“You just want to know what it smells like in there.”
“I know what it smells like in there. My best friend is a pitmaster.”
“Think their barbecue is better than Jamie’s?”
“Probably not, but I’m not gonna let the product in there go bad if we have to seize the truck.”
Nic chuckled, low and rumbly, and a shiver raced up Cam’s spine, reminding him of what he’d rather be doing.
Later.
He glanced between them and over his shoulder toward the warehouse interior where staff dinner had been set up. “Everyone good?”
“Yep, and once they’re done eating, I gave them a list of extra indoor checks. Should keep everyone busy and out of harm’s way.”
“May not take that long,” Mel radioed through the comm unit tucked in Cam’s ear. “Here we go.”
Nic tensed beside him, having received the same message, and Cam swung his gaze back around, first to where Mel had crept out of the main building’s back door, slipping behind the closest truck, then to Danny, who was pretending to be the staff member assigned to truck check-in. He approached the target’s driver’s side door and knocked twice on the window. The setting sun glared against the glass as it was rolled down; the person inside would be visible at any second...
Danny leaned against the side of the truck, blocking Cam’s view. “Hi, gorgeous,” he said, voice loud and clear, flirt turned up to twenty. Decoy was right. “I’m Danny. Here to check you in.”
“I spoke to an Eddie on the phone,” a woman replied, the tone of her voice vaguely familiar even if her accent was not. In any event, not James Daley.
“Eddie’s the co-owner. Also Coast Guard, and he got a callout this morning. I work here, and besides, I’m cuter.”
“Well, aren’t you a charmer?”
“I like to think so.”
Cam couldn’t see Danny’s face, but he was sure the other man had thrown in a wink.
“Just need to see your licenses and permits,” Danny said. “And maybe a menu.”
“Oh sure, just one sec. James, can you grab me a menu?”
“He’s in there,” Nic said, edging forward.
Cam shot out an arm, blocking the door and Nic’s instincts. Nic’s protective streak was one of the things Cam loved most about him, but even if Nic was an ex-SEAL, he wasn’t the LEO in this relationship. “Hold,” Cam said. “One, we need the positive ID from Danny.” So far, their lookout was only flashing one finger at his side, not the two that would signal go. “And two, we’re only here for backup. This is Mel’s takedown.” And she was already on the move, sneaking two food trucks closer to the target, only one left between her and Meat & Cake.
“Someone asked for a menu,” replied a male voice in a Southie accent. Except not quite.
Same as the woman’s accent, something about the man’s rang as off to Southie-raised Cam. And didn’t Mel say Daley’s family was local? But Cam didn’t have time to contemplate the inconsistencies, Danny flashing a second finger.
Go.
Mel appeared from the rear of the truck she’d slipped behind, now at the back door of Meat & Cake. She raised a fist and banged on the door. “James Daley, open up, bail enforcement.”
A second later, Danny almost fell to the ground as the truck revved to life and lurched toward the driveway.
Cam dropped his arm, instantly in motion with Nic at his side as they ran out of the warehouse. As planned, they positioned themselves between the other trucks and the target, forming a perimeter, Danny falling behind them. For her part, Mel had jumped onto the bumper of the blue truck, hanging on by the chrome door handle. “Bail enforcement agent, stop!” She wrenched the door open and disappeared inside.
The truck, however, didn’t stop, burning rubber and throwing up loose gravel that forced Cam and Nic to shield their eyes and turn away. By the time the dust settled, the truck was squealing out of the lot and hanging an impossible left-hand turn on two tires before landing back on all four and racing down the alley.
Danny barreled between them, sprinting after the truck. “Let’s go!”
“We can’t catch it on foot,” Cam hollered. “We need to call this in.”
“Fine, do that, but do it from my car, which is parked on the curb out back. We’ve got a chance at catching them in the Mas.”
