Page 21 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)
Mia looked up, exhaustion pressing down on her like a heavy weight. Alain’s explanation of the black market and smuggling drained her with every bleak word. She had offered him comfort, but she realized her energy was waning as she stood there.
Her gaze flickered toward Devlin, only to find him already watching her, his expression conveying his understanding of her mood. Their connection had been forged in something deeper than time, and even after years apart, it remained.
She shook her head slowly, pulling herself back to the present and turning to Todd and Cole. “This camp is too big to monitor. It’s over two hundred square kilometers. I don’t even know why I thought we could uncover this ourselves.”
“We’ve got our people working on it from their end,” Devlin said.
She squinted up at him, her nose wrinkling. “I don’t even know what that means."
Cole chuckled. “It just means that sometimes a person sitting behind a computer, poring through information and intel, can see patterns we can’t see on the ground.”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth, hating how lost she felt in the intricacies of their world. Devlin, of course, seemed to sense it.
“We have access to all kinds of information," he explained. "And if we don’t, we have contacts who can get it for us. Since the WFP has asked for our help, our people back home can tap into bank records and follow the money trail.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes, widening them slightly.
It struck her then how different their work was, almost like something out of a movie—the kind that left ordinary people in awe of what was possible while secretly wondering if such things happened in real life. Except now, she was living in it.
“What do you know about the security here?” Devlin asked.
Mia folded her arms. “Moses has a massive security team. Some are UN hires, but many are just refugees given jobs to help keep the peace.”
“In most places, flashing a little money can make someone look the other way,” Todd said.
Mia nodded slowly. “I know you think I’m naive, but I’ve worked in enough camps to know we deal with the same problems every society does. So yes, I can easily see a guard taking a payoff to let an entire truck filled with food drive away.”
“But someone would have to organize it," Devlin reminded her. "Sure, a truck driver could slip a guard some cash to get through a checkpoint, but that’s opportunistic. What’s happening here is systematic.”
She hesitated. “Do you think Moses is involved?”
Devlin exhaled. “I don’t know. You know him best.”
Mia recalled her conversations with Moses, then slowly shook her head.
“I don’t know. I’ve always liked talking with him.
That makes it hard to imagine he’d do something like this.
” Her mind slipped into darker places, ones she had fought to leave behind.
“But then… how well do we really know anyone?”
The moment the words left her lips, she saw the pain flash across Devlin’s face.
Her heart twisted, hating that she’d hurt him.
There was a time when she would have done so without hesitation, but that time was fading away.
Faced with food stolen that was intended for those who needed it the most, the pain from Devlin seemed like it had existed in another lifetime.
She drew in a deep breath, blinking away the tears burning the edges of her eyes.
Clearing her throat, she continued, “This camp contains too many people for me to vouch for who is or isn’t trustworthy.
Even good people can be susceptible to bribery.
Margarethe believes someone in leadership might be involved.
She is going to express these concerns to Dr. München.
I’ve worked with, laughed with, and shared meals with these people. I just… I just don’t know.”
Exhaustion threatened to drag her under, and it wasn’t even noon. And then, there was still tonight when she’d agreed to meet with Devlin, who wanted to talk.
Cole checked his watch. “I’ll call headquarters and see if there’s any update for us.”
“Hey, Mia!”
She turned as Charlie pulled up in a Jeep, waving wildly with his signature grin. She shook her head, unable to suppress a chuckle.
He parked and gestured toward the van pulling up behind him. “Some mission volunteers wanted to see how food distribution is handled. They’re assigned to me. Some are journalism majors, so they’re here to see how we make miracles happen. You know, the whole ‘fishes and loaves’ routine.”
Mia laughed, glad for the levity. “Some days, that’s exactly what it feels like.” She nodded toward the warehouse. “They can observe. If they want to help, that’s fine too.”
Charlie turned to his assistant, who guided the visitors inside, then sauntered over. “You’re smart to have your powwow under a tree. Shade and a breeze? Genius.”
“Charlie, have you met these gentlemen? This is Devlin, Cole, and Todd. And this is Charlie Anderson, our information reporting officer.”
