Page 36 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)

When Devlin and Mia entered the camp’s security building, the air was thick, the only movement coming from a few fans creating a hot breeze.

Moses and Enock stood at the center of it, handing out orders to their security personnel, their voices steady but firm.

A few of the men nodded sharply before hurrying off, boots thudding against the worn wooden floor.

Enock spotted them first, his keen eyes assessing before he waved them over. "Did you need to speak to Moses?"

"Yes, please. As soon as he’s available," Devlin said.

"Absolutely. He’s almost finished. If you’d like, I’ll take you back to his office."

They fell in step behind him, weaving through the building’s narrow hallways until they reached the small, cluttered office Moses occupied when he wasn’t out patrolling the camp. The space was functional, filled with maps, reports, and a weathered wooden desk that bore the signs of constant use.

Enock had barely stepped out when he returned with Moses in tow. The security chief greeted them with a broad smile, though a sharpness in his eyes said he already suspected this wasn’t just a social visit.

"I would say this is a pleasure, but I have a feeling the two of you have news for me," Moses said, his gaze flicking between them.

Mia looked toward Devlin, her expression unreadable. It wasn’t like her to hesitate. She was direct, confident, and unafraid to take charge when needed. But he suspected she was still shaken by what she had overheard in Dr. München’s office.

So he took the lead. "Using the security cameras we installed, we identified one of the trucks that left the warehouse in the middle of the night, fully loaded with food. It drove to Sweswe, where it appeared to unload everything—but it didn’t.

" His tone was measured, but the weight of what they had uncovered pressed down on the room.

"Farid is trying to find out who was in the warehouse last night, but some of the workers switch duties without always reporting the changes to him. "

Moses’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Do you know which truck? Can we discern the driver?"

"Dr. München plans to speak to Robert and see if we can figure that out," Mia answered. "But Devlin has more to tell you."

Devlin didn’t waste time. "I had my people track the vehicle. It headed straight to Lake Edward. Crates were loaded onto boats and taken across to the DRC."

A muscle ticked in Moses’s jaw. His hand curled into a fist before he exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Dammit," he growled. "So we have proof of what we suspected."

"Yes," Devlin confirmed. "Dr. München’s plan is for Robert to get the driver’s name and at least ban him from entering the camp."

Moses gave a curt nod before turning to Enock. "As soon as we get that name, I want you to circulate it."

Enock nodded in understanding. His gaze flicked toward Mia, and he hesitated before speaking. "We can increase the security forces around the warehouse at night. We already have five villages and the main camp to patrol. That gives us six locations we need to cover more often."

"Is that a problem?" Mia asked, her brows knitting together.

Moses and Enock exchanged a look before turning back to her. "Our forces are stretched thin," Moses admitted, "and we need to prioritize the safety of the refugees."

Mia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I agree. So many people are simply looking for a better way of life, but there will always be a few who look for trouble."

"We’ll look at our schedule and see what we can do," Enock vowed.

Mia crossed her arms, clearly working through an idea in her head.

"Farid told me that at night, he keeps the warehouse workers on a rotating shift, sometimes changing the schedule with little notice. He does this to prevent anyone from knowing too far in advance when they’ll be working, in case someone’s trying to arrange a deal with the truck drivers for a kickback. "

Moses raised a brow, nodding in approval. "I haven’t employed that tactic, but maybe it’s time to do so." He glanced at Enock again, who immediately said, "I can start implementing it."

"That might be a good place to start," Devlin agreed. "Since your men are already stretched thin, it’s unlikely we’ll get additional security guards for night patrols."

When they shook hands with both men, Devlin was caught off guard when Moses patted Mia on the back.

"What will you do when you leave here?" Moses asked, his gaze warm on her.

Mia’s gaze flickered to Devlin before she turned back to Moses. She shrugged but smiled. "I’m not sure. I’m considering several possibilities."

Moses gave a nod of understanding. "Well, I hope you go home and see your family before heading somewhere else."

Enock folded his arms across his chest and smiled warmly at her. "I’m sure your parents have missed you. Family should always come first. No matter what else… it’s all about what is best for your family.”

Devlin caught the soft flush that crept up Mia’s cheeks. She didn’t respond right away, but he could see the slight tension in her shoulders. He remained quiet for now but would ask her when they had a chance to focus on them and not the camp.

Their goodbyes were quick but warm, and soon, Devlin and Mia stepped back out into the sunlit camp. He fell into step beside her as they walked toward the Jeep, the conversation lingering in his mind. As they climbed into the seats, he glanced her way.

Devlin pulled the Jeep to a stop in front of the camp’s main food warehouse, dust settling in the warm afternoon air. He turned to Mia as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Are you going to stay here the rest of the afternoon?"

"Yes," she said, brushing stray strands of hair from her face.

"Farid is making the rounds to all the food distribution centers in each village, and I’ll be working on my food contacts.

I need to talk to Margarethe to see what I can order.

" She tilted her head, her perceptive gaze narrowing. "What are you going to do?"

“I'll check in with Todd and Cole about the cameras they installed. It may take tweaking to get the angles we need. Then we’ll talk to Logan to see how long we can stay. It’s only been a few days, but I need to find out his thoughts.”

