Micha agreed, except…“The AK-47 is suspicious for sure.”
“You said you found a gun dealer’s business card,” Dev said. “Maybe we’ve dealt with them in the past and can check in with them. What’s the company name?”
“Atlas Armory,” Micha said. “In Beaverton.”
Reid set down his water bottle. “Never heard of it.”
“Me either,” Micha said. “But I looked it up online. Both a store and firing range. Seems to be fairly new.”
Dev tilted his head. “Wouldn’t have thought there’d be enough interest in an upscale suburb like Beaverton for a shooting range and gun dealer.”
“You’d be surprised who’s carrying these days.” Reid looked straight into the camera. “Still, a trip to the store might get info we need to go on.”
Micha scoffed. “You know gun dealers are notoriously closemouthed.”
“It’s been my experience as a deputy,” Dev said, “that legit ones who are offended by someone breaking the law could be willing to help.”
Ava darted her gaze to Micha off-screen. “It’s worth checking out, right? Especially since there doesn’t seem to be any other reason we can get law enforcement to visit the property.”
“I’d recommend a welfare check,” Dev said. “But your name would be on that report, and you’d have to be okay with Buck finding out about it.”
“I’m not good with that,” Micha said.
“You could phone in an anonymous tip,” Colin said. “But not sure they would take that seriously, and unless you find a payphone, the call could be tracked back to you.”
“I think it’s better we wait to see if we can find a legit way to get the police out there.” Micha peered at the group. “Any other ideas besides visiting the gun dealer?”
They shook their heads.
Micha clapped his hands, startling Ava. “Then I’ll hit the store tomorrow after my visit to the ME’s office.”
Reid frowned, reminding Micha of Russ, who used to frown a lot before he got married. Now he was a pussy cat. Well, a pussy cat in Russ’s terms, which meant more like a semi-feral cat.
“Even if the store owner does give you info,” Reid said, “we’ll still need to figure a way to get it to law enforcement without implicating any of us in the process.”
Micha nodded. “The kind of info we get could inform our next step, so let’s think on it tonight.”
“Agreed,” Reid said. “I’ll let you know when Ryan is safely back in the compound and Buck and Jamal are packed and on their way out of here.”
“Hey, wait,” Dev said. “What do you think about putting trackers on Buck’s and Jamal’s vehicles? That way we’ll know where they are at all times.”
“Not a bad idea,” Colin said.
“Maybe for the average guy, but a paranoid prepper like these two?” Micha asked. “They might inspect their vehicles every time they leave their property.”
“Micha is right,” Reid said. “Might not be worth the risk to tip our hand. Don’t want Buck to move that stockpile or escalate any further attempts on Ava’s life.”
Ava sucked in a sharp breath, but the others nodded.
“If that’s all, let’s get after it.” Reid looked at them for a moment, then clicked off.
“Hang on a minute, Dev,” Micha said. “I have something to talk to you about.”
Micha looked at Ava and stood. “Be right back.”
He stepped into the hallway where she couldn’t hear the uncertainty in his tone as he questioned Dev. “You really think this Toby guy will let me look at the autopsy report?”
“Sounded like he would, but then you never know when it comes down to violating policy. Some people come through. Others freeze and bail on you. If he balks, I know you can be persuasive. Still, you might have to resort to talking in hypotheticals and approach him that way.”
