“Yep.”
“We’re disregarding all the rules of a raid.” Joel ticks off the list on his fingers. “We’re not familiar with our target, we have no info regarding security on site, we’ve done zero surveillance work so we have no idea of shift changes, and we haven’t organized host families who can take in the dogs.”
“Don’t forget our greatest disadvantage,” I point out calmly. “An arthritic old man with more caution than risk running in his blood.” Joel stiffens and I grin. “A perfect foil for a nineteen-year-old hooligan with more impulse than sense.”
He shakes his head, a reluctant smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “Darn it, kid, but you make me feel alive again, and that’s probably gonna get me killed.”
“You saw the sacrifice order. They’re going to kill those dogs on Friday. If we want to save them, it has to be done tomorrow night.”
“Doesn’t leave us much time.”
“Too near the grave to pull an all-nighter, old man?”
Joel snorts. “If I remember rightly, you were the one snoring in the back seat the night we raided those puppy mills.”
After sufficiently insulting one another, we brew another round of coffees and throw ourselves into the prep work. We download maps of the area surrounding the university, organize possible escape routes, and call as many of our contacts as we can to cash in favors.
“There’s one condition,” Joel says suddenly, looking up from his laptop. “You’re not driving.”
“You don’t trust me?” I ask lazily.
“Not behind a wheel, no.”
“Dad still sore about the van?”
“You don’t want to know how much.”
“Hmm, glad to know I’ve finally got a starring role in his thoughts.”
Joel shoots me a warning look and I hold up my hands. “All right, I’m not driving.”
“Good.” He stands and stretches. “Time for a bathroom break.”
After he leaves, I retrieve my phone. I want to check in on Heather. She looked pretty shell-shocked earlier.
Justin:You coping?
Heather:Yes.
Justin:Liar.
Heather:It’s after midnight.
Justin:Did I wake you?
Heather:No.
Her reply took too long and I shake my head. Probably bawling into her pillow.
Justin:You have to see it as a job. Leave it at work.
Heather:Is that what you would do?
Justin:Yes.
Heather:Liar.
I grin. Well, well, the little saint has a backbone.
