“I know, honey. And we’re going to fight this. But I wanted to give you a heads up, this could get ugly. He’s clearly watching you closely, tracking your movements, your finances. You need to be careful.”
“What do I do?” I question, because I thought I’d been good. I’d been letting him do his own thing while I tried to live the life I have left.
“You let me handle this. You don’t respond to him, you don’t engage, you keep detailed records of everything. And Magnolia?” She leans forward, her expression serious. “Be careful. If he’s this obsessed with tracking your finances, who knows what else he’s keeping tabs on.”
When I leave her office, I’m shaky. Out of everything, I didn’t expect this. Levi’s waiting for me, his expression dark.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. Can we just…can we go eat? At The Café or something? I need to clear my head.”
“Of course.”
As we walk to his truck, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s watching. When I glance back, I see nothing.
But the chill down my spine and deep in my body doesn’t go away.
Chapter 23
Levi
“Levi and Dakota. My office.”
Director Drake’s voice cuts through the briefing room, and Dakota and I exchange a glance before following him. We were called in earlier this morning, without any background. We’ve been waiting to find out what the fuck is going on.
Once the door closes behind us, Drake gets straight to business.
“We’ve been hearing chatter through our informants. Randy’s going to be calling you soon to set up the buy for white-tail deer. He’s moved up the delivery date.”
My pulse kicks up. This is it. It’s what we’ve been working toward. “Do we know why he moved up the delivery date?” I ask, thinking of Cody and what he’s done to Magnolia.
“No, we don’t know, but we’re still going to accept it. The two of you won’t be out there on your own, I don’t want you to think that. Laurel Springs Police will be there, along with the Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team. You’ll be covered, but that doesn’t mean that things can’t go sideways,” he says as he levels us with a glare. “I need you to pay attention, and keep your heads on a swivel.”
“How soon?” Dakota asks.
“Could be today, could be next week. We need you both on high alert.”
As if on cue, my phone buzzes. I pull it out to see a text from Randy. “Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”
R: Time to do business. You boys ready?
I show the screen to Drake, who nods. “Answer it.”
T: Ready when you are.
R: Good. Meet at Freedom Farms day after tomorrow, eight o’clock. Bring cash—$15K for a breeding pair. And Tim? Don’t be late.
My jaw clenches. $15K is a lot of money, money the department will front, but still. This is real now. There’s no going back. Once this is set into motion, Dakota and I can’t call it off.
“Confirm,” Drake orders. He’s typing on his own phone, probably getting this set up with the people who are above him.
T: We’ll be there.
“Alright,” Drake says, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve got a couple of days to prepare. I want you both at the range tomorrow, reviewing protocols. We’ll have a full tactical briefing afterward. And Harrison?”
“Sir?”
“I know this guy is connected to your personal life. I need to know you can keep that separate.”
