeah, workman’s comp for an injury sustained on the job. He’s been doing some private detecting, has a computer setup the NSA would envy, and has been taking lessons on looking behind the curtain from—”
“Luke.”
“And Abby. Turns out my new sister-in-law can give Luke a run for his money with the computer. The added advantage of using Doyle is he knows how to keep information to himself, so if you want, we could ask him to help out.”
“We? Just because my danger bells went off doesn’t mean anyone else needs to get involved—” he started to protest.
“Sure we do,” Jake interrupted, then tilted his head toward the living room where Sami and Sydney were sitting. “It’s what family does. And like it or not, big guy, you’re family.” He grabbed the note pad and pen Frank always kept by the landlines in his houses. “Let’s go see if we can get some of the photographer’s secrets, shall we?”
Frank picked up the bottle of bourbon, poured a helping into the mug of hot tea, then followed Jake into the living area. The alcohol would help Sydney sleep later, and relax enough to willingly answer questions. He didn’t like the idea of Jake interrogating her, but dammit, he needed information if he was going to find out who’d targeted her home for demolishing, and if they meant her more harm.
Slowly, Sydney’s body started to thaw as she sipped on the tea. The heat from the mug warming her hands as much as the liquid heated her insides. “This is much better than the whiskey. Thank you.”
“Too sweet?” Frank, seated in the big leather chair, his dark eyes focused like a laser beam on her, asked, and she wondered how much sugar he’d added.
“How much?”
“Two.”
“Enough.” She could talk in short spurts, too. Lowering her eyes, she focused on the tea in the mug. She knew they had questions. She did, too.
“I’m very sorry for what happened to your home tonight, Sydney,” Jake said. “Castello said your brother was staying there?”
She nodded and blinked back the tears. “Ian.”
“Was he older or younger?” Sami asked, her hand gently rubbing up and down Sydney’s back. The contact felt good, soothing.
“Older by four years. He was always just dropping in unannounced and at the most inconvenient times.”
“I know what that’s like. Brothers can be a bit self-centered, can’t they?”
She gave Sami a little smile. “Yes, and you had three. How did you survive it?”
“I gave as good as I got. It was either that or let them run roughshod over
“I’d rather not get anyone official involved, just yet,” Frank said, unable to shake the need to protect Sydney, even if it was from herself.
“We could use some other options to get the information. A good hacker could probably get us what we want to know.” Jake paused a moment. “And of course the one we know the best and trust the most just left town on his honeymoon, they’re probably already tucked into their private island retreat.”
“Yeah, he was proud there would be limited Internet and cell phone connection. Leave it to Luke to go off the grid just when we’d need him to do some special computer research for us.”
Before the youngest Edgars brother had gone into government law enforcement, he’d dabbled in some amateur black hat hacking. His oldest brother got wind of it and suggested—Frank gathered Dave had used a fist or two, as well as some persuasive words to convince the teenage rebel—that he find a more honest way to use his skills before finding himself behind bars.
“We’ll be able to leave a message on their phones and hopefully they’ll contact us in the next few days.”
“What if we don’t have a few days? I’d like to know who and what I’m dealing with, ASAP.”
“There’s always Doyle.” Jake said after a few moments.
“Your old partner on the local PD? Didn’t he retire years ago?”
“Yeah, workman’s comp for an injury sustained on the job. He’s been doing some private detecting, has a computer setup the NSA would envy, and has been taking lessons on looking behind the curtain from—”
“Luke.”
“And Abby. Turns out my new sister-in-law can give Luke a run for his money with the computer. The added advantage of using Doyle is he knows how to keep information to himself, so if you want, we could ask him to help out.”
“We? Just because my danger bells went off doesn’t mean anyone else needs to get involved—” he started to protest.
“Sure we do,” Jake interrupted, then tilted his head toward the living room where Sami and Sydney were sitting. “It’s what family does. And like it or not, big guy, you’re family.” He grabbed the note pad and pen Frank always kept by the landlines in his houses. “Let’s go see if we can get some of the photographer’s secrets, shall we?”
Frank picked up the bottle of bourbon, poured a helping into the mug of hot tea, then followed Jake into the living area. The alcohol would help Sydney sleep later, and relax enough to willingly answer questions. He didn’t like the idea of Jake interrogating her, but dammit, he needed information if he was going to find out who’d targeted her home for demolishing, and if they meant her more harm.
Slowly, Sydney’s body started to thaw as she sipped on the tea. The heat from the mug warming her hands as much as the liquid heated her insides. “This is much better than the whiskey. Thank you.”
“Too sweet?” Frank, seated in the big leather chair, his dark eyes focused like a laser beam on her, asked, and she wondered how much sugar he’d added.
“How much?”
“Two.”
“Enough.” She could talk in short spurts, too. Lowering her eyes, she focused on the tea in the mug. She knew they had questions. She did, too.
“I’m very sorry for what happened to your home tonight, Sydney,” Jake said. “Castello said your brother was staying there?”
She nodded and blinked back the tears. “Ian.”
“Was he older or younger?” Sami asked, her hand gently rubbing up and down Sydney’s back. The contact felt good, soothing.
“Older by four years. He was always just dropping in unannounced and at the most inconvenient times.”
“I know what that’s like. Brothers can be a bit self-centered, can’t they?”
She gave Sami a little smile. “Yes, and you had three. How did you survive it?”
“I gave as good as I got. It was either that or let them run roughshod over
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