Page 87 of Now or Never

Zeyla wandered back over. “Maizie got in the phones. They’re communicating in a group chat on a secure app. One member of the group isn’t local, he’s ‘taking care of something’ and another is on a job tonight. These two are here.”

“Mitch and Simon.”

“What’s the job tonight?” Jax asked.

Zeyla glanced at him. “Another hit.”

Kenna knew that had to be Simon. “Who’s the target?”

“An FBI agent.”

Jax froze. “Andrette Herron?”

Zeyla shifted. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Good guess.” He coughed. “I mean, stellar detective work.”

Ramon snorted. “You guys go save your friend. We’ll take care of these three.”

“All right.”

Kenna turned to Jax. “What do you mean ‘all right’? We have no idea what they’re going to do with these three.”

Zeyla said, “Maizie knows where they’ve all been recently. Same location. One of the decommissioned military bases we have information on. Guess that’s their hideout.” She shifted as if antsy to get to work.

“We need a plan,” Kenna pointed out.

“Save your friend,” Ramon said. “We’ll have a plan by the time you’re done.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Kenna wasstillin the dress when they pulled into the parking lot of an extended stay motel that looked pretty nice. The kind of spot with suites that had kitchens, and federal agents on long-term assignment could charge their travel expenses to the government dime.

“Nice digs,” she told her husband. “Took too long to get here, though.” She didn’t like their odds of finding Andrette alive in her room, but she had hope that God could do anything.

A single police car was parked at the curb in front of the main entrance, the motel stretching two stories either side of the tall doorway. Plenty of windows lit up, curtains drawn. Dawn would be lighting the sky in just a few hours. Kenna had slept part of the way, but both of them needed rest. Hopefully, the peaceful sleep of having saved a life.

“You’re gonna check in with everyone?” Jax asked.

“Yeah, I’ll sit in the lobby. You make sure your friend is alive.” She leaned over and kissed him.

The dome light illuminated as he got out, washing her in yellow light.

Kenna was ready to get out of the car and stretch her legs but brought her gun with her. She tucked it into the pocket and lefther hand in there as well. Loose hold on the grip, just in case, and walked to the entrance with him.

The air held a chill, and ice had collected in what would be puddles in cooler weather. Jax had the car warm since she’d been cold falling asleep, but now she was glad for the low temperature. As long as it didn’t rain while she was standing here.

Inside the sliding doors, she said, “Go” and he raced to the elevator, knowing he would’ve been up there much faster if it wasn’t for her.

She found an alcove where the desk person couldn’t watch her and called Maizie, put her earbuds in, and tucked the phone in her other pocket. When the young woman answered, she said, “Catch me up.” Scanning all directions around her. Checking no one lurked in the shadows outside, ready to pounce. Sure, she’d been left alone in this lobby, but she was also standing beside a fire alarm she could pull. She had her hand on her gun.

“You good?”

Kenna said, “Sure.”

Just because Jax was dealing with the cops and she was here didn’t mean anything would happen.

Eventually they’d have to do things separately. Today was just a taste, and she could admit she didn’t prefer it. So she knew that “eventually” wasn’t going to come that fast.