From his hiding place in the woods, Scott peered through binoculars. Zach paced at the tree line of the field survey site.
Lee, huddled beside Scott, held a parabolic dish recorder. As the local police chief, he’d offered his help, but the DEA ran this show with Scott as the lead. Which meant if anything happened to Zach, it would be Scott’s fault.
Scott spoke into his Bluetooth. “Can you hear me, Zach?”
“Loud and clear.” Zach paused his pacing to glance in the direction where Scott was staked.
Scott turned to Lee. “Looks like the earpiece is working. All we need is Mole.”
A tactical team of DEA agents stood by at the police station. Once Mole gave Zach the location of the drugs, they’d storm the place and get the evidence to arrest the son of a bitch. At the very least, Mole would be taken in for questioning. The police had been looking for him after one of his employees had died in an explosion not far from the mansion earlier.
Zach bent as if to brush dirt off his jeans. “Car approaching.”
Scott’s nerves stretched tight. He swung the binoculars to where dust kicked up from the dirt road. Eric’s truck lumbered down the path. “What’s Eric doing here? Did he bring Mole?”
Lee shook his head. “Never good when things are switched up.”
“Fuck,” Zach said under his breath. “Eric’s driving.”
“Keep your cool, Zach. Mole might be with him.” Anxiety coiled a grip around Scott’s throat. He’d expected Mole to be at this meeting. Now he could be anywhere.
Lee placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking, but Maddie’s protected.”
Scott nodded, his jaw clenched. If anything happened to her…
Eric got out of the truck holding a black gym bag and sauntered over to Zach.
“Where’s Mole?” Zach asked.
Eric dropped the bag on the ground. “Change of plans. You deal with me now.”
“Since when?” Zach planted his hands on his hips.
“Since Victor told me to meet with you. He’s busy.”
Scott’s heart jolted. But he couldn’t leave now. He was in charge. He forced himself to focus. “See what he has to say, Zach. Ask about the drug money.”
Zach waved a hand at Eric. “Get on with it, then. You bring the cash?”
“Yeah.” Eric fished a piece of paper out of his jeans pocket. “I’m supposed to give you this address.”
Zach read aloud. “The warehouse at 1725 2nd street?”
Scott pointed to Lee, who snatched his radio and called the station with the information.
“You sure this is right?” Zach asked.
Eric shrugged. “He told me to give you this address, the money, and a gun.” He bent to unzip the sack and drew out a pistol in a plastic bag. “Guess he thinks you need one. I don’t.”
Scott’s chest tightened. He needed to talk to Maddie. Make sure she was okay. “We got what we wanted, Zach. Lose Eric, and let’s get out of here.”
Eric pulled a phone out of his jeans pocket and typed a message. “Mole told me to text him when I got here.”
Scott froze. What the hell game was this? He raised the binoculars back to his eyes.
Seconds later, Zach’s cell rang.
“Victor. I don’t like this change in plans. What’s going on?” Zach asked. “Okay, I’ll put you on speaker.”
Mole’s voice came across the line. “Did Eric give you everything?”
Eric shoved the gun toward Zach, who took it.
“I have cash, an address, and a gun. Is that everything?”
“Yes, good. He finally did something right. Now, shoot him,” Mole said.
Scott flinched.
Christ, if Zach killed Eric, Mole would have all he needed to keep Zach under his thumb.
Eric gasped, and his eyes bugged out. He gave a nervous laugh. “You’re kidding, right? Tell Zach you’re kidding. It’s not my fault the broad escaped the fire.”
So, Eric had set the fire. Scott’s pulse throbbed in his neck. This was spiraling out of control.
Mole said, “You wish, you worthless sack of shit. You’ve fucked up for the last time. Did you really think I’d let you live?”
Scott spoke into the mic, “You can’t shoot him, Zach. Act casual about it. Make Mole think you’ll do it, no problem.”
Eric took a step backward. “But I—”
“Shut the fuck up, Eric,” Mole said. “I’m done with you. Zach, this is your final test. You want to move on in the business with me, you take care of Eric. Got it?”
Lee tapped Scott’s shoulder. “Time to intervene?”
Scott inhaled sharply. If they blew their cover, Mole might have time to warn the drug dealer before the DEA got there, and then they wouldn’t have the evidence they needed. Despite Mole not showing up, the operation was still going as planned. Eric didn’t appear to have a gun, and Mole couldn’t do much to Zach over the phone. But Zach could actually shoot Eric. He had more than enough reasons to want to kill the little shit. Sweat dripped down the side of Scott’s neck.
He shook his head at Lee and spoke to Zach. “Mole wants your fingerprints on that gun so he has you as his bitch. Play along.”
Zach cleared his throat. “I’m in. Where do you want me to shoot him?”
As Zach unzipped the plastic bag and drew out the gun, Eric began to shake. “No. You don’t have to—”
“Right there,” Mole said.
“No, I mean what part of the body?” Zach pointed the gun from Eric’s head to his stomach and then to the family jewels. Eric’s jaw dropped and he followed the motion, bringing his hands up to cover the different parts.
Lee blew out a breath. “Jesus, I’d swear Zach’s having fun down there.”
Scott’s pulse raced, but he had to give it to Zach. He was keeping his cool.
“I don’t give a fuck as long as you kill him,” Mole said.
Zach shrugged. “All right. I might go for the gut. Those are the worst.”
Eric’s chest rose and fell faster than a kid on a pogo stick. Good chance he’d pass out from hyperventilation or die of a heart attack before Zach could shoot him.
