I turned to the computer, not allowing myself to see his reaction to my ridiculous confession. It was too embarrassing. Instead, I busied myself getting my tech crew in Brunsbüttel on the line to tell them where to set up along the canal.
“I want to test the technology on all passing ships,” I explained. “Make sure the data collection is thorough, and report back to me with anything that pings.”
Before I could put the phone down, I got a call from Arjen, my contact in security and surveillance tech, with an update on CCTV at the ports.
“I’d bet you money the ship you’re looking for is theMV Helvig Starout of Hamburg. Looks like there are four additional cargo containers aboard that weren’t listed on the manifest. It’s headed to Helsinki. Was loaded yesterday.”
“What makes you think this is it?”
“I pulled the footage from the pier. There’s money changing hands and dock workers looking hella paranoid. If it’s not what you’re looking for, it’s something else big.”
“Where can I get close to it?”
A few clicks of the keyboard sounded. “Rounding Skagen now. ETA Nyborg tomorrow.”
I thanked him and let out a breath.Fuck. We’d gambled that the cargo would be in the canal. Now we’d need to reassess. Fortunately, I had some ideas. “Jett?”
He came out of his room with his laptop. “Yeah?”
“I need you to request a dinner session of the game. Ask Concetta to notify the players and change dinner plans accordingly.”
He looked at me with surprise and concern on his face.
I tried to give him a reassuring smile. “I have a few new moves I want to try, that’s all. Find out who’s willing to sit down with me for a game.”
I knew, of course, everyone would show up. It was expected, and the players understood the urgency.
“Locke…” Jett hesitated. “You seem to be juggling a lot between work stuff and Paxis.”
Sure, baby. I’m just trying to stop a potential terrorist attack before noon tomorrow. Everything’s fine.
“My work is stressful,” I explained. “I was hoping to take my mind off it with more game play.”
He studied me for another beat before nodding and leaving the room, murmuring that I would find Minnie’s inspection summary in my email.
I quickly scanned the email to discover all inspections were normal and clear.
But theMV Helvig Starwasn’t one of the ships that had been inspected.
I closed my eyes and imagined using the game to communicate the updated information to the council. We’d need to get someone near Nyborg to sneak on board that ship and find the stolen cargo. Esteban usually had the best crews for work like this. And while they carried out the clandestine maneuver on the eastern coast of Funen, we needed to create a distraction for all the media outlets and law enforcement agencies in the region somewhere else.
Which meant turning my scanning operation in the Kiel Canal into a blockade instead.
Any way you sliced it, this was a pain in the ass. I ran my hands over my head and wondered why my first Paxis tournament hadn’t been one of the good ones. One of the easy ones. One in which we all came together to prevent thenext pandemic, help rescue people from an oncoming storm, or silently bolster promising research.
When Jett returned to the room, I stood up and stretched.
“Hey, remember you tried teaching me about hugs?” I said, shooting him a pathetic smile. “Think you can show me how they work again?”
The relieved look on his face was all I needed. And when he came into my arms and tucked his nose in my neck, I remembered why the Paxis Council did what it did.
To protect people. To make sure their loved ones came home at night.
To preserve moments like this.
25
JETT
