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“Two days! We didn’t agree on a timeline.”
“This isn’t a negotiation.”
Her first instinct was to turn him down flat and leave. But that would leave her back at square one, with no insider info. And less time on the clock. Not a great strategy.
Two days would give her time to change Mason’s mind. Besides, if Paul couldn’t get the info she needed in two days, how could she be sure he’d get it in two weeks?
It was now or never.
“Fine. Two days.” She slid out of the booth. “Saddle up, or grab your axe or whatever.”
He was on his feet before she could blink. “Where we headed?”
“That’s need-to-know. You got a jacket? It’s gonna be wet later.” She slapped a hand down on the check and slid it toward him. “Don’t forget to pay on the way out.”
11
“I’ve got one question.”
Mason lay prone on the rooftop next to Avery, binoculars trained on the warehouse while container trucks rumbled inside.
Avery continued to look through her own binos. “Just one?”
“For now. If this investigation is off-books, how’re you hiding it from your SAC?” Avery’s supervisor, or Special Agent in Charge, would expect updates, and face-to-face meetings, on her current cases.
“I’m on vacation.”
Elbows digging into the tarpaper, Mason refocused his binos on the warehouse. “Some vacay.”
“This is about as good as it gets. Plus, I hate vacations.”
He couldn’t resist a long look at the pretty agent. “Me, too.” He shuddered silently. Too much of his own company was … not the best.
He turned his attention back to the action. Ten trucks, each hauling a well-used cargo container had entered. So far none had exited, which made sense if they were offloading cargo to redistribute, as Paul described.
No delivery vans had left from the other side of the warehouse, either. Again, totally normal. From what Avery said, the stuff didn’t stay in the warehouse long. The cargo got delivered in the early morning hours, and then went out as legit UPS or Fed-Ex deliveries later in the day.
Another sign that Agent Ellis was correct about the smuggling. Most warehouses the size of Rain Bay’s facility had deliveries in and out around the clock. Whatever was being processed here was either too dangerous—or too expensive—to risk leaving it sit too long. Hiring enough security to guard huge shipments of expensive contraband, like drugs or jewels, would attract too much attention. They’d need a private army to truly secure a building the size of Rain Bay’s warehouse.
So don’t leave anything around for thieves to grab. Clever. And dangerous for Paul. And Avery. Mason preferred to deal with stupid criminals. Far less risk that way.
Despite the sunshine, worry ate at him. He should be enjoying this—hunkered down with a talented, beautiful woman who considered roof surveillance a fun date activity.
Another time, when his brother’s life wasn’t hanging by a thread, Mason could appreciate a day like this. But right now, all he could think about was Paul, hoping he was okay inside that warehouse.
Mason knew logically his brother was fine for the moment. But his bro was no professional. He had always had a big mouth and quick temper. Odds were good that Paul would slip up, say the wrong thing and blow this whole op.
Finally, a truck with an empty bed exited. While he could see through the building’s rolled-up door, Mason focused on the interior of the warehouse, cataloguing potential entry points, planning how he could breach the warehouse and extract Paul if needed. Not that he’d have any warning if his brother was in trouble. Paul couldn’t access his phone while working.
All Mason could do was watch and wait. And stew.
He shifted restlessly, gravel digging into his elbows. This passive surveillance went against every protective instinct. But he had to trust Paul could keep his cool and gather the intel they needed.
At least Agent Ellis had proven savvy so far. If anyone could build a case off his brother’s limited evidence, it was her.
As long as she didn’t get them all killed first.
He snuck a glance at her silhouette, hair whipping in the breeze. Restless energy wafted off of her. He’d served alongside too many impulsive hotshots not to recognize the signs. Agent Avery Ellis was a maverick, with everything––both good and bad––that label implied.
