Layla nodded, and pain shot down her spine. “I wanted you to know about my suspicions in case anything happens to me. You should also know that we didn’t sit in our normal seats today. Can you run down whether the people at our usual table are among the casualties?” She also needed to check on Cass and the other Honduras op team members to make sure nothing had happened to them.

Bailey squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure this out. You helped me when I needed you, and I’ll do the same for you. No questions asked. But right now, I’m going to insist that you get some rest. I’ll find out what I can on the bombing details.”

“We go there every week for lunch.”

“I know,” Bailey said softly. “It does make a convenient target.” She stood. “But there’s nothing you can do right now. Try to sleep a little, and we’ll figure it out. I promise.”

Layla closed her eyes but couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone wanted her dead.

CHAPTER
THREE

Private investigator Hunter McCoy met Detective Elijah Hall from Alexandria PD at Hunter’s office. They had been randomly paired together as freshman roommates at the University of Virginia and had been best friends ever since. They couldn’t have been more different. Hunter, a scrawny kid from rural Virginia who tended to get into trouble, and Elijah, a city kid from the Bronx who studied hard and didn’t have time for Hunter’s nonsense. Hunter had learned many life lessons from Elijah, including expanding his way of thinking about the world. Growing up in rural Virginia had given him a limited perspective on life and people. Being friends with Elijah had opened his eyes, and he was a much better man for it.

Hunter had gotten a call from Elijah that they needed to talk about the restaurant bombing.

“Does Alexandria PD want to hire me?” As a private investigator, Hunter had done freelance work for them in the past.

“No. It’s nothing like that.” Elijah’s dark brown eyes met his.

“What is it, man? It’s not like you to beat around the bush.”

Elijah took a breath. “I wanted to meet in person because there’s something you need to know.”

Hunter knew something was wrong but waited for Elijah to spit it out.

“One of the victims of the bombing today was Layla.”

Dots danced before Hunter’s eyes as a wave of nausea hit him. “Is she dead?”

Elijah placed a hand on his shoulder. “No, she made it, but she’s at Alexandria Hospital.”

“How badly is she hurt?”

“I’m not sure, but I thought you’d want to know.”

Still in shock, Hunter stared at him. “Do you have any leads?”