Page 10 of Out of Reach

“A dead man was found in your apartment shortly after you left,” Logan told him quietly. “And your place was torn apart.”

Jude sat in shock for a moment before asking, “Who was the man?”

“Slade’s checking, but most likely a homeless person,” Logan said. “He probably saw the place was empty and was going to spend the night there.”

“And you think a hit man would make a mistake like that? Wouldn’t he have a picture of me?” Jude reasoned. “Look, I lived in a dump. People were always being killed.”

Hawk looked at him, appalled. “And you lived there…why?”

“Because it was the only place I could afford!”

“Maybe we’re looking at this from the wrong angle,” Logan interrupted. “Jude, could you possibly have anything that Sam wants other than, well, yourself?”

“All I have are the clothes on my back and my laptop,” Jude said. “If Sam wanted those, there was plenty of time for him to take them when I lived with him.”

“What’s on the laptop? Do you have it with you?” Logan asked.

“Yeah. Nothing Sam would want.”

“We’d like our IT guy to look it over, if you don’t mind,” West said.

Jude shrugged. “Fine. But I want to make something clear. I’m going to be back in New York for the meeting with Tomaso Ricci Friday, no matter how I have to get there. You can keep the laptop as long as you need to.”

“Exactly how do you plan on doing that without our help?” Hawk asked.

Jude’s eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. “I’ll do whatever I have to do.”

“I’m sure we can work something out,” West said. “But until we’re sure you’re safe, you’ll need one of our men with you. I think, under the circumstances, that should be Mal.”

“What?” Hawk whipped his head around. “Hell, no!”

Jase stared at him a moment. “You are too close to this case, Hawk. You know that, and you purposefully hid it from us.”

“I know Jude better than anyone else. I’m the best one to keep him safe.”

Jase seemed to size him up, and for a moment, Hawk was sure he was going to insist it would be Mal.

And if that happens, I’m going anyway.

Jase turned to Jude. “It’s your call. Hawk or Mal.”

Great.Jude would choose Mal for sure.

“I’ll stick with Hawk,” Jude said, surprising him.

“My uncle owns several apartment buildings in the city. We’ll set you up in one of them. You’ll have to leave your computer here, though. It might take Dex awhile to look at it. He has a lot on his plate,” Jase said.

“That’s fine.”

Meeting over, Hawk was about to follow Jude down to his bedroom to talk to him when Jase grabbed him by the arm.

“Oh, no you don’t. We need to have a chat.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jude

“Sounded like you got your ass handed to you last night.” Jude sat beside Hawk on the sand, their eyes on the wide expanse of ocean in front of them. The setting sun cast a golden hue over Hawk’s skin.