“Why’d you have to put him in the mud like that? I’m gonna get all dirty. You could have done him on the pavement,” Red said in disgust as he walked up.
“And have blood for the cops to find when the wife calls that he’s missing?” Drew snorted. “Get the tarp already.”
They rolled Max up in the tarp, tying it with some bungie cords that they found in the truck. Red took the legs, and Drew grunted as they heaved Max into the back.
“I’m gonna help the guys pack it up. Looks like we gotta move fast,” Red observed.
“Any idea where to?” Drew asked.
Red shook his head. “Sam will figure it out.”
“I’m going to go dump him and burn the truck,” Drew said, flipping the keys. He watched Red head for the building then quickly started the truck, driving out of the parking lot. He grabbed his cell phone and called Miguel.
“Hello Brother,” Miguel said as he picked up the call.
“Three of them are there packing up the goods right now. Red, Sam and Knuckles. I don’t know if the rest are going to come early and help or if that’s all we can get,” Drew turned a corner and tried not to speed too much. He didn’t need to get pulled over with a body all wrapped up in the back of the truck. “The boss needs to move on this.”
“Where are you?” Miguel asked.
“I’m coming to the station. I figure if you can’t convince him, then I’m going to come in and talk to him,” Drew explained. “I saw at least twelve pallets in there. We have to get that off the street.”
“Anybody sees you come in and your cover is blown, Harley,” Miguel used his undercover name.
“When Max Ramesly doesn’t show up dead, my cover will be blown anyways,” Drew said as he pulled around a little old lady doing two miles an hour.
“Who?”
“The demolition guy that crashed the party,” Drew finally came into the police parking lot. “Come outside, I brought a present.”
He found a spot and turned off the truck. It was a nice truck but not new or too fancy. He wondered why Maxwell Ramesly was working for a demolition company and not in the family business. Drew got out, slammed the door shut and waited for Miguel to come out.
It took a few moments for Miguel to find him. “Boss is not going to be happy.”
“I’m not happy,” Drew popped the tailgate open and began to undo the bungee cords.
“Did you just bring us a dead body?” Miguel demanded.
“Nope, he’s alive. He’s the demolition guy I was talking about,” Drew explained.
Sure enough, once the cords were loosened, Max helped them to remove the tarp and sat on the tailgate of the truck.
Max took a look at the sunny sky, breathed a deep breath and smiled. “It feels good to be alive.”
Miguel looked at the muddy Max and then Drew. “You got a brother you didn’t tell me about?”
Drew looked grimly at Max. “I got three.”
“You’re kidding?” Miguel did a doubletake, looking at Max again.
Drew motioned to Max. “Nope.”
“Jana never said anything,” Miguel looked at Max.
“Yeah well, I might not have told her,” Drew walked away, headed for the police station entry.
“Hey, would you like to explain that? You’re a cop, aren’t you? Undercover?” Max followed like an eager puppy. “Man, I would like to thank you for saving my life.”
“You’re welcome,” Drew said tersely, wishing he would just go away. “I just lost a serious bust because of you.”
