Page 11 of Shadowed With Fear

“Okay, so moving on,” Adam cuts off, his calm demeanor meant to appease the tensions, but were all so high strung at this point, I don’t believe his tactics are working today.

It’s been months since we were able to get any new information from our contacts, the databases Alex gets access to, or even our little “chats” we have with a few unsavory friends.

I don’t stick around long for those. Henry, Adam, and Alex take care of them. I usually just get the rough run down from Brahm that consists of what they said, or well, recently don’t say, and whether it was messy. Something I need to know for covering our tracks in the papers through a couple connections.

Brahm pulls out a map from the stacks of papers sitting on the counter, spreading it out, and directing our attention to the drawing.

“I got a basic grounds map for tomorrow. I was able to talk to a few of the security guys that got assigned the job. I said it was for insurance purposes.” He taps a spot on the far right, scribbled in his elegant writing is the words “South Exit”.

“What’re we looking at?” Adam stares down at the sketch.

“The south parking lot will most likely be the area where deals will be made. It’s harshly lit areas with a direct entrance into the backside of the fest. There will be security rounds in these areas, but the event directors didn’t hire enough to canvas the fest properly, let alone the areas that are supposed to be ‘off-limits’,” Brahm speaks in an almost bored tone. I get it though. Given they hired his company, and he expressed multiple times that it wasn’t enough, they were more concerned with the costs than the safety of the patrons.

“My guess is that’s where his guys will be. Grays said that he’s been in contact with a couple of the bigger dealers in the East End distribution. The goal is to find him, subdue him, and get some fucking answers for once.”

We all look at each other. Me, Adam, Alex, Henry, and Brahm. Friends for what seems like our entire lives, and now, hopefully, the people who can figure out what has been killing our town.

Henry looks at his watch, blank face turning to Brahm. “One more time before I have to go.”

Brahm takes a deep breath, giving him a slight nod, as well all stand a little straighter. Soldiers of the cause.

“Adam and Grays are going to grab him at his house. Quickly, quietly, and out of sight. Destroy anything he intended to sell. You’ll move him to one of the alleys behind the fest. The noise will hopefully cover anything, and it will help our cover. Security rounds for the off-limit areas run every thirty minutes. It’ll give us enough time to get him subdued. Me and Henry will start the interrogation, get the information we can, and give Alex the call. It should coincide with the timing of his round on North Avenue, which is directly behind the south parking lot through the trees. We’ll get him in the cruiser and move him to the warehouse. Henry and Adam will take it from there.

“Are we good?” His eyes survey us.

“Good, boss,” Alex chimes in his attitude back to normal.

Henry just nods, grabbing his suit jacket and bag from the kitchen chair.

Adam and I both assent as he also grabs his jacket and keys.

“Text me if anything changes before tomorrow. I have a twelve tonight and plan on sleeping some before we meet.” Brahm just throws his head back in acknowledgment, eyes trained on the papers and forms before him.

I move around the island toward the fridge, looking for something to grab before I head out too. My evening will painstakingly consist of nothing but taking pictures of a few other possible leads to develop a schedule for us in the next few weeks.

“Hey, D! No time, no see, sweetheart.”

My head snaps to where Alex is standing, arms wide with a shit eating grin on his face.

Fuck.

I shut the fridge, turning my back to them, messing around with a few apples in the bowl on the counter, trying to look like I’m deciding what one I want.

“I’m heading out, Brahm. I’ll text you later. Bye, D. It was good to see you, gorgeous.”

“Fuck off, Alexander. I saw you Tuesday. But it’s always great to see your giant ass.”

I can feel the smirk in her voice and the rustling of them hugging again before the door shuts behind Alex.

Dahlia’s steps are like the pounding of a nail into my coffin. Every time I see her, hear her, guilt and a weird longing settles deep inside my chest. For the most part she just ignores me, which I have to say, I deserve wholeheartedly. She walks past me and bumps Brahm’s shoulder as she walks to the patio doors.

“I’m going to work on homework by the tree house.”

“M’kay, D. I’ll be out to hang in a few. I wanna know about the first day.” Brahm glances up at her, and for a split second it’s like I’m looking at the old him. The Brahm that was captain of the baseball team in high school. The one that I played cops with, or went out around the streets pretending to find buried treasure or solve mysteries.

I snort to myself.

Look at us, now.