Part 4 (1/2)
”Sure,” said Jon, taking the satphone out of his pocket.
As Scott's Jeep turned into the wide aisle created by two rows of side-by-side parked motor homes, he dialed David Quinn's number. The Jeep pulled even with them as the call went to voice mail. He shook his head, about to disconnect the call, when Leah grabbed the phone. Jon met Scott in front of the Jeep, giving his wife some privacy to leave Nathan a message.
”You sure about this?” said Scott.
”It's the only way. You keep her there until we're done with this thing.”
”I can't keep her prisoner, Jon.”
”She understands what's going on. If things go well, she'll be out of your hair in a few weeks-”
”She's no bother at all, my friend.”
”I know, and I can't thank you enough, but once we find our own safe haven, I'll be back to reclaim the love of my life,” he said, turning to smile at Leah.
”Sounds like he's a.s.s kissing,” she said. ”What are the two of you conspiring over?”
Scott laughed. ”I was just telling your obstinate husband that his wife is welcome to stay as long as she'd like.”
”I'll be back before you know it,” said Jon. ”We better get moving.”
When Leah turned to open the pa.s.senger door, Scott leaned closer to Jon. ”If things don't go well down south, she has a home with us.”
Jon took a deep breath and exhaled. ”I have every intention of returning-but thank you.”
”More conspiring?” said Leah before climbing into the backseat.
”Good luck with that one,” Jon said, patting Scott on the shoulder. ”I almost feel bad teaming her up with Kim. You don't stand a chance with the two of them on your case.”
”s.h.i.+t. I gave up pretending I had any say in things years ago.”
”I never tried to pretend,” said Jon.
They both enjoyed a quick laugh.
”Hey,” Scott said, walking to the rear gate of his Jeep, ”I keep a little never-know bag locked in the back.” He opened the gate, reaching inside to move a dirty blanket and expose a low-profile safe box extending from one side of the Jeep to the other. He entered a code into the keypad and lowered the safe's door.
”That's a neat contraption,” said Jon.
”It's the only way to keep s.h.i.+t from being stolen out of your car up here,” he said, hauling a heavily laden duffel bag out of the hidden compartment and heaving it on top of the safe. He unzipped it, then took a step back to let Jon get a look.
”Looks more like a never-know-when-it's-going-to-be-World-War-Three bag,” said Jon.
”I'll leave this with you at the apartment, because-”
”You never know.”
CHAPTER 7.
”Park here,” said Riggs, pointing at an empty parking spot facing Grant Creek Road.
Tex squeezed the silver Yukon into the s.p.a.ce, backing out once to readjust the oversize SUV dead center between two smaller vehicles. ”You got enough room to get out?” he asked.
Riggs examined the s.p.a.ce along the side of the SUV through the side mirror. ”I think we're good to go. We're not taking them down here, anyway. This is strictly surveillance. You still tracking them inside?”
”On two different Wi-Fi networks-citywide and Starbucks,” said Nissie from the third row of leather seats.
”Just yes or no will do it,” said Riggs.
”Ahhhh-firrrrr-maaaa-tive,” she replied. ”Is that better?”
”Way better.”
”Is one of us going in?” said Tex.
”You in a hurry?” said Riggs.
”No, I just thought-”
”Can I run the show for a second? We just f.u.c.king pulled in.”
”All right,” said Tex, taking his hands off the steering wheel and shrugging his shoulders.
”Obviously, this is a s.h.i.+tty stakeout location,” said Riggs.
”Just slightly,” said Ross, twisting in his seat and looking through the lift gate window, or at Nissie. Riggs couldn't tell.
”The other choice was parking right up against the building, nose in. Wouldn't take James Bond to figure out we were up to something.”
”If they're paying attention, this will still look funny,” said Tex. ”Big-a.s.s truck with tinted windows. n.o.body getting out.”
”You're killing me, Tex,” said Riggs. ”I'm going in to buy us all some coffees. I'll locate our targets, make sure they're not sitting with a bunch of FBI-looking goons, then we'll park somewhere else where we can watch from a distance. As long as we can track the laptop, we can make ourselves look inconspicuous. Good enough plan for you?”
”Didn't mean to jump the gun,” said Tex, which was as close to an apology as Riggs could expect.
”What does everyone want?” said Riggs.
His team stuck to straight coffee. Nissie ordered a drink requiring more than six words. He'd already forgotten three of them.
”I'm not ordering queer drinks,” said Riggs. ”You want soy milk, I can live with that.”
”Can't remember the order?” she said.
”I can remember the order,” he said, lying. ”I'm just not ordering froufrou drinks.”