Page 46 of Unseen Danger

Could’ve been the result of a debate between teens about who was the best rapper. She’d seen much worse result from equally lame disagreements, especially among teens posturing, one-upping, and scrambling to survive.

But even though it seemed more intense than the other threats on D-Chop, the knife message could’ve been from the same perp who attacked the gate guard and started the fire. If it was, he could be escalating. Moving in on D-Chop, trying to get closer and more intimidating.

Either way, Branson had been right. D-Chop should’ve canceled the concert. Nevaeh had heard Branson’s end of the conversation when he’d called D-Chop after discovering the knife. And she’d seen the concern bunching Branson’s eyebrows as he finished the call. D-Chop refused to cancel and wouldn’t let Branson tell the cops about the knife. Thought it’d make him look lame, reporting a harmless prank.

D-Chop had a point. The media could spin it that way. But he’d only look bad if it was a prank, if whoever left the knife hadn’t intended the menacing threat her gut said was behind it.

She’d thought about calling Phoenix to send Sofia and Raksa for more security presence. But then she’d remembered Sof was playing bodyguard for Michael tonight. Some meeting with a source for an investigative series her journalist husband was writing. Given Michael’s track record of getting into trouble, even if it was always for a good cause, Sof shouldn’t leave him unprotected.

Nevaeh’s gaze paused on a male, probably sixteen or seventeen, standing in line to go through the detector. He wore the typical baggy clothing of a hip-hop fan and the unwritten uniform of most boys at Wilton. His sullen expression, tinted with defiance, matched the majority of guys she’d known in high school.

But it was the red color of the bandana he wore, peeking out from under his crooked baseball cap, that caught her attention.

That and the way he angled off to the side of the line every time it moved forward and stared at someone farther up.

She followed the direction of his gaze.

Another guy, taller and lankier, maybe a year older, stood in line sporting a black bandana tied like a headband.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she spoke into coms in a low voice. “W2, be alert. We have opposing gang members in line at front entrance, eyeing each other.”

Greg stayed calm and casually glanced down the line as he sent a teen girl through the metal detector. “PT1, Roger.”

She could’ve told him in person, but that would’ve involved walking over to him. Could’ve drawn too much attention and added pressure to the situation.

If these kids were anything like the ones she’d gone to school with, they wouldn’t be deterred by someone knowing what they were up to. They’d only be encouraged by the expectation.

“PT1, this is PT2.” Jazz’s voice sounded in Nevaeh’s earpiece. “Do you need reinforcements?”

“Negative, PT2. I’ve got it.” This, she could handle.

“Roger, PT1.”

Nevaeh glanced down at Alvarez, gauging if he was ready on short notice. He sat shifted on his hip, looking bored as he watched the people he knew he wasn’t supposed to greet. But he’d come alive the instant anyone became a problem.

“Don’t let him in.” The shorter guy farther back stepped out of line and marched toward the front where the taller dude was next up for the metal detectors.

Here we go.

Alvarez growled as Nevaeh started forward with him.

Tall Dude lunged out of line like he’d expected the confrontation, shouting threats that were supposed to be intimidating.

The two juveniles stood chest-to-chest, spitting expletives into each other’s faces. The precursor to the physical fight.

She scanned them as she moved closer.

They hadn’t gone through the metal detector yet. Was there a reason Short Guy had started the fight now? He could be packing heat.

Out the corner of her eye, Nevaeh spotted Terence stepping away from the metal detectors. “W3, hold your position.” She used coms to be heard over the shouting. “Could be a diversion.” She doubted it was planned, but anyone could take advantage of the security guard not paying attention and slip through with a weapon.

She stepped closer to the two jokers. “Break it up, boys.”

They kept shouting, aggression twisting their features as they became more heated.

“Al, all in.”

Alvarez immediately planted his feet and unleashed powerful, snarling barks.