“I know. He’s God and Day’s tech guy.” Slade shrugged.
“That’s my point. How? He has a vague-ass background of attending MIT for a couple years before he dropped out and went to some cheap computer trade school in Virginia, but I think it’s bullshit. No one has that kind of position with so little knowledge or experience. He’s never even worked in law enforcement until this year. Have you noticed the equipment that task force uses? There’s no way Lennox Freeman is who he says he is,” Ex argued.
“That’s not our concern,” Meridian rumbled.
“What’s in every one of the photos you have of Freeman, on his person at all times, no matter what?” Ex asked, rearing back in his seat, directing his question at their driver.
Meridian saved him. “That laptop bag.”
“Exactly. That’s where God’s private server is...” Ex glanced up at Meridian. “And we’re going to get it.”
“You guys are crazy. I already said I’m not hurting any cops.” Slade stood and squared his shoulders.
“And we aren’t either.” Ex glared. “Load up. We leave in ten.”
He didn’t move until Slade was out the front door and he heard the Navigator’s engine kick over. He waited in his seat for the silent killer behind him to voice the concern Ex knew he had. Seconds of silence passed before he felt Meridian’s rough cheek against his own.
“You know what else is in those photos with Freeman?”
“I see him,” Ex mumbled, turning slightly towards Meridian’s velvety voice. “If he approaches you, keep him distracted for me until I get what I need.”
“That’s love in his eyes,” Meridian whispered against Ex’s ear. “That SWAT captain will protect Freeman with his life.”
“You think so?”
“I would.” Meridian inched away. He slung his suede trench over his midnight, collared dress shirt to conceal the armory on his body. “Let’s go.”
Meridian
Meridian stood with his back just under SWAT captain Ivan Hart’s bedroom window. The couple had been home almost three hours as he and Ex stood silently in the dark behind their house while they settled in for the evening. After they’d eaten dinner, Freeman announced he was going to work on a project while Hart got ready for bed. As soon as Meridian heard the shower turn on, he gave Ex the signal to breach Freeman’s trailer parked in Hart’s driveway, which also doubled as his computer lab.
Meridian heard heavy footsteps then the sound of an electric razor turning on before he began to inch away. He moved from beneath the bathroom window and darted across the backyard, staying out of view of the two cameras mounted on both sides of the house. They had less than a minute to get in and get out. The last thing they wanted was a confrontation, and they especially didn’t want to hurt anyone.
Ex was poised just outside Freeman’s trailer door with his hand on the knob. The moment Meridian joined him he leapt inside the trailer. Freeman jerked his head up from the magnifying mirror, and a pair of dark, terrified eyes turned in their direction. Freeman froze then began to raise both his hands.
Meridian stood behind Ex, watching Freeman carefully. He was tall, about their height, six-one or two but he was lean, and striking. He also didn’t appear afraid anymore. Maybe it was because neither he nor Ex had their weapons drawn, but little did Freeman know... they didn’t need them.
“You’re going to do exactly what I say, Lennox Freeman,” Ex started, his voice cold and emotionless. “Do you know why?”
Lennox nodded.
“Good. Because you know what I am... don’t you?” Ex said.
“I know killers when I see them,” Lennox said boldly, his accented voice strong and unwavering. In all the surveillance footage Slade had secured on the task force, Lennox Freeman seemed to be the most out-of-place. He didn’t appear as hardened as his team members. But Meridian was seeing something different. Perhaps a bit of his bosses had rubbed off on the timid man.
“Open your laptop and pull up the task force’s private server,” Ex demanded, his stern voice holding a level of finality that sent chills down Meridian’s spine. “Do it quickly. I don’t like to repeat myself.”
“Okay, okay,” Lennox said as he tucked a fallen strand of hair behind his ear, sighing as if he was exhausted. “Trouble, trouble, trouble.”
Ex’s flinch was undetectable on the outside, but Meridian felt it. They had to make it seem as if they’d do something bad if Lennox didn’t comply, and it was one hell of a bluff Ex was trying to pull off. However, Meridian was getting that prickling feeling at the nape of his neck that something was about to go wrong. What Lennox had just sighed sounded like a distress call. He inched closer, practically pressing his chest against Ex’s back as he glared at Lennox’s ear. He had a slim, almost undetectable piece of silicone molded to the rim. Fuck.