Page 22 of Made of Steele
“I overheard him telling Aldo he had a meeting tonight and said something big was going down in two days. Then he asked if Aldo and Vito would run security for him. Figured if he needed security, they’re involved in something I need to see. So I’m going to tail him.”
“We’regoing to tail him.”
He inwardly cringed at her comment. He knew she might argue, and he had no real reason to keep her out, but he did his best work alone. “I can’t let you come along. It could be dangerous.”
“I’m aware.” She lifted her chin, her desire to look strong, he supposed, but it only made her look cuter.
“This is a job for one person.”
“Why?”
He had no rebuttal to that. “Because that’s the way I like it.”
Her head tilted, and she studied him. “Maybe it’s time you learn teamwork can make the dream work.” She chuckled.
He appreciated her lightening the mood. Without a reason to tell her no and them needing to finish their meal and head out, he gave a sharp nod. “I don’t suppose you have a vest in your car.”
“Actually, I do. Habits die hard, and I still keep my go bag from deputy days. That always included an extra vest for the over ninety-degree days when the vest turned me into a sweat monster.”
He couldn’t imagine her being a sweat monster, but the vests were hot, so he totally got it. He kept an extra too, but it would be far too big for her.
He looked at his watch. “We better eat up. We have twenty minutes until go time.”
“I’m almost too excited to eat, but we don’t want my stomach growling and giving us away.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she grinned as she forked a slice of sausage.
That smile. Wow! Just wow!
He loved seeing her so relaxed and nearly reached across the table to take her hand. A woman who carried and shared his love for his line of work and at the same time fired off his interest in her as a woman. Not something he’d ever encountered. So appealing.
And so distracting.
Something he couldn’t afford to let impact him while trailing dangerous criminals. Yet, she would be at his side, and he would have to make sure he achieved the op’s goals, and at the same time, make sure she remained safe.
Double trouble to be sure…so why was he looking forward to it?
Teagan lowered the window in the passenger seat of Drew’s car to listen for any danger in their surroundings, the cool and damp night air rolling in. Red and green Christmas lights strung on nearby buildings cast creepy shadows over the concrete and low-slung buildings. Normally Teagan would find the lights cheery, and they would raise her Christmas spirit, but tonight the colors seemed ominous. Sinister almost.
Note to self. Don’t tail criminals during the holiday season or you’ll never look at Christmas decorations the same way again.
Humor. Right. Odd time for it, but she needed something to ease the jitters building inside.
Drew had been following the Contis’ vehicle at a distance for miles. Now they approached the warehouse driveway, and he hung back even more. He killed his headlights, plunging the road into darkness, and he stopped near the parking lot entrance. He lifted binoculars. Teagan strained to see but could just barely make out the men parked in front of one of the long buildings near the back of the lot. They slipped through the front door.
“See the name of the place they entered?” Drew asked.
She’d spotted it on the sign by the road. “Northwest Geo Instruments. I assume that’s important.”
“I ran across them on another investigation involving government corruption. They provide automated systems to monitor the safety and stability of many things. Buildings, bridges, roads, tunnels, dams. And…” He paused to look at her. “Excavations.”
“Like at archeological digs,” she said, catching on. “From where these antiquities could be stolen.”
“Exactly.” He lowered his binoculars, his eyes burning with excitement under the street light. “A match made in heaven. Export the equipment to Iraq and no one would think twice. Then maybe bring used equipment back to this country for repair and recalibrating and hide the antiquities in the crates.”
“Might not even be a legit business.”
“We can look into the company, but back when I ran across them, our analysts deemed them legit, and the company didn’t raise any red flags.”
Didn’t mean they’d dug deep enough. Searched hard enough. Even had the skills to do it right. She sure didn’t, anyway. “Can I make a suggestion?”