After a round of handshakes, Devlin asked, “What exactly does your office do?”
Charlie threw his arm around Mia's shoulders and grinned. “Well, my passion is finding beautiful women to hang out with.”
At times, Mia loved Charlie's easygoing attitude, but right now, she hated how he appeared unprofessional and didn't seem to mind involving her at the same time.
Mia heard the growl rumbling deep inside Devlin's chest and quickly stepped away from Charlie's arm to maintain a professional distance. “Cut the crap, Charlie.”
Charlie clutched his chest dramatically. “Aw, you wound me. Always breaking my heart.”
The joke fell flat. Devlin, Todd, and Cole simply stared, unimpressed. Charlie cleared his throat. “Okay, okay. I know my humor gets away from me. It’s just… it’s tough here, and I try to make people laugh.”
Mia, hoping to salvage the awkward situation, smiled at him. “And most of the time, it’s appreciated.”
Charlie smirked. “See? That’s why you’re the best. You always make people feel better.”
Devlin cut in. “So what does your job entail?”
Charlie sighed. “All the leadership heads send information to me, and I collate it for reports. Information like camp numbers, the demographics of the refugees, resource needs, and just about everything you can think of. Then I prepare the reports on our camp that are sent off to our funding organizations, such as UNHCR, Red Cross, WHO, WSB, and all the NGO… nongovernment organizations.”
“Charlie likes to act like his job isn’t important,” Mia said, “but of course it is.
His reports help us get funding. Lets the officials know if we get too crowded.
Lets Dr. München know the state of our resources so he can ask for more.
" She turned to Charlie and shook her head. "So don't sell yourself short.”
Charlie shrugged. “What can I say? I crunch numbers and drive a Jeep.”
Someone called his name, and he turned. “Looks like I’m needed. Nice to meet you.”
As he jogged away, Mia’s phone vibrated. She checked the message, then looked up. “We need to go to the admin building. Margarethe is getting ready to leave.”
The four of them climbed into the Jeep and headed back to camp. Inside Dr. München’s office, they found Margarethe waiting.
Not skipping a beat, Margarethe said, “I'm heading back to Germany first thing tomorrow. Two nights were all the time allotted for this trip. After reviewing the records, I have assured Dr. München that I can attest that you are correct. Systematic thefts are occurring of the food sources.”
“Do you have any insight as to who might be instigating it?” Mia asked.
“I didn't do any investigating, my dear. I leave that to the professionals,” she said as she inclined her head toward the men.
Dr. München interjected, “As much as it pains me to think that it's one of my heads, I have listened to Margarethe’s suggestions and want you to continue to turn over every stone until you find who is perpetuating the organized stealing and smuggling.”
Margarethe nodded. “But I also know that as soon as you plug one hole, others will pop up.”
Mia's heart ached at hearing the experienced woman's words. “So we do nothing?”
“Mia, my dear, you will do what you do every day. Help those you can with what you have. Sometimes that's all we can hope for.”
After standing, she leaned over to shake Dr. München's hand, then turned and did the same with Devlin, Cole, and Todd. Finally, she pulled Mia into a heartfelt hug, rubbing her back gently.
Just as Mia thought the woman would pull away, Margarethe whispered, “The heart has an amazing capacity to heal from past hurts. It keeps on beating, evidence of life all around us. But we have to be willing to take that chance of finding happiness again.”
Before Mia had a chance to respond, the woman tightened her arms, then let go. And with a wave to all, she walked out of the room, leaving Mia staring in her wake.
Hours later, she’d made it to the end of the day without seeing Devlin again.
He and his coworkers had gone off to places unknown, which was fine by her.
She needed to concentrate on taking care of her job without worrying about anything else.
Of course, her peace was short-lived as thoughts of him crept through her mind continually.
She was almost grateful when a truck broke down just outside the warehouse, and they all had to pitch in to unload the food, carrying it the last fifty feet into the food center.
Several of the men tried to stop her and the volunteers who were around.
She laughed them off. “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, and I can certainly carry a few boxes,” she argued.