A little disappointed not to be included, he shrugged. “I need to study those satellite photos and do a little research on the computer.”
After she left, he picked up the dishes, loading them in the dishwasher, and then retrieved his computer and the photos. Pouring two glasses of wine, he returned to the living room and spread the satellite images out on the coffee table.
Ever since the briefing from his team, he’d had the unsettling feeling this wasn’t just Eli acting alone. Ballard had a history of going after women with money. Not only was Dani a successful novelist, but she was Evan’s wife.
The last part bothered him the most. Would the lure of possessing the wife of the twin he’d not been able to take away from Ruth’s husband be too tempting to resist?
The more he considered all he’d learned about the man, the more he wondered if Ballard hadn’t resented not taking everything away from Evan’s father. Wouldn’t that spur the man to keep an eye on Evan? If so, he’d know Evan had been killed in battle, leaving a wife. Even better, leaving a wife with money. If Ballard could get Dani in his clutches, along with her money . . .
The Iceman saw things others didn’t, and he just fucking knew Ballard wanted Dani and would come after her. When and how? He snatched up his phone and called Buchanan.
“Yo, boss.”
“Listen, I’ve got a bad feeling about this cult business.”
“Not surprised, but was wishing like hell your hair wasn’t going to start standing on end. Gives me the heebee-jeebies when that happens.”
“Right now, my hair feels like I stuck my finger in an electrical outlet.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah,” Logan agreed. “I want you to put Bravo team on alert and Delta on standby. In the meantime, send Turner and Watkins to keep Decourdeau company. Andre won’t like it, but I don’t give a damn. If something happens, I want them already in place.”
“Boots on the ground, got it. Anything else, boss?”
“Have you studied the satellite photos?”
“Every inch and then again. The dogs are going to be a problem.”
“Put Decourdeau on figuring out how to neutralize them. What else did you see?”
“Are you asking about the house with armed guards at the front and back doors, or the razor wire across the top of the fence?”
It was encouraging he could still count on Buchanan being as sharp as he’d always been in the field. “Both.”
“I’d bet my mama the fence is either electrified or has an alarm of some kind, and you know how much I love my mama. I never bet her unless it’s a sure thing.”
“I love your mama, too, and would never let you lose her. If the unthinkable happens, you’re in charge of getting us over the fence without getting torn to shreds or setting off any warning bells. Now, I’m going to borrow your mama and bet the house is Ballard’s headquarters. If we end up in that compound, that’ll be our target.”
“Hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if so, already got our way to it mapped. What else?”
“Just pray we don’t have a reason to need these precautions.”
“Doing it on my knees every night, boss. You’re keeping our girl close, right? I mean, like, superglued to your side.”
“So close I might have to steal your handle.”
Buchanan chuckled. “No problem. I’m getting a little tired of Romeo anyway. Later, boss.”
Logan frowned at his phone as he disconnected. Why was Buchanan getting tired of his nickname? He’d always been proud of it and what it implied. There was only one reason Logan could think of, and he didn’t like it. This business needed to be finished so he could get home, hopefully with Dani at his side, and keep an eye on his sister.
“For me?” Dani asked, picking up a glass.
Logan nodded, and glanced at his watch, surprised forty-five minutes had passed since she’d left to take care of Regan. “Got her all tucked in for the night?”
“Hopefully.” She leaned over the table and studied the photos. “What’s that?”
The long, narrow building she pointed to had what looked like small ten-by-ten fenced-in sections abutting it. “I believe that’s a kennel and those are dog runs. See this little dot here inside the second fence? I’m guessing it’s either a German shepherd or a Doberman.”
Picking up his magnifying glass, she held it over the brown dot. “I suppose it could be. There’s a dozen of these little fenced-in areas, so I guess that means there are twelve dogs?”
“Unless they aren’t all full, or of more importance, they keep more than one in a kennel.”