Page 24 of Memphis Heat

Chapter One

Officer Amanda Black stared down at the maps covering the pack war room’s conference table. “So what’s the plan? Do we even have a plan?”

Agent Miller pointed to the biggest blot on the map of Memphis.

“According to Jarod, all trucks are routed through a main distribution point downtown -- the old MPD headquarters. You know all that historic landmark renovation crap that makes that part of town a traffic nightmare? Looks like the Russians got the renovation contract -- they’ve been here long enough to have people in semi-legitimate businesses, and they bid on the contract and won. ”

Amanda frowned, looking at the snakepit of impossible traffic patterns. “Damn. All those construction vehicles… perfect cover. How the hell do we take that place? It’s a fucking fortress.”

Lt. Jamie Callahan looked more annoyed than ever. “What the fuck? How did these guys get a contractor’s license? Doesn’t anyone vet these guys?”

Officer “Remmy” Ramirez squared his shoulders.

“Hey, just because they’re not from this country doesn’t mean they can’t get a legit contractor’s license.

You pass the test, you get a license. My dad’s a contractor.

He could have bid on that job. Except he’s not fucking loco.

That building’s in piss-poor shape, and nothing short of a miracle’s going to bring it up to code. ”

“And that is how we’re going to get in.” Snorrasan stood, pacing the room in short, quick strides. “Ramirez, theoretically, couldn’t inspectors make a progress check on the building before they make the next payout on the construction contract?”

“They should, yes. Every phase of the construction has to be approved and up to code.”

“Good. Do you know enough about building code to fake your way through this?”

Ramirez got a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. A crooked smile spread across his face that was anything but friendly. “I spent my childhood following my dad around construction sites. I can do more than fake my way through.”

Amanda laughed. “This should be fun to watch.”

Snorrasan raised an eyebrow. “I think I just heard you two volunteer to run backup for our newest pack member as the MPD Liaison officers.”

Callahan sighed. “Just remember. This time it was not my fault.”

* * *

The site manager stared at the forms in front of him, his ruddy face getting redder. “Who are you again?” He didn’t add and why are you fucking with my schedule , but he didn’t have to.

Had Callahan actually been there, it would have been all he could do to keep from snickering like a schoolboy. Remmy was good. Very good.

Remmy pointed to his badge. “Inspector Ramirez.”

“We don’t have time for another inspection.

Every time you guys show up we lose another day.

I got the mayor calling me daily reminding me this project is behind already.

” The taller man lifted his safety hat and ran his fingers through his sandy hair.

“Inspections, inspections, always another inspection! This is what’s wrong with this country. Can’t get nothing done but paperwork!”

“That’s why I’m here.” Remmy looked down at his clipboard. “This is a pro forma review.”

“What does that mean?”

Remmy smiled, though the expression was far from reassuring.

“Means I decide whether you get paid. You’re three months past contract date on this phase of the project and two million dollars over budget, and from the looks of things you’re nowhere close to completion.

You bid on this job, Mr. Brilev, and the City of Memphis expects you to honor your bid. ”

“We bid on this contract two years ago.” Though the guy had a thick accent, his English was flawless.

“The City of Memphis can’t make up its mind about anything long enough to get its collective head out of its ass.

Read the contract! Cost overruns due to building condition or changes in material pricing will be billed as they occur .

Every foot of wiring in this building must be replaced, along with every foot of pipe.

And the thieves who took the old copper wire and plumbing didn’t give a damn how much damage they caused to the structure of the building.

We are fighting a war with rats, Mr. Inspector, and the rats are winning! ”

Watching the video feed from his station in the surveillance van, it was all Callahan could do not to laugh as the site manager lost his cool. Exactly as Remmy wanted.

“Show me the damage specified in this billing,” the rookie Remmy had taken in with him demanded.

“Damage? You want damage? Follow me!”

“We’ll need to see the main electrical service upgrades, as well, and the repairs to the foundation in the original structure,” Remmy added. “I need to be assured all the new construction is up to code before we can authorize payment.”

Three hours later, Callahan had seen more of the old building’s skeleton than he cared to ever lay eyes on again.

He was also pretty sure he wouldn’t live long enough to see the MPD offices relocate back to the old building.

What he hadn’t seen were arms shipments.

“Warehouse,” he muttered in Remmy’s earpiece.

“Where’s your warehouse, Mr. Brilev? This invoice is for renovations to the cargo loading bays. Something about security doors?”

“Damn vagrants kept stealing our construction materials,” Brilev complained. “That was the first area we made secure. Every meter of that warehouse has already passed inspection, several times.”

“And it’ll pass this inspection, as well, if you want to get paid,” Remmy insisted.

“Very well. It is not as if I have actual work to do.” Callahan thought it might be possible for the man to have a dryer, more sarcastic tone, but he seriously doubted it.

“We will show you the warehouse. Again. And then we will bill you for another day of cost overruns, due to one more inspection!”

* * *

“Enter.” Lt. Commander Snorrasan looked up as they opened his door. “Report? Surveillance in place?”

“All the mini-cams are in place,” Remmy confirmed.

“We’ve seen a lot of sealed containers with security systems,” Callahan reported. “And lots of rats.”

“Two-legged and four-legged,” Remmy added. “The city’s getting ripped off, and bad.”

“Remmy’s a real pro,” Amanda noted. “I think we’ve got footage of every inch of the building.

