“Whose arrest will it be?” Mal asked, putting the pieces together.
“Local cops, but then, because it’s a drug issue, the federal government will step in. Those two will be in our custody within the hour, if all goes well.” Angus turned and nodded at Raider. “You and I will represent the HDD. I’d like to keep Wolfe and West under wraps for now.”
“Agreed,” Raider said.
Angus partially turned around. “West and Wolfe, I want you guys on the perimeter, just in case one of the cult assholes gets loose. We have to take them down tonight. It’s imperative.”
“What’s the urgency?” Raider asked.
Force shook his head. “Not sure. Orchid says they’re gearing up for something in days—something big. She’s not on the inside of whatever it is.”
Mal rubbed his jaw, and scruff scratched his hand. He probably needed to shave at some point. “When tonight goes wrong, Isaac is going to look for a problem. He’ll see one where you think you’re covered. How good is Orchid?”
“Not great. We’ve arranged to meet up when she’s out either peddling wares or recruiting members, and she’s had to get away from the group several times. I don’t think she’s under suspicion, but who knows?” Angus flipped off the heat switch. “You have more undercover experience, and you’ve infiltrated the cult now. What’s your recommendation?”
Mal ran his hands down his jeans. They’d dried overnight and felt rough. “Let me think about it. My gut feeling is that we need to pull her out. Soon.”
Wolfe parked the truck outside a twenty-four-hour grocery store. The lights glimmered out into the parking lot, but nobody was shopping at this odd time. “The pharmacy is in a stand-alone building three blocks to the south.”
Force handed back a tablet with the schematics of the neighborhood. He pointed to observation points. “West here, Raider, there.”
West jumped out of the car. At least it had stopped raining. “Where are we taking them once we have them?”
“There are two interrogation rooms back at headquarters,” Angus said as he slammed his door.
West paused. “Where?”
“Right off the elevator. Small door? Everyone thinks it’s a closet.” Angus checked his gun.
A siren split the night.
“Shit. Go,” Force snapped, launching himself into a run.
Malcolm breathed in the fresh air and fell into step, staying in the shadows. They reached the scene quickly. Two uniformed police officers, one nearly hunched over with age, escorted two handcuffed guys away from a cheerful-looking pink building.
Force nodded at Raider. “Let’s do this.”
Mal paused and then kept to the side as Wolfe did the same. A newsman screeched to a stop in the lot. “Back,” he whispered.
Silent as death, Wolfe retreated farther into the shadows. “This came together well.”
Too well? Mal angled his neck to see Eagle and Leroy, two of Isaac’s lieutenants. Apparently, George had gotten to stay home for the night.
“He might just shoot you the second you arrive,” Wolfe said conversationally.
Mal watched as Force flashed his badge and started the dance with the local cops. Raider instantly moved to intercept the news camera, no doubt already pouring on the charm.
“I like it here. In the dark,” Wolfe said.
Mal kept alert just in case. “Yeah, me too.”
“I hope the cult people don’t shoot you,” Wolfe said. “If they do, don’t worry. I’ll hunt down each and every one of them and tear their heads off. Literally.”
Mal cut his eyes to the soldier, who was barely visible near an old sycamore tree. “I’d appreciate that, Wolfe.” Was the guy nuts or just dedicated? Or both? But he did have a point. Isaac Leon wasn’t stupid. Mal was an ex-cop who’d shown up suddenly, and now two of the main family guys, men who’d been robbing and burglarizing across the country for years, get caught? “I’ll need to retrieve that bug before Isaac starts looking.”
“He might not know his guys were caught by the time you show up at the mansion. What’s the plan?” Wolfe whispered.
“April is picking me up at the fake apartment around seven.” Which left several hours for him to figure out hownotto get his head blown off.
