Silent Pursuit Read Online Free PDF Page B

having had no time to grab them before her flight from the house. Nor her coat. She reminded herself to get that before they left.
    She reached for the knob just to see.
    It twisted under her palm, and alarm zipped through her.
    She stepped back—right into Ian’s chest. His hands came up to rest on her goose-pimpled shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œIt’s unlocked.”
    She looked at Jase, who nodded. “Just to be on the cautious side, I climbed in the window you left open when you ran. There really wasn’t any need, though. The guys were gone and didn’t bother to lock the door when they left.”
    Gina wilted with relief as Ian grunted, “I’m surprised they closed it.”
    They entered the small foyer and Jase shut the door behind them. Destruction greeted her weary eyes. From the left to the right, debris had been strewn. Her purse had been dumped, but nothing appeared to be missing.
    She walked into the den and felt despair sweep through her. Sighing, she said, “I had the door locked last night.” She turned and looked at Ian. “I thought you would be here any minute but couldn’t bring myself to leave it unlocked. Not after what happened the week before.” She shuddered at the remembered terror of walking into her house and being threatened. She nodded to the door they’d just entered. “I heard the door squeak and for a brief moment, I thought it was you, then remembered I’d locked it.” She gave a self-deprecating smile as she took in the chaos once more. “Guess a flimsy little lock like that wasn’t going to keep them out, huh?” Her fingers worried the golden locket, still securely fastened around her neck.
    Ian’s hand came up and snagged hers, stilling the nervous habit. “Don’t worry about it now. In the future we’ll take more precautions.”
    We. She liked the sound of that. Perhaps too much.
    Gina pulled her hand from his and laced her fingers together in front of her. “All right.” She sighed. “I suppose the next step is to go through the house and figure out what they were looking for.”
    Jase gave her a look. “What about the police?”
    â€œNo, thanks. There’s nothing they can do. These guys go higher than the police. And Mario specifically said not to go to them.” She rubbed her weary eyes. “I just want to go through everything and see if anything looks—” she spread her hands, palms up, and shrugged “—whatever…suspicious? I don’t know. I’m just praying I’ll know it when I see it. I’m going to change into some warmer clothes, then get started.”
    Jase and Ian exchanged a look, then split up to help search.
    Â 
    Two hours later Ian slid another book on the shelf as Jason entered the study. “I need to talk to you about something.”
    Turning, fatigue gripping him, Ian dusted his hands against his jeans and looked at the man he’d once called friend. “What?”
    Gina slipped into the room and sat behind the desk. Jase shot a pointed look in her direction and raised a brow at Ian. Ian looked at her and sighed. “You can talk in front of her. Whatever you know, she needs to know, too. These guys aren’t playing around. Tell us what you found out.”
    Gina’s appreciative glance warmed him even as he worried about what Jase had to say and how it might affect her.
    Jason hesitated, then said, “I talked to several guys in the unit. Everyone is still together except you, me, Mario, Bandit and Les.” Les Carson had been one of the team, a Ranger who’d taken a liking to Mario and had been one of Mario’s best buds. As had Bandit McGuire.
    â€œWhere’s Les?”
    Jase rubbed his face and shut his eyes for a brief moment. “Dead. The official report says he was killed on a mission.”
    â€œThe unofficial report?”
    â€œHe was