“What?” Enzo and I ask in unison.
“The cameras in that area seem to be on loops. Someone’s overridden the code. Anything that could have eyes on that block has been hacked or disabled.”
Enzo and I share a glance. Luca and Niko cast their gazes back our way.
Damn, Jane, what are you up to?
Eva rattles off some options we have for overriding the cameras in the area or setting up our own, when we see another woman approach the warehouse.
I gasp. “Holy shit! That’s Luna!”What the actual fuck?
Eva and Enzo both ask me if I'm sure. “I’d recognize her hair and bright-pink glasses anywhere. It’s even her backpack. I’m telling you, Luna Steele just entered that warehouse."
“I tried to find any connection between them. I couldn’t,” Eva says, “but neither of them has much information to even find. Luna certainly has the skills to keep their identities protected. And to keep this warehouse block out of sight of prying eyes.”
The car is silent as we process what we’re learning here.
Enzo asks if there is anything Bureau-related that might haveLuna here, and I’m not sure. It’s a possibility she’s on a case I know nothing about, but when our agents are on classified assignments, the ADs are usually informed. We can’t know details, but I’d know if she wasn’t available. The new case with Stone is on the West Coast and she hasn’t been pulled from any other cases yet. I explain that I’d expect to see other agents here if she was on a case. She wouldn’t be in the field alone; she’s not an undercover agent of any kind.
A third woman approaches the warehouse. None of us recognize her. I snap a photo and send it to Eva to see if she can run facial recon to find out who she is. “Sorry, Eva. Not sure how good the quality is going to be. We aren’t that close and lighting is bad.”
“Let me see what I can find. Hey, Luca, does your console still have that lock kit with the pin scrambler?” she asks.
Luca confirms.
“Perfect. Enzo, does the keypad look standard?”
He confirms it does.
“Then the scrambler should gain you access. If you want to walk in and ask some questions?—”
“You think we should ambush them? We have no idea who else is inside,” I say.
Enzo looks deep in thought. He can’t think this is a good fucking idea.
“Enz?”
“Yeah, no. That’s a bad idea, for sure.” I’m relieved, but then he adds, “But I think we should go in.”
“Okay, what am I missing here? You think it’s a good fucking idea to just go unlock their private warehouse they clearly don’t want anyone knowing about and what? Storm in and demand answers?”
“I don’t know. Let’s play it by ear,” Enzo says.
“Never once in the twenty-plus years I’ve known you have Iever heard you say we should play something by fucking ear. Enz, let’s get more info. Eva said she can put cameras here overnight. We can keep an eye out and learn more. We have no idea what we’d be walking into. I know that at least Luna is armed. They’re in the Old Wharf, for fuck’s sake, they better all be packing if they’re smart.”
I think I’m getting through when Eva breaks in. “I can’t find anything on the third. The pic has too many hits, she has a common dark hair look that is really standard and her face is too grainy.”
“Makes sense. Hudson, I hear what you’re saying,” Enzo starts, “but something is telling me this is our window. If we don’t go in there tonight, we won’t get another shot to learn what is going on.”
Fuck. I know this look, I know my best friend. He wants to go in there, guns blazing. When he wants answers, he can be stubborn.
I slip into my FBI field persona. “Let me be devil’s advocate here. Let’s say we charge in there to simply ask questions. Best case scenario, they likely tell us to fuck off. Worst case, they shoot us. But let’s say we get past all that and we learn what they are up to—and to be clear, I don’t think they will tell us jack shit, but let’s just pretend our good looks and charm can get us some answers—then what? What’s the goal here?” In this situation, outside of wanting to know more about Pippa, and now Luna, I really don’t see the benefit of rushing in there.
I spot the moment Enzo decides and resign myself to the inevitable.
“You each deserve an answer to that question. I don’t have it, though. I’m just telling you I know I need to get into that warehouse. I can go alone or you can come with me, but I’m going in.”
Niko and I nod to each other as we check our guns. If he’s going in, so are we.