Devlin searched her face, looking for a reaction. Instead, she pressed her lips together, her expression unreadable. When she finally spoke, it was with a short, polite nod and an abbreviated smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Will I see you later?"

"Are you kidding? Absolutely." His voice softened. "Let me know when you’re ready to return to your room, and I’ll come get you."

She offered another nod, then moved to get out of the Jeep. Before she could step down, Devlin gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist. She stilled. He saw her glance down at his hand before lifting her gaze, a silent question in her eyes.

He gave the smallest tug, just enough to bring her closer. She leaned toward him, and he caught her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. He felt her smile against his mouth, and when he pulled back, his own spread in response. “My Mia,” he whispered.

Her smile widened, warmth flickering in her eyes before she slipped out of the Jeep and disappeared inside the warehouse.

Devlin watched her go, but the contentment in his chest didn’t last long.

The weight of everything pressing down on them returned quickly—Mia’s concern over the thefts, the uncertain timeline of their reunion, and the unanswered question that had been gnawing at him since Moses’s parting words.

“ What are your plans when you leave here?” He wondered what part of the world she would travel to next.

Would it be dangerous? How long would she be gone?

That was a question Devlin hadn’t been prepared for. And one he fully intended to bring up tonight.

Frustration loomed, heavy and unavoidable. It felt like fate had gone to great lengths to bring them back together, only to conspire against them again.

With a deep breath, he turned the Jeep back toward the guest quarters. Inside, he found Todd and Cole in their shared space, both just returning from the latest camera installation. Todd had his laptop open, reviewing the footage, while Cole leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

They ran through the new angles, watching the grainy security feeds. The setup looked solid.

"I’ve set up the feed to go back to the compound," Todd said, tapping the screen. "I know none of them can sit and watch everything, but maybe whoever has the night shift can check when the trucks come in."

"Sounds like a plan," Devlin acknowledged, rubbing his jaw.

He filled them in on his conversations—Percy’s insight, Moses’s and Enock’s concerns, and, most importantly, Mia’s unease after what she had overheard in Dr. München’s office.

Cole’s brow furrowed. "Do you think he was just warning somebody to be careful and not let the smuggling get out of hand?"

Todd leaned back in his chair, propping his feet up on the bed. "Or he was talking about someone warning Mia."

Devlin exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.

"Or it had nothing to do with Mia. Who the fuck knows? I called Sadie and asked her to have them dig into him a little more. A thirty-year career, heading this camp—he wouldn’t risk everything over smuggling.

" He hesitated. "Then again, maybe he’s the perfect person for it because no one would suspect him. "

“Might be padding his retirement,” Cole muttered.

"Where’s Mia now?"

"She’s back at her office with others around. The warehouse is its usual hub of activity. I told her to call me when she’s ready to head to her room."

Devlin sat on the edge of his bed, clasping his hands together. He inhaled deeply before lifting his head, first meeting Todd’s gaze, then Cole’s. They waited, giving him space to gather his thoughts.

"I need to talk to Logan," he said finally. "When he sent the three of us here, we didn’t know what we’d be walking into. We sure as hell didn’t expect to solve everything in a week. But Logan can’t afford to keep all three of us here indefinitely."

Todd straightened, dropping his feet from the bed. "Devlin, we’ll do whatever we need to do."

"I appreciate that." He exhaled slowly. "I need to make sure Logan understands that Mia and I have reconnected, and I’m not ready to leave here until I know she’s safe."

Cole shook his head with a smirk. "You do know Logan doesn’t want you to leave until she’s safe."

"I know." Devlin sighed. "It’s been four days, and we’ve made good progress. But I think we’re close. We’re closing in on which leader in the camp is behind the smuggling ring." He sat up straighter, admitting, “And the progress Mia and I have made together is also good.”

Todd nodded. "Go ahead. Make the call. We’ll back you up all the way."

Devlin dialed LSIMT, requesting a conference call with Logan and the Keepers at the compound. When the line connected, he gave a full rundown—what they had uncovered, the smuggling route, the stolen food, and the gaps they were still working to fill.

When it came to Mia, he didn’t hold back. He told them about the possible threat hanging over her head. About how close she was to uncovering something dangerous.

He wasn’t surprised when both Logan and Sisco immediately responded with the same order.

"You don’t leave until she’s safe," Logan said firmly.

Devlin swallowed the lump in his throat.

"You didn’t just find her to lose her again," Logan continued. "You do whatever you need to do to make sure she’s protected."

"Appreciate that," Devlin said, his voice rougher than he intended.

"Sadie, Frazier, and I are still running deeper checks on the camp leaders," Casper chimed in.

"Moses has a clean record—no flagged financial transactions, nothing outside of his regular salary.

But for the Ugandans there, hiding money is easier.

Kickbacks would be in cash, handed off to family members or funneled outside traditional banking systems."

Devlin nodded to himself. "I’m going to talk to Robert and Charlie tomorrow. Just like with Percy, I want to look them in the eye and see what my gut tells me." After wrapping up the call, he checked his watch. He had no idea when Mia would call, so for now, he’d stay close.

The three Keepers reviewed the surveillance feeds for the next few hours, studying the camera angles and discussing patterns.

Devlin couldn’t explain it, but something in his gut told him they were close. And he never ignored that sixth sense.