It was too late to change that now.
* * *
Mal settled in the passenger side of the truck with Force driving while the dog snored contentedly in the backseat as they drove toward rural West Virginia.
“The dive apartment we rented for you is only a couple of blocks from the bar,” Force said, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel. “It’ll be an easy trace for the cult if they decide to try to recruit you. Our intel says they will. They’re seeking anybody with law enforcement or military experience.”
Yet another reason it looked like things were heating up. “How long have I been renting the dive?”
“Two months,” Force said.
Mal stiffened. “Seriously? Two months ago you knew I’d take on this assignment?”
“I profiled you and figured if you made it out of the hospital, you’d need to do something that mattered. This does.” Force glanced in his rearview mirror and switched lanes on the interstate. “The apartment is on the bottom floor—basement, really—with its own access from the alley. Nobody will have expected to see you come and go.”
It felt good to be part of an Op again. Mal surveyed Force. He was a decent guy. Smart. And, more importantly, he’d have Mal’s back. “This bar. You’re sure I’ll make contact?”
“Yes. Our source will make sure they’re at Blue’s to recruit today. She’ll be with at least two other members, and she’ll try not to be the one to make contact. You saw her picture. Name is Orchid.” Force exited the interstate into rolling hills and sparse trees.
“This Orchid. What’s her story?” They hadn’t had time to get into it with all the other information to go over in such a short time.
“Boyfriend dumped her in her forties and she joined the cult. Thought it was fun at first and had that great feeling. Then realized she was being drugged sometimes, and a friend of hers was raped and then overdosed on heroine.” Force took a left turn onto a quiet street. “Orchid called the ex-boyfriend, who happened to be a buddy of mine and a retired agent at the FBI. Went a little nutty and had to retire, so doesn’t have much pull. We took it from there about four months ago. She’s tough, man. Smart and determined.”
It was now Mal’s job to keep her alive.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Force slowed down at a small gas station that needed fresh paint and faced him, his gaze intense.
“Yes.” Mal checked his earbud. With his hair longer, it was easy to keep it hidden. “I’ll be in touch.” Jumping out of the truck, he tucked his hands in his ripped jeans and ducked his head against the wind. The walk to the bar took ten minutes.
Blue’s had a pothole-riddled dirt parking lot, a few dented trucks scattered around, and bullet holes in the door. Nice. He opened it and moved inside the dark interior.
The smell of old beer and worn leather smashed into him. This was a bar made for drinking. Two guys sat on barstools at different sides of the bar, one with his head down and the other looking straight ahead. Low-lying tables were scattered throughout, and dartboards hung haphazardly from a far wall. The walls looked like cheap velvet wallpaper that had been ripped in several places.
Mal chose a damaged stool in the middle.
The bartender, a mammoth of a man with a bald head and a gold tooth, sauntered his way. “Drink?”
“Jack with ice. Triple,” Mal said, avoiding eye contact.
The bartender grabbed a glass and poured. “Want to run a tab?”
Mal nodded and tipped back the drink, taking it all. He shoved the glass forward. “Another.”
The bartender poured.
This time Mal rolled the liquid around in the glass, staring at it. His insides had already warmed, and his limbs felt looser. He sipped for a while as a crowd started to make its way in. A surprising number of people started drinking early. Construction workers, loners, a couple of guys in suits. After his second repour, he caught sight of Orchid.
She was with two other women and a man, all dressed in white or beige linen. They sat at a table and ordered blended drinks. Then they started working the crowd.
It was impressive. Flirting and chatting, they managed to get a bead on people quickly. They moved with apparent ease from the ones he would’ve guessed weren’t interested to those who looked down on their luck.
The guy was the first to approach him. He ordered a drink next to Mal.
“Hi,” the guy said.
Mal nodded, staring at the remainder of his drink.
“I’m Tree,” the guy said.
