Page 17 of Shadow Redemption
“Find out everything about her dating history.”
Ben eased the curtain aside from the front window. So far, nothing had changed since he and Ruth arrived at the house. “You think it’s someone she knows?”
“It’s a good place to start from this end while Z tracks the Internet trail. Did you spot a tail going to Damien’s?”
He flashed his friend a pointed look.
Cal held up his hands. “I had to ask. I’m assuming you didn’t announce in public where you were taking her for a meal. If you weren’t followed, how did the stalker know where Ruth was?”
“I don’t know. I drove my SUV. The only thing Ruth brought with her was her purse. Her vehicle is in the underground garage at Fortress. Are you thinking a tracker?”
“Makes the most sense unless you missed a tail.” Cal leaned one shoulder against the wall on the opposite side of the window and eased the curtain aside to peer through the window. “There’s only one way to find out.”
Hoping he wasn’t about to make Ruth more angry, Ben walked to the entrance of the kitchen. “Do you mind if I search your purse?”
The model spun around, eyes wide. “Why?”
“Eliminating the possibility that someone planted a tracker in your bag. Dinner at Damien’s was a spur of the moment decision and I didn’t spot a tail going to the restaurant.”
She waved him on. “I don’t have anything to hide. Go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
He snagged her bag from the couch where she’d tossed it. Unzipping it, he dumped the contents on the coffee table and sifted through the contents. A packet of tissues, three tubes of lipstick, a compact of pressed powder, pens, gum, a small mirror, brush, keys, two epinephrine pens, and her cell phone. When he turned her cell phone over, the screen lit up with a picture of him.
Ben froze. When did she take that? Frowning, he studied the shot. This was taken at Nico and Mercy’s house last month before Shadow was deployed. The couple had invited the unit plus Bridget and Ruth, since she was in town that weekend. Why did she have his picture as her screen saver? Never mind that he had a picture of her on his phone, too. Like he’d told her, Ruth was a ray of sunshine in his dark world. Sometimes when the missions were ugly or the nights hard, he took a minute to enjoy the sunshine before he got on with what had to be done.
“Find anything?” Cal asked.
Nothing he wanted to discuss with the other operative. “Not yet.” Ben checked everything, including Ruth’s cell phone cover, for a tracker, leaving the packet of tissues for last.
He picked up the folded pack and separated the sections. After pulling the tissues out, he checked inside the compartments. In the left one, he found a small black disk. “Cal.”
His friend crouched in front of the coffee table and examined the disk. “This tracker is available for purchase on the Internet. Cheap construction, but it works.”
“Think we can trace it?”
Cal picked up the tracker and turned it over. The surface near the bottom of the disk was scratched. “Nope. The number we could have used to trace the origin is defaced. At least you know how the stalker found you tonight.”
“We also know he had access to her purse. I want to know how long he’s been keeping track of her movements.”
Ruth walked in with a mug of coffee in each hand. “The coffee is black. Do you want cream or sugar?”
Both men shook their heads. “We don’t have access to sugar or cream when we’re on missions,” Cal said. “Thanks for making coffee.”
“Sure.” She handed Ben his mug. “Did you find anything?”
“Take a look.” He indicated the black disk.
Ruth frowned. “What’s that?”
“A tracker. Someone has been keeping tabs on your movements. That’s how he found us at Damien’s.”
She paled. “Then he knows we’re here. Should we go somewhere else for the night?”
“No need. That’s why we have Cal with us. Besides, after that miss in the parking lot, I doubt he’ll regroup fast enough to try again tonight. When are you supposed to leave for Mexico?”
“Tomorrow night.”