“Just do it. I want to hear the shot.”
Sick bastard.
Eric tried to run but stumbled and fell.
Scott said, “Grab Eric and make him understand he has to keep his mouth shut.”
“All right.” Zach placed the pistol and phone on the ground, yanked Eric by the collar, and clapped a hand over his mouth. Eric’s body trembled as Zach held a finger up in a “shush” gesture.
Eric bobbed his head frantically.
“Good, Zach.” Scott kept his voice calm. “Now, let go of him slowly and make a zip-your-lips gesture.”
Scott’s fingers tightened on the binoculars. Eric had to keep quiet.
Zach did as instructed and picked up the pistol. He slipped the safety off and pointed the weapon at the water.
“No,” Scott said quickly. “Not over the lake. At the ground. Point it at the ground.” A bullet could travel a mile over water and hit someone on the other side.
Zach swung the gun down. He gave Eric a warning look, and Eric covered his mouth with his hands.
Scott planted his feet. “Okay. Good. Shoot the dirt, and then get off the phone fast so Eric doesn’t fuck up and let Mole know he’s alive.”
Zach fired the weapon. He snagged the phone. “Done. Now what?”
Mole answered, “Leave the body. I’ll have it taken care of. They’re waiting for you at the warehouse.”
“Okay.” Zach tapped the screen off, dropped the phone in his pocket, and faced Eric.
“You haven’t lost your edge since we worked together. Nice work.” Lee said. “You got it from here? I’ll man the station and put out an APB on Mole as soon as we hear back from your agents.”
“All right. Can you send Tom to my apartment as backup? With Mole on the loose I don’t want to take any chances.”
“You bet.” Lee handed the recorder dish to Scott and then left through the woods, phone to his ear.
Scott dialed Maddie’s number. When she didn’t answer, the muscles between his shoulders knotted. They’d taken every precaution, but Mole still could have gotten to her. Maybe Eric knew where Mole was.
Turning his attention back to the field, Scott frowned.
Zach stood in front of Eric. “Now I gotta figure out what the fuck to do with you.”
Eric held his hands up. “Nothing. I’ll disappear. We can pour some ketchup on the ground and make like I slid away. You know, like you didn’t shoot me good enough.”
“You insulting my skills?” Zach took a step toward Eric, who cowered back.
“No. No way. Hey, you don’t want to hurt me. We’re practically family. You know…your sister’s in love with me. Wants to get married.”
“Are you trying to make me shoot you?” Zach fisted a hand. “You spineless, lying fucker.”
Zach launched himself at Eric, threw him to the ground, and slugged him in the face.
Scott shut off the recorder. Time to get down there before Zach killed the little prick with his bare hands. He ran through the woods and came up behind them.
Blood gushed from Eric’s nose as he covered his face and whined like a stuck pig.
Scott tapped Zach’s shoulder. “You need to get out of here.”
He unclenched his poised fist, pushed off Eric’s chest, and glared down at him. “Looks like you won’t need ketchup.” Zach glanced at Scott. “Sorry, but he had that coming for beating up Nikki.”
Eric sat up holding a hand to his bleeding face. “What the fuck? You gonna arrest him for assault?”
“Looks to me like you tripped.” Scott slapped handcuffs on Eric. “Where’s Mole?”
Sweat streamed down Eric’s face. “I don’t know. I’ll tell you whatever you need. Don’t put me in jail. I got information on him. All kinds of stuff. I…won’t even charge you for it.”
Stupid fuck still thought Scott was on the take. He turned to Zach. “Go dark. You’re in danger until we get Mole.”
Zach glared at Eric, but then nodded and jogged toward his car.
After snapping cuffs on Eric, Scott pointed to him. “Don’t make a move.”
He dialed Kaitlyn’s number.
No answer.
Nerves exploded in Scott’s stomach. Neither of them were answering. He had to get to the apartment.
Eric squirmed and tried to stand. “Hey, I have rights. If you’re going to arrest me—”
“Shut up.” Scott picked up Zach’s gun and yanked Eric to his feet. “Unless you can tell me where Mole is I have no use for you.”
“I…I don’t know. But he killed Gina. Blew up her car. That’s worth something, right?”
Shit. No surprise there. Scott brought his face close to Eric’s. “One last chance. Where is Mole? Nothing else matters right now.”
Eric licked his lips. “I don’t know, man, but I have more I can tell you—”
“Wrong answer. We’re done.” Scott read Eric his rights in triple-time on the way to the Impala. He threw him in the back, got into the driver’s seat, and hit the accelerator.
Lee called.
“What do you know, Lee?”
“I sent Tom to your place. My GPS shows Kaitlyn’s patrol car is there, but I can’t get through to her by radio or phone.”
Scott’s thin grip on control slipped further. He floored it and took a turn that knocked Eric against the window. He yelped from the back. Screw him. No time for belting him in. If anything happened to Maddie…
Lee said, “Your overseas black-market buyer for that fake Clovis blade confirmed the money wired to Mole’s offshore account. We got him, now. I put out an APB. We’ll find him.”
They had to, before he got to Maddie. Scott gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Okay. Keep me posted.”
He hung up and got another call.
His lead DEA agent said, “I’m at the warehouse. The address was real. This place is full of meth. We arrested the dealer. Mole’s done.”
“All right. I want all available agents out there hunting down Mole. Coordinate with the chief so you’re not tripping over each other.”
“We’re on it.”
Scott’s stomach bottomed out. They finally had their evidence, but where the hell was Maddie?