Grave Secrets (Manhunters 1)

“I’ve seen my share of counterfeit material,” this came from Liam. “But never anything this sophisticated.”

They discussed counterfeiting terms Savannah had never heard.

“I thought she might have picked up some passports on the darknet,” Ian said, “doctored them, and passed them on to Bishop, but this…” He shook his head. “I never imagined she was capable of this.”

Savannah’s stomach dropped. He’d known? He’d known and hadn’t told her?

She couldn’t listen anymore. She shoved the phone back at Sam. “You still haven’t proved to me this has anything to do with—”

“Keep watching,” Everly said.

Sam sped up the tape, and Savannah refocused on the screen. She found the camera following the group up some stairs. When they reached the top, the image went dark but for the light glowing from the basement. Savannah couldn’t make much out. Then someone turned off a light, and everything went black a moment before the camera adjusted for the new setting.

By the open rafters, tin roof, and wooden walls, it was clear they were in a barn, but…

“Here.” Sam pointed at the screen to direct her attention as if she wasn’t already riveted to it. “The work desk.”

A desk lamp clicked on, illuminating an old desk piled high with junk and paper. Savannah squinted, searching for that unmistakable association to Misty. “There’s so much junk, how could you ever link any of that to—”

“Right there,” Sam said.

The camera’s lens focused on a pile of mail. Old mail, judging by the yellow stain across the envelopes. One of the guys grabbed a stack and went through it piece by piece while Sam held the camera. Mail for David Klein—Misty’s father.

Shock jolted Savannah’s brain.

“Sam,” Roman’s voice sounded in the distance, “get your ass out before we lock you in.”

Her vision blurred as her mind worked.

“You need to prep Savannah for what’s coming,” she heard Roman say. “We’re going to need her cooperation.”

And in the next instant, she heard Ian’s voice, sober, serious, and determined, claiming, “We’ll have it.”

15

Ian launched himself toward Sam but grabbed the phone only after Savannah had heard him claim he’d make sure she cooperated.

His fear was realized the moment he saw the look on her face, anger covering hurt even as he watched the transformation.

“Sam, you piece of—”

“Dude.” Sam grabbed his phone. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Me? I swear sometimes for all your brains, you don’t have an ounce of common sense.”

Everly’s phone rang. “Shut up,” she told the guys. “It’s Rosen.”

She turned away, answering the phone with one hand, the other blocking noise in her opposite ear. When Ian turned toward Savannah, he found her walking toward his truck.

“Jesus Christ,” Ian said. “You sure know how to make problems, Slaughter.”

“You’re the one making problems with her, dude. I don’t have anything to do with that.”

“I’d have to agree with him,” Roman told Ian, clearly unhappy.

Not only had Ian stepped over the line with Savannah, he hadn’t prepared her for all this.

Everly ended her call and waited for Savannah to return with Jamison.