Page 78 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Join the club.

He glanced in the rearview mirror to see the other SUVs following. “The plan is simple,” he tried reassuring her. “The second Joe shows up, a small army will escort him into the building. He’ll meet with AUSA Bennett to answer questions, then go before the grand jury to give testimony against Brian Argyle.”

“You make it sound so simple.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

“It is.” As long as everything went according to plan.

“And where will I be in all of this?”

“You’ll stay safely inside the building at all times. Whatever happens, don’t go outside. Once Joe is under our guard, no one can get to him.”

She nodded but still didn’t look at him.

He was about to turn onto the ramp for I-90 when the cell phone in his front shirt pocket vibrated. Cox. He pulled out the phone and slid his finger right to answer the call. “We’re about fifteen out.”

“I’m sending you a text,” Cox said, and Nick’s phone vibrated again. “The lab finished enhancing that photo. It’s not totally clear, but it’s the best they can do. Let me know if you recognize her.”

Her?

Just before the highway onramp, he cranked the wheel hard right and parked on the side of the road. Behind him, the other SUVs did the same. He cued up the radio frequency to the private channel used for the op. “Stand by,” he said into the mic.

He opened the text message and pulled up the photo. Using his thumb and forefinger, he enlarged the image. What the—?

His mind took off in a hundred different directions as he processed the implications of the face staring back at him.

“What?” Andi shifted in the seat to face him. “What’s wrong?”

He handed her the phone.

Her mouth fell open. “It’s Meera!”

He took the phone back, pressing it to his ear. “It’s Meera Devine.”

“Who the hell is that?” Cox asked.

“Hang tight for a minute.” Setting the phone on the dashboard, he flipped up the cover of his mobile computer. A minute later he had Meera’s home address, DOB, knew she had no criminal history and that she drove a maroon Lexus.

He recited the information to Cox. “See what else you can find on her. We’ll hit the house on the way over. Maybe she’ll talk. Either way, we’re bringing her in.”

“Got it,” Cox replied. “I’ll let Bennett know.”

He grabbed the radio mic and clicked the transmit button. “Change of plans.”

Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of Meera Devine’s two-story wood-shingle house. A maroon Lexus sat in the driveway.

“Stay here,” he said to Andi.

“I want to go with you.” Her eyes burned with anger. “If Meera really did take that photo, then I have a right to confront her. She’s been in and out of my restaurant for a year, pretending to be my friend.”

“Not a chance.” When she opened her mouth to object, he held up his hand. “I don’t want you anywhere near this woman. If I had my way, you wouldn’t even be here. And there is no if about Meera taking that photo. That photo was found on a gang member’s phone. There’s no plausible explanation for that. Somehow, she’s involved.”

Myer had said he never dealt directly with Brian Argyle and that he’d always dealt with a woman over the phone—a woman with a heavy Scottish accent. Meera didn’t have a Scottish accent, but he’d still bet his ass that woman was Meera Devine.

The rage in Andi’s eyes dimmed, replaced by acceptance.

“Matt and Kade will stay here with you while Eric and I go inside. Do whatever they tell you.”

After she gave a reluctant nod, he met the other men on the sidewalk. “Keep an eye on her,” he said to Matt and Kade, then looked at Eric. “Let’s do this.”