Altercation Read Online Free

salad and sat down next to him. Tilting her head, she peered at Reynolds, who read a magazine next to Neal, a cleaned plate in front of him. “Agent Reynolds,” Jaci said, “I have a favor to ask.”
    He put the magazine down and focused on her. So did everyone else, which unnerved her. She swallowed. “You don’t have to; you’ve already done so much for us.”
    “Ask,” he replied.
    “Shelley isn’t too far from Montana.” Jaci hoped she sounded calm and reasonable, not desperate. “If you are ever going that way—would you go see my family? Our families?” she added, looking at Sara and Amanda. “Since we can’t, anyway.”
    “I will make it a point.” Reynolds stood up and cleared his plate. “I have appointments tomorrow and need to go soon if I’m going to make it back to Montana in time.” He stopped at the head of the table. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
    Neal stood up and offered his hand, which Reynolds took in a firm handshake. “No, sir. We can’t thank you enough for rescuing us.”
    “You did a fine job of watching out for them. I’m certain you would’ve held everyone together until help came.”
    “I have my doubts,” Ricky muttered.
    Jaci wanted to give Agent Reynolds a hug. Instead, she nodded her concurrence. “Thank you.”
    Sara and Amanda echoed the sentiment, and with that, Reynolds stepped into the garage and disappeared from sight.
    Agent Combs came into the kitchen and popped open the fridge. “My replacement here?” she asked, oblivious to the somber mood in the room. She pulled out a jug of apple juice.
    “Not yet,” Banks said. “We’ll let you know when she gets here.”
    “Who’s ‘she’?” Amanda grabbed the fridge before it shut. She scanned it briefly and plunked a carton of Tropicana orange juice on the counter.
    “Always has to be a female agent present,” Banks said. “Combs is a medical officer. She doesn’t stay here full-time.”
    Of course it made sense that they needed a woman chaperone, but Jaci felt safe with Banks. His gruff voice and kind eyes reminded her of her father. Though he was often away on business trips, she’d always felt they had a close relationship. Like she had with Seth, her brother.
    Jaci hadn’t figured out yet if her father was a good guy or a bad guy. The Hand knew him by name, and apparently it made her a more valuable commodity.
    “How are the kids?” Banks asked, running a thumb over his unibrow and leaning back in his chair. “Healthy?”
    Combs swallowed her juice with one swig and eyed Sara. “Young one there needs an OB. I’m not licensed for that.”
    A pink hue crept up Sara’s face.
    Banks shot her a sympathetic glance. “I’ll get one over here.”
    Combs tried to shuffle between the counter and Ricky, and he scooted closer to Jaci to let her by. His forearm brushed hers, sending waves of heat rushing up to her face. She kept her eyes glued to her plate and concentrated on lifting a fork to her mouth.
    Outside, a vehicle whispered over the smooth concrete driveway. A moment later the door leading to the garage opened and a tall woman with ebony skin and black hair stepped in.
    “Hello. I’m Agent Magrew.” Her rich, silky voice calmed Jaci’s nerves. “Here.” Agent Magrew dropped a package on the table. “Mail.”
    “Agent.” Banks nodded to her. “Thought I heard your car. What’s in the package?”
    “Letters,” she answered. “Sent from the office. The parents were all notified in person of the teens’ safety, and they were invited to send correspondence back with the agents.”
    Combs dropped her paper plate on the counter. “I’m off.”
    “No letters for us.” Neal sat down next to Jaci.
    “Guess that’s what happens when you don’t have living relatives,” Ricky grunted.
    “What do you call me, dead?” Sara asked.
    “Hey.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I forget we have you. You’re a new addition to the family.” Though Ricky and Neal were