Officer Murdock climbed down from the file cabinet where shed been inspecting the other camera. Theres no indication that either of these cameras has been compromised.
Trip nodded. Then the tampering must have occurred at the monitor end of things. Digital recordings can be altered as easily as a videotape.
David Damianis team had already determined as much. That means youre accusing one of my people of delivering that threat.
No ones accusing anyone of anything. Michael Cutler coolly defused the growing tension between the two security forces. Yet. Lets just get all the intel we can first. Arm ourselves as best we can so we know what were up against.
Sounds like a smart strategy, Quinn agreed. He nodded to David. Check it out.
Quinn. David Damiani was right to protest. GSS wasnt a billion-dollar corporation because it gave away its secrets to outsiders. Theres classified equipment in my offices.
Michael Cutler refused to back down. Youre obstructing a police investigation?
Hes obstructing nothing, Quinn countermanded. When the threat involved his three-year-old daughter, nothing else mattered. David, go with him. Give Trip full access. Maybe between the two of you, you can spot something your guards missed.
Yes, sir.
While Quinn impatiently waited for the info that could give him the answers he needed, his gaze strayed once again to the woman with the flak vest, Glock strapped to her right thigh and snipers rifle secured over her shoulder. She was over at the windows now, trailing her fingers along the chrome trim.
Louis Nolan had followed her to the windows, his bushy silver brows knitted together with the same perplexed interest plaguing Quinn. Theyd have to rappel from the roof and cut a hole in the glass to get through that way.
She nodded, studying the seam of the window from top to bottom. It could be done. I could do it.
Unless you had a fear of heights, Louis teased.
Fortunately, I dont.
Ill bet you dont fear much, do you, darlin?
The blonde officers cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink. Carrying numerous deadly weapons and crawling across his furniture didnt fluster her, but a darlin from a good ol Texas charmer did?
Quinn stopped the conversation. This wasnt the time for Louiss flirting. Or his own scientific observations. I think wed see the evidence if someone had come through the window. Beyond the fact that its tempered, shatterproof glass and the condensation outside from the freezing temperatures would make any kind of traction for your climber almost impossible, theres no way to replace that specific kind of window overnight.
She turned her wide green eyes from Louis, seeming to understand his facts better than his COOs flirting. Is there another exit to the roof besides the stairwell next to the elevators? Anything with direct access to your office?
No.
She tipped her chin up toward the ceiling What kind of duct work do you have running up there?
Officer Murdock was definitely an odd sort of woman, certainly nothing like the polished beauty of his executive assistant, Elise, or any of the other poised and tailored belles he escorted to society events. Standard issue, I suppose. Although the access panels do have sensors to monitor whenever one opens or closes.
Michael Cutler seemed to think she was onto something. He looked up at the air-return grate over Quinns desk. Murdock. Call Taylor down and scout it out. Looks like theres more than one way to get into your office, Quinn. The right perp could even lower the package through that grate without ever setting foot in here.
The bothersome blonde paused by the desk on her way out the door. Couldnt the break-in be something more simple? Like, someone you knowsomeone who wouldnt raise any suspicions if they were caught on camera walking into your office?
Quinn bristled at the accusation. The people who work at GSS are family to me. I surround myself with people I trust without question.
Well, thats a problem, then, isnt it? She flipped her ponytail behind her back, looking up at him with an earnest warning. You may be trusting the wrong guy.
Randy, go.
Her captains brusque command finally moved her out of the room. Sorry. Climbing into the rafters now, sir.
Apparently, Louiss interest in waiting for answers on the break-inor for the promised text messagewaned once shed left the room. Ill be in my office if you need me, he excused himself, and do call as soon as you find out anything.
Randy? Quinn asked after theyd both gone and he was alone in the office with Michael.
Miranda Murdock. The police captain shook his head, as if Quinns wasnt the first curious reaction the SWAT sharpshooter had garnered from the people she met. Believe me, what she lacks in tact, she makes up for in sheer determination. Theres not a task Ive given her yet that she hasnt accomplished.
Other than successful public relations.
Shes raw talent. Maybe a little too eager to get the job done at times. She matched the highest score for sharpshooting on the KCPD training range.
You have faith in her.
She wouldnt be on my team if I didnt.
Quinn? The familiar knock at his door told Quinn that his assistant, Elise, had an important message for him.
What is it?
Elise tucked her dark hair behind one ear, hesitating as she walked into the room. Quinn braced for whatever unpleasant bit of news she had to share. The current nanny has gotten wind of the threat against Fiona and wants to quit.
He adjusted his glasses at his temple, snapping before he could contain a flash of temper. Im having a Mary Poppins moment here. How many nannies do I have to go through to get one wholl stay?
Shes afraid, Quinn.
Theres a guard with Fiona at all times, he argued.
Yes, but not with the nanny, Elise patiently pointed out. Quinn, she has every right to be concerned for her safety. The guards first duty would be to Fiona, not her.
Where was the loyalty to his family? The sense of responsibility? The devotion to his daughter? She was the fourth woman hed hired this yearafter firing the one hed caught drinking at the house, and the one who thought spanking his three-year-old was an option, and filing charges against the one whod tried to sell pictures of his daughter to a local tabloid. Where is she now? Ill double her pay if she stays.
Um
Daddy! Quinn understood Elises hesitation when the tiny dark-haired beauty who looked so like her late mother ran into his office.
Hey, baby. Quinn knelt down to catch Fiona as she launched herself into his arms. He scooped her up and kissed her cool, wind-whipped cheek as her long, thin fingers wound around his neck. Hows my little princess today?
Kay. Even though she couldnt read yet, he turned her away from the hateful note on his desk and bounced her on his hip. Fiona batted away the gloves that were clipped to the sleeves of her coat and held up her well-loved, oft-mended hand-sewn doll. Fionas bottom lip pouted out as she pointed to the bandage taped to the dolls knee. Petwa has a boo-boo.
Quinn pulled up the cloth leg and kissed it, suspecting hed find a similar first-aid job under the knee of Fionas corduroy pants. Although the initial flush of her cheeks had concerned him, he was relieved to see that Maria, the nanny du jour, had at least taken the time to dress his daughter properly for the winter weather and brush her curling dark locks back into a neat ponytail before abandoning her.