Page 94 of Capture My Heart

″Good catch.” Trey said.

″Hey guys, check this out.” Amy pointed to the monitor. Adam was hovering near the sous chef while she plated the meals in boxes for delivery. “Looks normal.”

Then he moved to the prep station where a guy was putting the boxes together and setting them out for the orders.

″Did you see that? Did he put wax paper in that box but not the others? What reason would he have for that?”

Ryan leaned in. “Could be that dish has more sauce or…”

″Or he could be placing drugs under certain containers. But how would he know which ones get the extra spicy?”

″There. The order slip is under the takeout boxes.” Amy pointed to the image.

″Looks like Adam is getting his first batch of deliveries ready to go.” Ryan touched the button on his mic. “Peterson, he’s heading your way.”

″Got him.”

In his car, Adam opened the food container and took a fork and gently lifted the food. “No drugs in this one.”

Trey leaned in. The video captured the box, empty except for the food. He watched as Adam checked all the containers.

While Adam drove away, Ryan moved to the keyboard. He started the playback on the other monitor. It confirmed their suspicions.

″Stephen knows. If I had to lay money on it, I’d say he’s our guy.” Trey tapped the image on the monitor.

″What about the sister?” CJ asked.

He shook his head. “Not sure. I wouldn’t rule her out. She’s too perceptive not to have known.”

She wanted to argue with Trey that her old friend wouldn’t be involved in this, but her training told her not to jump to conclusions so fast.

A few minutes later, Peterson’s voice echoed in her ear. “We got action here.”

Drawn to the live screen, Amy watched as Adam exited his car at the back of the restaurant. She glanced at the time. Thirty minutes had passed since he’d left. The view jerked, scattered about, then stopped. Adam’s cap laid on the ground filming the side of the building. Grunts and yells filled her ears.

″Stop. Police.” Peterson’s voice filled the screen.

Swenson ran through the image, gun drawn. “Which way did they go?”

It happened in a blink. Training and adrenaline kicked in. The van doors flew open, and they all responded. Amy led the way.

Trey slammed down his natural instinct to put himself between Amy and the danger. She wore full gear, and by the look on her face, she’d shoot him if he did.

By the time Trey and the rest of the team rounded the corner into the alley, Swenson and Peterson were accessing Adam, who looked to be roughed up a little but fine.

Peterson pointed down the alley. “Average build, dark hoodie, that’s all I got.”

Ryan and Amy took off in search of the unsub.

Trey looked both ways down the street. Was the guy waiting for Adam or was it just a crime of opportunity? Most people pay online when they order, so the odds of them getting much cash was low.

Pauline came out the back door. Her gaze bounced from Trey to Jim and Bob to Adam. “What the hell happened here?”

″I, uh—” Adam mumbled on the ground.

″He was mugged.” Trey stepped up.

Her eyes narrowed. “And you just happened to be here?”