“Yup.Roby wasextremelyhappy when we told him,” Jesi chimed in, stopping his fidget spinning to lift his feet onto the desk.“We suspect the eight-month lull can be explained in two ways.One, Alette wouldn’t deal around campus, so we never saw the true figures of what’s out there until we arrested him and the old dealers snuck back in.Two, the dealer and/or the chemist in the original distribution died or got arrested, and it took eight months to replace them or replicate the formula.”
Ford nodded, seeing the possibilities.“And if it’s the second, that could explain why this batch is so toxic.They fucked-up the formula and it’s getting them noticed,” he said, reasoning his way through the possibilities.Both agents nodded, which meant they were of a similar mind.“Now what?”
“We’re not done,” Sykes gloated, clearly enjoying himself, probably because it had been years since they’d worked on separate cases.It wasn’t often Sykes got to surprise him at work.“Lincoln offered these lowlives an ‘in’ with the college.They’re not sure who his contact is, for handing off his profits to, but we’re working on getting that info.He was a student and funnelled their drugs through his contacts on campus, without taking a cut.He agreed to take drugs for free instead of payment, for being their middleman.”
He almost laughed, beginning to see why Lincoln had been wary of him from the outset.“That’s why the bastard thought I’d give him OX for free.”He probably thought the deal had changed when Ford had started asking for money, which meant the crew were unstable or constantly rotating members, which was never good for business.“Fucking hell.Does that get us anywhere?”
Jesi shared a knowing look with Sykes that was all Ford needed to see to know this would be entertaining as hell.“Scratch knows where they’re holed up, so we’ve got him setting up an introduction to Scout, who can keep a track of them and see how far he can work up their food chain, to help Roby’s case.”He shrugged, but that self-satisfied smile was still in place, and well deserved from the sound of it.“Right now, it’s a wait-and-see situation.We’ve got a way in, a lead for an on-going case, and we have to see it through.”
“Right.Roby’s case takes precedence,” Ford agreed, though he hated that it meant things would be up-in-the-air for a while.He couldn’t give Lucky or Chase a definitive answer about the assholes who had helped Lincoln get OX, but at least it meant one thing.“I take it we’re all in agreement, then?This hasn’t got fuck-all to do with Lucky?”
Sykes bobbed his head in agreement, sipped his coffee then set the mug on his desk.“Agreed.Seems more likely they were keeping Lincoln sweet, giving him OX, thinking he was too chickenshit to actually use it.”
Jesi hummed, a quiet but thoughtful sound.“According to Scratch, the minute they heard about Lincoln’s arrest, they were freaked out, worried he’d rat on them.So far, they’re more pissed that he used it and might trail back to them than they are about him being off their contact list,” he said, which meant they’d only been using Lincoln because he was convenient.Now he was a liability, they were happy to cut him free.
Typical crooks.“Can I help?”
Sykes gave him a look full of frustration.“Boss says you’re not getting near this case, because it involves Introductory College.Chase and Lucky could be at risk, if the dealers know about their connection to you.”
“Yeah.I get it.”The loved ones of ORTa were always at risk, which was why they had a deal with the Bonding Guide that any ORTa in a registered bond was kept secret.No one with access to the server containing all legally registered bonds could see anyone who was an active or inactive ORTa, for the safety of their family and mates.“I hate being on the outside, but this is how it’s gotta be.”
Jesi heaved a sigh and dropped his feet from the desk to stand.Within a few steps, he stood in front of Ford and patted his arm, only it didn’t feel as condescending as it should.“We’ll keep you updated, when we can, but it could take a while.In the meantime, enjoy the time off,” he advised, full of that warmth and familial affection Ford was so used to.
Ford nodded, figuring he was right.This was a chance to take things easy and spend time with his mates.When was the last time he’d actually had nothing on his schedule and had the opportunity to spend his days doing whatever he wanted?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lucky
Chase chopped carrots in the kitchen like a professional, sliding them off the cutting board into the stir-fry.He’d offered to cook dinner tonight, while his papa took an unexpected call from the library, due to an emergency ordering mishap.Lucky was pretty sure it was related to the book fair that was due to arrive in the local library next week.
It was nice to sit there, doing his homework while he waited for his father to get home, with both his mates in the room.Ford stretched, sinking farther into the sofa while he flipped channels on the TV, searching for decent background music.When he didn’t find anything, Lucky handed him the remote for the stereo and curled into his side.Ford’s fingers drifted into his hair, absent and playful, while he adjusted the volume and let a random playlist fill the room.
“I’m thinking of puttin’ a transfer in at work.”Ford smiled when Lucky sat up, shocked.“My place is an ORT rental and we’re gonna be needing a bigger place, right?With three of us and Pip?”
Lucky nodded, grateful for his willingness to accept Pip into their lives.
“No need.”Chase appeared with a massive bowl of stir fry and three bowls.He set them on the coffee table and sat on the edge of the sofa to dish an equal helping into each bowl.“I have a house.”
“You do?”
He handed them a bowl each, then lifted his bare feet onto the nearby footstool.“My mother inherited the land from her family to use as a vacation spot, where they’d go for their heat or in the summer.Then resort hotels got popular and they stopped using the house.My father never liked being far from the city, but the estate is pretty central for what we need.”
He lifted his ass off the sofa and removed his phone, swiping to reveal a stunning house set in a sprawling estate.A large cottage made of a peachy sandstone, with pine windows and front door, was surrounded by a beautiful front porch filled with daisies and sunflowers.
Chase pointed his fork at the picture.“There’s a garden with a private lake and woodland.We took Pip for the first time last year and he had a blast.”
“How many rooms?”Ford asked, while Lucky was bowled over by the concept of a house.
“Four bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, a library and two studies.”
A real house, with a garden and a lake, woods, suited to a family.His heart squeezed painfully to realise Chase must have spoken to his mother.When he accidentally swiped his finger over the picture, the file data appeared to reveal that the photograph had been downloaded weeks ago.
His eyes welled with a rush of overwhelming love.
Chase turned with a smile that faded.“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“You planned this.For us.”
