“Thank you!” I said, thinking I honestly needed it.
I stepped onto the sidewalk and did my best to keep out of the pools of light cast by the streetlamps, not wanting the not-so-mysterious parked car to get away. I stayed to one side of the street, moving two houses down before I crossed andswung the corner wide to approach the car from the passenger’s side. The driver had eyes on the sideview mirror, effectively looking over his shoulder in the other direction, so he didn’t see me coming when I bent down and knocked on the passenger window.
Bray jumped so hard, he nearly hit his head on the ceiling. His hand shot down to his holster, but he caught my grin in time not to draw his weapon.
I pointed to the door handle when it didn’t lift and gave him credit for at least locking the doors.
“You know, it’s generally a good idea during a stakeout to make sure the person you’re spying on doesn’t see you. I made your car out like an hour ago,” I greeted as I climbed in the car.
The standard sedan was unmarked and utilitarian. Given the size of it, I’d bet it had enough power to go fast if needed. Even so, Bray’s bulky frame took up his side of the front seat. The warmth of his body filled the stuffy air as if he hadn’t cracked a window while waiting. He still smelled like a hint of mint.
“Yeah, it’s generally a good idea not to sneak up on people with guns too.” He scowled at me.
Being in an enclosed space with him, I felt the same crackling energy from earlier but at a higher intensity. I leaned back against the window. “What are you doing here?”
He fished his phone out of the cupholder and waved it at me. “You didn’t answer me earlier, so I wanted to make sure you showed up.”
I frowned at him. “I said I would come, and I’m here. I don’t need you checking in on me.”
He held up his hands and hunched his shoulders. “Sorry. I wasn’t sure.”
“Well, you can be sure.”
Silence settled between us. We both looked out the windshield. A cat licked its paw in a ring of light on the sidewalk.
Bray lasted ten whole seconds before he said, “So, did you learn anything?”
I turned my head so he could see me roll my eyes. “Yes. I asked them straight-up if they are smuggling baby products, and they detailed their whole operation without hesitation.”
He blinked, looking like he might actually believe me for half a second.
“Really, Bray? No. It doesn’t work like that. I know nothing other than Melanie Browning has a hyperactive five-year-old kid, and Jana Russo and Sandra Whitley stick to her like glue.”
He sat silently beside me, brooding. The snap in my voice was sharper than normal, perhaps due to the complete one-eighty my life had taken in the past twenty-four hours, which wasn’t his fault. He was just trying to do his job, though he wasn’t very good at it.
“Well, Melanie did invite me over tomorrow to go to the park with them before I fully start on Monday, so I guess that’s something.”
He turned to me quickly enough to rock the car. “Really?”
A smile bent my lips. His excitement pulled it from me almost on reflex. “Yes, really. I’m going over to her house at eight, then to the park at nine.”
Bray held up his hands like he might reach for me with a smile parting his lips. Instead, he closed both his fists and pointed at me. “Good job.”
“Thank you. In exchange, did you learn anything about Wallace?”
His face twisted into a frown. “It’s only been a few hours.”
I shrugged. “I managed to learn how to be a nanny in a few hours.”
At this, he sighed. “Give me more time.”
Time.It was one thing I didn’t have. Every minute Wallace was off the grid left me exposed to dangers Bray didn’t even know about. The classified parts of my file were monsters waiting in the shadows for their moment to leap out of the dark. Ineededto know where Wallace was, not just to get me out of this absurd nannying gig, but also to protect me from the monsters. Bray didn’t need to know more of the story, but every minute I didn’t know where Wallace was, was a minute too long.
“Well, I’d appreciate it if you could fast-track your part of the deal. Also, try to blend in a little better. Or better yet, stay away and let me handle my part of the deal.”
He gripped the steering wheel and let out a breath. “Sorry. I’ll … back off.”
“Thank you.”
