I let her run on while turning my attention to the sheets of paper she handed me.I flip through the pages until I find what I’m looking for.
Then I turn the brochure toward her and tap my index finger on the picture.
“I want that one,” I interrupt her.
“Yes?”
Her face is one of eager anticipation, and it’s difficult not to laugh at her excitement.
“She already said yes once,” Nate provides dryly.“How many different ways do you want to hear it?”
His comments earn him a general chuckle and a very sharp elbow from Phil.
“Can it, smart-ass.”Then she turns a smile on me and holds out her hand.“So, we’re in business?”
I clap my hand in hers and confirm, “We are in business.”
Then I mentally cross my fingers.
Chapter18
Hugo
“Nothing?”
I’m standing out on the deck, watching Ragnar practice lifting his leg on every blade of grass in the backyard.
“No.The feed is too grainy to make out the license plate.All we know is it’s a black or navy, older model Toyota RAV with the spare tire on the back.”
Bess went straight upstairs to have a shower after we got home, while I let out the dog who’d been cooped up all day.I took the opportunity to call Althof for an update.
Apparently, he found what he thinks might be the vehicle Ken Choi is driving.It was caught speeding through the intersection on Cooper Drive at Victoria shortly after I found Bess hauling out the garbage.Cooper Drive is where the back alley running behind the businesses on the coffee shop side of Main Street comes out.
“It’s probably stolen,” I point out, frustrated at the lack of progress.“If he’s got any sense, he’ll be switching out vehicles every chance he gets.”
“I put a BOLO out on the RAV, and I’ll keep an eye on incoming stolen vehicle reports.”
“And what’s the word on the Lotus Squad?”
“Mancuso is checking in with the Seattle PD Gang Task Force.Those guys will likely have confidential informants on the inside, who may be able to shed some light on what the hell is going on.Or at the very least, give us an idea of the whereabouts of the gang’s main players.”
Jason Mancuso is the Spokane FBI agent Rick met with earlier in the week.I haven’t met the guy—he must be new to the Spokane office—but it’s always useful to have connections in other branches of law enforcement.
“Good.Keep me up-to-date.”
“Will do.I assume you’re not planning to come in tomorrow?”
Tomorrow is Sunday.Carson is scheduled to be back from Seattle somewhere around dinnertime.
Shit.I really would’ve liked to have seen this resolved before he gets home, but that may have been wishful thinking.Unfortunately, sitting on my ass doesn’t help matters either, so I should probably go in for a bit and put some added muscle into this investigation.
“I’ll probably be in at some point.”
“Are you sure?What about Bess?”
“She’ll come with me.No safer place than the station.”
I’m not sure how Bess will feel about that.I believe she had plans to sit down with Phil to hash out ideas for Phil’s charitable venture.But those will either have to wait, or move to the station, where I’m sure we can find an empty space for them to use.
