Page 31 of Beneath the Surface

“Was it what you thought?”

“Bomb. Would have killed her if she’d started the car.” The words came out flat, matter-of-fact, but Dax’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

Torres’s expression darkened, her mouth pressing into a thin line. “Jesus. Harper wasn’t exaggerating about the threat level.”

“No. She wasn’t.” Dax looked past her into the dim living room, toward the bedroom where the grandmother lay. Sleeping peacefully now, unaware of how close her granddaughter had come to dying. “Keep them both safe. Wheeler’s not playing around.”

“Neither are we.” Torres’s stance shifted, shoulders squaring. Ready.

Dax headed back to his truck, the evening air cool against his face. His phone buzzed in his pocket. A text from Carson.Heard about the bomb. You okay?

He typed back one-handed.Fine. Quinn’s safe. That’s what matters.

Captain wants to see you first thing tomorrow. He knows.

Dax’s thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he responded.Let him know. I’ve got evidence now. Attempted murder. This case is active whether he likes it or not.

He shoved the phone back in his pocket and started the truck, the engine’s rumble familiar and grounding. Headed back to the cabin. Back to Quinn, who had no idea how close she’d come to dying today.

He should tell her. She deserved to know.

But first, he needed to make sure she really understood what they were dealing with. This wasn’t a story anymore. This wasn’t an investigation that would end with a Pulitzer and a promotion.

This was life and death. And Wheeler had just proven he was willing to kill.

The drive back felt longer than it should have. Dax’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his mind churning with plans and contingencies. They needed more evidence. Needed to connect Wheeler directly to the murders, not just the attempted murder. Needed bank records, testimony, something that would hold up in court.

But more than that, they needed to keep Quinn alive long enough to see justice done.

When Dax pulled up to the cabin, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, the trees casting long shadows across the clearing. Beautiful. Peaceful.

Deceptive.

He unlocked the door, the familiar click of each lock oddly comforting, and found Quinn curled up on the couch, her laptop open, fingers flying across the keyboard. She looked up when he entered, those amber eyes bright with focus.

“Did you find anything?” she asked.

Dax closed the door and locked all three locks, each one clicking into place with deliberate finality. Then he turned to face her, his expression serious.

“Your car had a bomb under it. Attached to the ignition. You would have died the second you turned the key.”

Quinn’s face went white, the color draining like someone had pulled a plug. The laptop slid off her lap, forgotten, landing on the couch cushion with a muted thud.

“What?” The word came out barely above a whisper.

“Wheeler tried to kill you today. Would have succeeded if we hadn’t moved you when we did.” Dax moved to the kitchen, his boots heavy on the floor, needing something to do with his hands. He reached for the coffee pot. “This is what we’re dealing with, Barrett. This is why I told you to back off. Why I said it was dangerous.”

“I—” Her voice cracked, broke. “A bomb?”

“Yeah. Professional job. Simple but effective. Bomb squad disarmed it. It’s evidence now.” He measured coffee grounds with mechanical precision, the scoop scraping against the bag, not looking at her.

Quinn stood up, swaying slightly on her feet. Dax’s head snapped toward her, his body already moving, the coffee scoop clattering into the sink as he closed the distance. Ready to catch her if she fell. But she steadied herself against the couch arm, her knuckles white where she gripped it, her breathing shallow.

“He really tried to kill me,” she said, like she was just now understanding it. Her voice sounded distant, shocked, like it was coming from underwater. “Not just scare me. Actually kill me.”

“Yes.” Dax set down the coffee canister, turning to face her fully, giving her his complete attention.

“Like he killed my father.”