“Have I taughtyounothing about surveillance and following people?”
“Touché. We can chat about my listening skills later. Put it in my employee evaluation if you must. The guy—”
“What guy?”
“At the U-Stor. He’ll probably tell you he’ll be back in a second because he has to check something. Don’t let him walk away. Chat him up.”
I snorted and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Chat him up. Right.”
“I believe in you.” Tallus continued like he wasn’t making the most ridiculous suggestion known to mankind. “Tell him you need to view unit sizes to see if they are accommodating to your needs because you’re considering renting one.
“When he tries to make you wait—and he will—tell him you’re in a hurry. He will probably be frustrated.”
“I’m frustrated.”
“Shh. He will probably be frustrated and might try to blow you off—”
Darcy snorted.
Tallus told him to shut up.
“But insist you don’t have time. Be snarly. You’re good at that. If he tries to walk away. Follow him. The goal is to see which unit is Lukyan’s. Take note of camera placements. Rent a goddamn locker if you have to, so we have a reason to be on the premises. Are you taking notes?”
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Ten thirty-two. It wasn’t even noon, and all the positive energy I’d made at the gym and all the inspiration I’d gathered at the meeting had gone down the drain. At this rate, I’d be calling Aslan before he made it home.
“D?”
Softer and with as much control as I could inject into my tone, I asked, “What are you doing, Tallus? What is your end game in following him?”
“It’s just recon.”
“You’re putting Darcy in danger.”
“Nah, he’s fine. I haven’t even felt the urge to kill him in fifteen minutes.”
“It’s true,” Darcy yelled in the background. “We’re getting along now.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Tallus said.
I straightened in the seat and turned the key, starting the engine. “I’ve made a new business decision.”
“Oh?”
“We should never work cases together again.”
A long beat of silence was followed by a, “Why? We make a great team.”
“In theory, but have you ever noticed how every case we work together tends to fall off the rails? Do you know why?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Because you always grab the steering wheel from my hands and jerk us into oncoming traffic. I’m not good with the unpredictable, Tallus. I don’t even know what the fuck we’re doing anymore, and this wasmycase.”
“Do you trust me?”
I glanced longingly at the empty cigarette pack and sighed. “You know I do.”
“Recon, Guns. We’re safe. Go find out what locker Lukyan rents.”
“Why?”
“Because a man who is running a sketchy business isn’t going to keep important documents at home. Plus, he owns four luxury cars and has to store them somewhere. Call it a hunch. We don’t ignore hunches in this business. You taught me that.”