For all the work they’ve supposedly put into it, much of it’s still in really bad shape.

They haven’t even started the interior renovations in the office space.

Place looks like it should be condemned. Again.”

“Everything but the warehouse,” Remmy agreed. “State of the art security.”

Callahan crossed his arms over his chest, a hard, mean look on his face as he noted, “Secure enough to hide surplus enriched uranium.”

For once, even Snorrasan looked shocked. “Weapons grade?”

Miller nodded. “Jarod seems to think so.”

“Where the hell would they get their hands on that?”

Miller just shook his head. “Armenia, most likely. A lot of what’s been recovered in the last decade appears to have been stolen from a nuclear fuel plant in Siberia.

At the time it wasn’t considered weapons grade, and wasn’t tracked all that well.

The Soviets never had much of an accounting system. ”

“How much uranium are we talking about?”

Callahan answered. “They’ve made contact with Terra White at the Tennessee State Militia. They’re offering to sell us assorted conventional munitions, as well as ten grams of weapons grade, highly enriched uranium. Enough to build a nuke that could blow Memphis off the map.”

Snorrasan and Miller exchanged glances. Both men’s faces were set in grim lines. Snorrasan pounded his fist on the table. “We’ve got to get this stuff off the streets.”

“Funding authorized,” Miller agreed. “Tell Officer White to make the buy.”

Amanda shook her head. “I don’t even want to know where you guys come up with that kind of money.”

Miller raised an eyebrow. “You don’t really think the Feds pay four thousand dollars for a toilet seat, do you?”

* * *

“What do you know about Remmy?”

Callahan recognized Amanda’s tone. This was more than a casual inquiry.

She was up to something. Still, listening to her, knowing how her brain was filtering through facts like flour through a sieve was fascinating.

And sexy. “Good kid. I was his training officer. Quick study. Good at reading situations. Fast on his feet.”

“Relationships?”

“None that I know of. Why?”

Amanda shrugged. “He did good out there today. I like him. But before we go under fire I want to know he’s going to have your back.” She peeked up at him from under her lashes then. “Besides. He’s kinda cute.”

“I’ll personally vouch for the kid. He’s as solid as they come.

Strong. Loyal. He took a bullet protecting two children before he was turned.

I can’t imagine anything about Remmy being disingenuous.

” He grinned, knowing his she wolf so very well, and getting hard just thinking about all the lusty images that flitted through his mind at his next words.

“But if you want to get to know him… better …” Callahan looked up just as the pup walked in the locker room.

He gave Amanda a sharp snap of his chin.

With a crafty smile, she snipped their conversation short.

Remmy acknowledged them with an inclination of his head before pulling off his T-shirt with one hand and tossing it into his locker.

Callahan grinned as Amanda snuck a look when neither man thought she was looking.

Not to be outdone, Callahan had to do the same one-handed trick with his own T-shirt, flexing his muscles for effect.

Amanda made an appreciative noise, crossing her arms under her ample breasts and leaning against the lockers. “Now there’s a sight I could get used to.”

Remmy cast a glance at Callahan, who merely shrugged, trying unsuccessfully to smother a grin. “Should I be jealous, or thankful you like the view? I’m sure there’s a rule somewhere about ogling your fellow officers.”

Amanda glanced at Remmy, then back at Callahan. “You’re always hung up on the damn rules. Rules are made for breaking. And there’s more than enough of me to go ‘round.”

Callahan laughed, completely delighted with Amanda’s line of thinking.

Unfortunately, Remmy looked a little bug-eyed.

Apparently he had no clue what to do with a woman like Amanda.

Hell, Callahan couldn’t blame him. Sometimes he didn’t know what to do with her, either.

Fortunately, he’d long ago figured out it was best to just give Amanda her way.

It made everyone happy and no one got… well… dead.

“Look out, cub.” Callahan slapped the younger man on the back. “The Alpha Bitch has you in her sights.”

“But you guys… Aren’t you a couple?”

“Absolutely,” Callahan answered.

Amanda grinned. “Two’s a couple. Three’s… more fun.”

Callahan knew flirting was one thing to a young man -- showing off, even.

But having a woman like Amanda take him seriously?

That was quite another. He knew this from first-hand experience.

For the first time since Callahan had met Remmy, he could tell the younger man was in a situation he had no idea how to handle.

He could just imagine the thoughts going through Remmy’s mind.

Run with it and risk the wrath of his lieutenant, or ignore an Alpha and possibly get his throat ripped out…

No one ignored Amanda.

Amanda took the decision out of his hands. “Come on. I want to run. Join us.”

Callahan grinned. Nothing like a good run to introduce the kid to the ways of the pack. And they were pack. Born wolves or not, the knowledge seemed to be instinctive to all of them.

Stripping, he shifted. Amanda followed, only a moment behind him, and faster. Her tail lifted high, she shoved open the locker room door and launched herself out the loading bay doors. Traffic was light this time of night, and she dashed for the park, not even trying to avoid being seen.

In full wolf form, Callahan caught the scent he should have recognized earlier -- she was in heat.

He laughed to himself, his long tongue hanging out.

Poor Remmy had no idea what he was in for.

He didn’t even bother to glance back -- he knew Remmy was close on his heels.

Only a fool would have turned down an invitation like that, and Remmy was no fool.