Page 22

22

Stakeout Planning

Didi slammed a file onto the conference room table, making Nigel jump and accidentally manifest several tentacles.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, quickly tucking them away.

The boogeyman looked like this was the last place he wanted to be. I didn’t blame him. It wasn’t even ten a.m. and I was more than ready to call it a day.

“Nigel’s contact at the DMV came through.” Didi opened the file and spread the contents on the table, her expression grimmer than usual. “Wheeler has multiple vehicles registered under different identities.”

I pulled some of the documents and photographs over. “How many?”

“Seven.” Didi lowered her brows. “All expensive models.”

“Why the hell would someone need seven cars?” I muttered.

“Maybe he uses one for every day of the week?” Gavin suggested distractedly. He was busy rearranging his fire extinguishers in size order on the conference table. He looked up at the sudden silence and grimaced at Didi’s scowl. “Sorry.”

“Crime sure pays, huh?” Bo had peeked his head above the table and was staring at the pictures.

“The question is, where’s he getting the money from?” Didi said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Nigel cleared his throat nervously. “I found a whole host of employment details for Wheeler under his various identities, but none of them were real.”

“I guess we won’t know the answer to any of our questions until we talk to him.” I frowned. “Any idea where he might be hanging out these days?”

“There was a recent sighting in the Crossroads,” Nigel said. “One of his vehicles is registered to an address there.”

“The Crossroads?” The name was unfamiliar to me.

“It’s an area of Amberford where the supernatural and human worlds overlap,” Didi explained. “There are businesses there that cater to both communities.”

“It’s the perfect place to hide if you can change your appearance at will,” Gavin acknowledged.

“There’s no telling if he’s really going to be at that address or not,” Didi said thoughtfully. “We should carry out a surveillance operation.” She paused. “Without repeating what happened last time.”

I looked between them warily. “Do I want to know what happened last time?”

“No,” Didi and Nigel said in unison.

“The fire department said most of the damage was superficial,” Gavin protested.

This surveillance op was beginning to sound like a bad idea before it’d even started.

Didi wrinkled her brow. “We do this by the book.” She focused on me. “Now’s a good time to tell you about the protocols we have to follow during supernatural surveillance.”

I spent the next couple of hours learning about said protocols and helping Didi and Gavin plan the surveillance operation. Bo assisted with surprisingly useful suggestions he’d gleaned from watching one too many true crime shows.

“So, that’s what we’ll do,” Didi finished. “Any questions?”

“Yes.” Bo wagged his tail with a hopeful expression. “Can we get those earpiece things, you know, like in the spy movies?”

Nigel brightened. “I have some in IT storage?—”

“No,” Didi and I said firmly.

The conference door opened. Samuel walked in.

My inner wolf stood up straight.

The Hawthorne alpha looked drop-dead gorgeous in a three-piece suit and was carrying takeout bags stamped with a logo that said The Notorious P.I.G. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud at the amazing smells coming from them and him.

His smile made my heart stutter. “Are you ready for lunch?”

I was ready to jump him. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d missed the man until I saw him just now. Also, I wasn’t sure what it was about his scent today, but it was doing weird things to my pulse.

Samuel arched an eyebrow. “Wanna join me in my office?”

I chewed my lip. His office was dangerous territory. We’d be alone and I could definitely see myself doing something that would give the Hawthorne & Associates employees gossip material for at least a decade.

Didi made a mildly disgusted expression and waved vaguely at the sexual tension thickening the air. Nigel looked like he wanted to take notes. Gavin was focused on his fire extinguishers and not paying attention.

“How about the break room?” I suggested reluctantly.

“Okay,” Samuel said.

The way his shoulders trembled told me he’d totally guessed the filthy direction my thoughts had taken and was enjoying the hell out of this.

Lunch was a surprisingly enjoyable affair despite the attraction sparking between us. I learned that The Notorious P.I.G. was a sought-after sandwich place and delicatessen in downtown Amberford and that it catered almost exclusively to the supernatural clientele working in the business district. Samuel had gotten the luncheon special for everyone on the fifth floor.

We’d just finished eating and were having coffee when Victoria swept into the break room with Pearl. The atmosphere grew decidedly chilly as Hawthorne & Associates’s top management considered their boss’s mother warily.

“I’m glad to see you disabled DEFCON 3 for my visits,” Victoria told Samuel with a sniff.

Pearl ruined the effect she was going for by greeting the room with a nonchalant, “Yo, you lowly peasants.”

Victoria’s expression glazed over a little. The rest of us stared at Pearl like she’d grown another head.

Pearl looked at Bo. “Did I say that right?”

“Maybe lose the ‘lowly peasants’ next time,” Bo huffed.

I cut my eyes to my dog.

“We decided she should practice some commoner slang,” Bo said innocently.

“Oh God,” Samuel mumbled. He recovered his composure and addressed Victoria with a frown. “Why are you here, Mother?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” the Hawthorne matriarch said, not looking sorry at all, “but I need to borrow Abby. The Council of Elders wants to see her this afternoon.”

My stomach sank. I’d almost forgotten about that.

“I have meetings for the rest of the day, so I won’t be able to attend,” Samuel said curtly. “Get them to reschedule.”

“No one said you had to be there,” Victoria declared dismissively.

“But I want to be there,” Samuel growled.

I intervened before Nigel started digging a hole in the break room so he could escape. Judging from the way Didi was scowling and gripping her coffee cup, she was busy contemplating whether to turn everyone into a frog.

“I’ll be okay.” I placed a hand on Samuel’s arm. “Besides, Victoria and Pearl will be there.”

“No worries, homie,” Pearl said with regal dignity. “We’ll make sure you don’t look sus in front of the squad.”

The rest of us narrowed our eyes at Bo.

He wagged his tail. “What?”