Page 8 of The B-Team

“And then what?”

A sense of conviction swept through Ryan, and he smiled. “We go see Julia.”

Isobel looked relieved. “Good idea. She’ll know what to do.”

Ryan hoped so because he was fresh out of ideas.

CHAPTER THREE

As they were herded out to the waiting police vans, Callum spotted Detective Inspector Singh heading straight for him. He knew the plainclothes investigator and trusted her, so it was a relief to see her.

She eyed him somberly. “I don’t have to cuff you guys and shove you in the caged vans, do I?”

“You won’t get any trouble from us.” He gestured to Lake and Rachel. “You’ve met Rachel, but this is the big boss, Lake Benson.”

To his surprise, the DI shook Lake’s hand. Not what you’d usually do with a suspected terrorist. It seemed not everyone on the commander’s team agreed with him.

“Who’s working this case?” Callum asked as they lined up on the pavement outside the terraced Regency building to climb into the vehicles that would take them to the Chelsea custody suite.

He spotted his wife standing at the first-floor office window and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Who knew what he actually looked like. He wasn’t known for being reassuring. She gave him a sad little wave that made fury coil inside him.Nothing pissed him off more than somebody messing with his family.

DI Singh glanced around cautiously before replying: “Commander Fitzwater is running the task force personally.”

She didn’t need to say anything more. They both knew that an officer of his rank didn’t run investigations. They delegated.

Singh continued, “DI Stark and I will help him conduct the interviews.”

Callum’s eyebrows shot up. “Fitzwater’s doing some of the interviewing?”

“Commander Fitzwater has been very hands-on with this investigation.” She gave him a pointed look. “He appears to have apersonalinterest in it.”

Callum mulled that over as they approached a waiting van. “Did he have something going on with Tessa, a romantic thing?” If he did, he wouldn’t have been happy when Benson Security sent his predecessor to jail.

“No.” Lake spoke up as he climbed into the van. “His issues are with me.”

DI Singh suddenly straightened her shoulders and stepped back. She raised her voice. “Constable, please ensure that everyone is safely secured and wearing their seat belts. We don’t want any health and safety issues.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Callum saw Commander Fitzwater approach, and he nodded to Singh. Their little catch-up was over.

“Yes, ma’am,” the officer said as he reached for Rachel’s hand to help her up.

“Do I look incapable to you?” Rachel batted his hand away. “I’m pregnant. Not infirm.”

“Uh…” The officer turned bright red as he glanced around, seeking help.

“Leave her be,” Callum said. “If Rachel wants help, she’ll order you to give it.”

“Uh,” the man said again as Rachel climbed into the van. “She doesn’t look stable.”

For a second, Callum thought he meant mentally, which was a fair point, but then he noticed the officer was staring at Rachel’s shoes. They were high stiletto heels in polished black leather with bright red soles.

“Oh, that.” Callum dismissed it as he levered himself into the van, grateful that he’d worn his state-of-the-art “bionic” legs—as Elle called them—because his run-of-the-mill prosthetics would have struggled with the high step. “Don’t worry about her balance; I’ve seen her run in them. Rachel was born wearing those shoes, and the only way they’re coming off is if a house lands on her.”

“I heard that,” Rachel snapped.

Callum settled beside Lake on a bench seat and dutifully fastened his seat belt. There were two padded benches facing each other, taking up most of the back of the van. Two police officers sat up front, and one sat with his back to the driver, watching them. Joe, Elle, and Grunt filled out the empty seats, and the door slid shut.

Behind a police barricade across the street, Callum spotted a growing sea of journalists. He nodded to them. “The vultures are out.”