She was quiet for a moment, picking at the chewed strings of her hoodie. “They’re scared of the big guy. They do whatever he says. They shut up when he walks in the room. He kills people. Everybody knows it.”
“Have you seen the big guy?” Briggson asked.
She nodded. “He’s not a dealer. He’s the one in charge. I try to hide when he comes in.”
We waited for her to say more, but she set the cup of water on the nightstand and pulled her knees up to her chest. As quickly as the word vomit had started, it ended.
I grabbed Briggson and pulled him to the side. “Do you know what green warehouse door she’s talking about?”
“Yeah. It’s an abandoned place just outside of town off Route 32. Scheduled to be torn down next month.”
“Okay. You need to get her to the station once she’s coherent. Show her pictures of Jonathan Porter. If she can ID him as the syndicate leader…”
It wouldn’t be pretty. Mia definitely wasn’t a credible witness. But it was a start.
He nodded. “Agreed. But that’s secondary to whatever is happening tonight at that warehouse. If any of what she’s saying is correct…”
“It’s our first real break.” I looked over at Mia, who was still staring out at nothing. “Have her look at the photos, then get her home. Get her situated. Make sure she’s okay. I’ll call Chief Rawlings and get things rolling on this intel.”
“Thanks, Garrison. I owe you one. More than one.”
I nodded and stepped outside into the parking lot. Rawlings answered on the second ring.
“Garrison. Heard Jolly didn’t find anything useful at the OD scene this morning.”
“No, but I’ve got something better. Briggson and I found a witness, a user, who’s been inside the drug operation. She’s tweaking, but somewhat coherent. She overheard something. Evidently, the syndicate is moving product through a warehouse tonight at midnight. Warehouse with a green door? Briggson says it’s off Route 32.”
A pause. “Yeah, I know the place. You think this witness is telling the truth?”
“Yes. Definitely enough to justify a response.”
“Agreed.” His voice was more focused. Decisive. He understood what this meant too. “I’ll get Vance on it. We’ll put a team together and coordinate the approach.”
“Chief, I want in. Jolly and I want to be part of the operation.”
“Done. Report to the staging point when Vance sends coordinates.”
I ended the call and stood in the parking lot for a moment. Relief settled into my chest alongside something harder, the sharp-edged clarity that came when you knew you finally had a way of doing something that made a difference.
Briggson walked Mia out. I watched them cross the lot to his car, watched him open the passenger door and help her in, watched the overhead light catch her face for a second before the door closed. She looked like a kid. She looked like someone’s daughter. Someone’s niece.
Loved.
It was going to be a long road for her, but at least she was now on it.
The car pulled out of the lot and turned north. I watched until the taillights disappeared.
I walked back to my truck and opened the door. Jolly was on his feet immediately, tail going, pressing his nose into my hand. I let him out so he could walk around and do his business.
“We’re working tonight, buddy.”
Shit. I’d forgotten to call Kayla. It had been hours. I ran my hand through my hair and called. She had every right to be pissed already. Finding out I wasn’t going to be able to do anything tonight either was not going to help.
She picked up on the second ring. “Something happened, didn’t it?”
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t call before now. We have a situation with the department. It’s a big deal. Can I get a rain check for our date?” Fuck, this sounded like every lame excuse every lame guy had ever made. “Kayla, truly, I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t cancel if I didn’t?—”
“Ben.” She cut me off. “It’s okay. I do understand. Just like you would understand if I had something I needed to do with William and had to cancel. But I will definitely hold you to making it up to me. More specifically, a repeat of that thing you did with your tongue.”
