Page 134 of Guarding Grace

I slid in next to my warm woman.

CHAPTER 31

Terry

The next day,as we drove toward the third house Lucas wanted us to check out, Jordy’s voice came through the car’s speakers. “I’m conferencing in Constance. She has something she wants to pass along.”

She and Zane were assigned to watch Grace today, while Duke searched for Elliot.

I braced for the complaint that Grace wasn’t following our security protocols.

“Guys,” Constance said, “one of my contacts passed along an update. The Secret Service now believes the plates being used to print the local funny money are being sold.”

“Are you saying you think it’s printing plates in the case?” Winston asked. “Not cash?”

“It fits the facts,” she confirmed. “Plates would be worth that much or more, and they’re small enough to fit in one of those cases.”

“That makes more sense than any of the other scenarios,” Jordy agreed.

I nodded along. “Thanks, Constance. We’re getting close, so I’m going off speaker.”

“Good hunting,” Constance said.

I switched over to the earbud. “Sound check.”

“Five by five,” Jordy replied.

Winston drove us around the block in a quiet neighborhood in Santa Monica.

“Park in front of the gray house, ten forty-one,” Jordy told me.

“Roger, gray house, ten forty-one,” I repeated as I pointed.

Winston pulled to the curb at that location.

Jordy had a drone high in the air above us. “That’s good right there,” he said. “The target is the gray-blue house directly behind the house you’re parked at. You can approach now.”

We started around the block on foot, and would use opposite sides when we reached the target street.

“Slow down,” Jordy said in my ear. “Dog walker about to turn the corner.”

I slowed. “Man and dog,” I whispered.

Winston matched my pace. “I think the Dodgers need a new shortstop.”

“I’m with ya on that,” I agreed. Two guys talking sports were invisible in this town.

We yakked it up until the man walking his Pomeranian turned the corner.

“Did you see that little thing?” Winston commented when the dog and owner were out of sight. “The guy should have some self-respect.”

“Not the dog for you?”

“Hell no. I’d get a real man’s dog, like a German Shepherd or a Doberman, not a freaking purse dog.”

I laughed. “I know what you’re getting for Christmas.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.”