“What time is it?”Rocko asked; he’d left his watch on the bedside table in Apollo’s bedroom.Even this morning, after a night spent exploring every carnal desire he’d ever dreamt of and a few that were new to him, Rocko was bound to have missed a few details getting dressed.
“Half past two,” Hendrix said.
“Still the workday for most,” Rocko said.“Where is everyone?There are no vehicles out front, and by the layer of dirt and leaves, it doesn’t look like anyone’s been here in a while.Let’s wait for nightfall and have a look around.In the meantime, we can check out what they have for security.”
“On it,” Griffin said as he pulled their truck away from the building.
“Hell, why would they need security?”Hendrix asked.“Anything worth stealing has rusted.How could this have happened so fast?”
“Don’t know, but it’s our job to figure that out,” Rocko said.
They’d find a place to park that still had views of the building but kept them hidden from prying eyes.Rocko felt like he was back on the job, which wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Apollo
They arrived as the sun was setting.Rocko, Griffin, and Hendrix had been keeping an eye on the abandoned warehouse that reportedly housed Levy Construction.No one had arrived at the location in the past several hours, and the machinery and trucks remained locked behind the fences.Everything online indicated that the company was still in operation, and their business hours posted stated they were open.
Apollo and Blade parked behind Griffin’s truck; the remainder of the team was either conducting more research or watching over the small family they’d sworn to protect.The two jumped into Griffin’s truck, Apollo eager to be reunited with Rocko, who looked relieved.His single touch settled a part of Apollo that had been on edge since their separation.
“Anything new?”Apollo asked as he drew Rocko closer.
“Nothing, boss,” Hendrix said.“It’s deserted, man.Strange things are going on around here.”
“Maybe they’ve gone out of business and haven’t announced it to the public yet,” Blade suggested.“You know, to keep their creditors off the scent as long as possible.”
“That’s one option.What about security?”Apollo asked.
“Appears pretty lax,” Griffin said.“The standard CTV cameras we reported earlier are located on the front two corners of the warehouse, and the same on the back.Nothing overly complicated and easily bypassed.”
“Doesn’t sound as though they were worried about anyone trying to break in,” Rocko agreed.“Still, I’m anxious to get my hands on Tom’s former work truck and find any other information they might have about him in their files.I might be able to get a read on what happened and where he was taken.”
“Let’s make that happen,” Apollo said.
“On it,” Blade said.“Be back in five minutes or less.”
Rocko watched as Blade exited the truck and disappeared into the tree line in the direction of the warehouse.“Where is he going?”
“To take out the cameras,” Apollo answered.
“Oh, okay,” Rocko said.
“Oh, okay?That’s it?”Griffin chuckled.“Aren’t you supposed to be the strait-laced police detective?Enforcing the law and all?A little B and E ain’t raising alarm bells?”
“Since when have I ever given you that impression?Wait, don’t get me wrong, I do believe in the law, more specifically, that it should be applied to all, regardless of race, or prosperity.Some get a free pass either by knowing the right people or greasing the right palms, so if it takes bypassing or intervening in certain measures to ensure the law applies to all, I’m all for it.Within reason of course.”
“Me, I don’t give a shit what we have to do to make people pay, but whatever helps you sleep at night, Detective,” Griffin stated with a grin.
Rocko smiled back at Griffin, and Apollo was relieved to see the two had come to a balance of sorts.Still sending jabs, but with less intensity and a chance for blood; it was a good sign.
“Okay, I want to get in and out as quickly as possible.Main areas of interest are finding Tom’s vehicle and any files they have on Tom in the office,” Apollo instructed.“Once we have those, we’re done, and we’ll meet up back here.”
Hendrix handed out the bone mics they’d use to communicate with each other.The back passenger door opened, and Blade jumped in.The overhead light had been turned off so it wouldn’t be triggered by the door.
“Done.Did anyone time me?”he asked.
“No,” Rocko answered.
