Page 84 of Lost Hours
Nolan was right. A Customs and Border Protection agent would be highly skilled at surveillance and covert operations.
“What he said.” Hayden grinned, a crooked boyish smile that belied the seriousness of their discussion.
His smile was infectious, but she wouldn’t crack even a hint of one in return. “You’re not an official deputy, and if something went south and you had to use force, my agency’s reputation could be at stake.”
“Simple,” Nolan said as if deciding what to eat for dinner instead of a potentially life-altering decision like the one they had to make. “Deputize him too.”
Mina frowned. “I don’t?—”
Nolan flashed up a hand. “Before you say no, he won’t get involved unless you need him, but he’ll be there if things get out of hand.”
Unable to decide, she continued to stare at him.
Nolan met her gaze. “I haven’t let you down or embarrassed your agency, have I? Hayden won’t either.”
She could hardly think straight when his puppy-dog eyes peered at her.
“Okay, fine,” she said against her better judgment, then turned her focus to Hayden. “I’ll sign you on, but you’ll only act if and when I direct you to.”
“Scout’s honor.” Hayden held up his hand as if swearing an oath.
“He really was a scout,” Nolan said. “One of those overachievers who stayed in all the way through high school.”
“Good to know. If I need a fire started, I’ll be sure to ask.” She grinned, and they all laughed, but she didn’t let it go on for long. “Get that satellite photo up so we can wrap this up before dark.”
Hayden saluted and turned his attention to his computer.
Mina ran the op in her mind while she waited for the photo to appear. She had to wait for the final details to determine their actions, but she could at least get her mindset right for approaching a potential murder suspect.
Because one thing she’d learned on the job—she needed full focus whenever danger was present. Sure, she’d come under jeopardy as a deputy and sheriff, but today, making sure Nolan stayed safe and alive weighed even heavier on her than her usual goal to keep her deputies and county residents safe.
22
Nolan kept his gaze roving the area as he walked with Mina across the broken concrete toward Tate’s apartment in the rundown complex. She kept her hand on her sidearm and her focus traveling around a litter-filled lot.
Tate lived in a worn and weathered three-story building with cedar-shake siding and lime-green doors. Nolan doubted the place had been updated since the sixties. It looked exactly like an apartment complex fitting the area surrounding them.
He didn’t like leaving Hayden at the car, but they’d promised Mina that he wouldn’t intervene unless things went south with Tate.
Mina stepped up to apartment 112 and planted her feet to look up at him. “Remember, I do the talking, and you keep your eyes open for any situation brewing.”
He gave a sharp nod when his internal tension begged him to joke that she’d simply brought him along as eye candy, but this wasn’t the time for any humor, and their stress would help keep them focused on situational awareness.
She pounded on the door and then stepped to the side, moving him out of the way even more so Tate couldn’t see them through the peephole and choose to ignore them or hit them if he started firing through the door.
The door opened the distance a chain lock allowed, and someone peered out. “Help you?”
Mina held out her credentials and identified herself. “Open the door, Tate. I’d like to have a word with you.”
He closed the door and released the chain to open it a bit more. The guy wore sloppy jogging pants with a stained, gray T-shirt for University of Oregon. But most importantly, if he slicked back his black hair, Nolan could be looking at Smythe. Nolan resisted shooting up a hand in victory and waited for Mina to act.
Tate stared at her. “What could you want with me? I didn’t break any laws.”
He looked over her shoulder at Nolan, and his eyes widened. “It’s you! You’re one of the guys from the mansion. Don’t tell me you reported me for locking the door and taking your phones? I didn’t do anything wrong. It was just part of the script.”
“Actually,” Mina said. “Locking the door on guests is considered kidnapping, and I could bring you up on charges.”
“Wait, what?” Tate shook his head. “It was just a job. I was following the rules. Following the script I was given. I was told everyone was in on it.”
