Page 37

After a lovely beach walk, Ethan and Charlene returned to the hotel room, showered, and went back to bed.

They took a much-needed nap, made love, showered, and went to lunch.

No one had called them from her house, so Ethan figured it was all quiet over there.

Not that they thought anyone would try to break in while it was broad daylight out, but it was important to be prepared, just in case.

Do you want to have lunch with Noah? Ethan asked Charlene.

Yeah, sure, Charlene said.

Ethan called Noah to see if he wanted to join them for lunch.

Yeah, I ll be right down. Save me a seat.

Ethan and Charlene took their seats with an ocean view and ordered tea and coffee.

Noah soon joined them in the restaurant. No word from anyone watching the house yet, I take it?

No. I figure if there s going to be any movement, it will be later tonight, Ethan said.

If Renault is the mole, he ll know you re staying at the house, but he won t realize you have friends who are there protecting it now. He might believe, because of last night s botched attempt to break in, that you might not be staying there though.

The guys will keep the chatter low so if he or anyone else comes to the house, they won t be able to make out their conversation or learn that there are five guys there.

They ll have lights on when it gets dark out, play the TV, turn the lights out when it s a decent bedtime, and wait in the dark for something to happen.

What do we do now? Noah asked. I really want to do something instead of just sitting around waiting for nightfall.

Just then Adam called Ethan. Hey, we ve got some action headed your way.

Oh? What s up? Ethan said to Noah and Charlene, It s Adam.

One of our police officers, Baker, took personal leave for the rest of the week, Adam said.

Okay? Ethan knew Baker was up to something or Adam wouldn t have called him about the officer taking leave.

We figure he s trying to get in touch with Kroner or Oakley. Baker is headed your way.

How do you know this? Ethan figured if Baker was involved with this Kroner business, he wouldn t have told Covington, his boss at the bureau, or fellow officers where he was going.

Tori and I are on his tail.

Ethan smiled. More reinforcements.

One way or another, we re going to nail these bastards. Wait, what do you mean there would be more reinforcements?

Ethan explained how Leidolf sent five of their pack members to house-sit.

Adam laughed. That sounds like Leidolf. But watch Kroner or his men not return to the house this time.

Yeah, I know. At least we have reinforcements there if we need them close by. Are you and Tori driving together or separately? Ethan asked.

Separately. We ll swap out on following Baker but we re staying far enough behind him so that he doesn t catch on, keeping a vehicle or two in between us.

Good. Did he say officially where he was going?

Yep. He said he was going east to see his parents.

His mother is supposed to be ill. But he s headed west toward the coast so we figured he was taking a trip to see Kroner or one of his buddies.

We had already told our boss it looked like Baker was connected to the murder we were investigating. So he told us to tail him.

What about Davis? What s up with him? Ethan asked.

He s still on the job for now. He might have done some illegal stuff with Baker, but maybe he has stopped, or Baker has just gotten himself deeper into criminal pursuits.

Tori said she s staying with Charlene whenever you aren t with her, unless of course the other guys from the pack are watching over her.

But she wants to make sure that she s always protected.

Tell her thanks for me. When will you be in Oyster Bay? Ethan asked.

It will take us another two and a half hours.

Okay, let us know where Baker goes, and we can help you with surveillance. Maybe we can take over tailing him with a different car so he doesn t get suspicious once you re closer, Ethan said.

That sounds great.

Then they ended the call and Ethan let Charlene and Noah know what was going on.

So wait, do you think that the two guys Renault identified as possibly being the moles in the DEA was just to take the heat off him? And the guys really didn t have anything to do with it? Noah asked.

That s possible. I hate to think that he could be throwing the agents under the bus to save his ass, Ethan said. Still, after what Charlene had seen regarding Agent Cohen at the convenience store, I still suspect he could be involved.

I agree. Hmm, Charlene said, maybe I should talk to Renault and tell him that you and I broke up and I feel so bad about it. Maybe we could talk, and he ll finally slip up and tell me what he s up to.

No, Ethan said.

Noah agreed with Ethan.

Charlene drank some of her water. You guys are no fun.

They both smiled.

Then the server took their sandwich orders and left the table to turn them in.

We just don t want you to get hurt, and if Renault is in league with Kroner, he s not a good guy. He s not the man you or Noah knew, Ethan said. He s the enemy.

Charlene and Noah agreed.

After lunch, Noah opted to walk along the beach while Charlene and Ethan returned to their room to watch a movie, take another nap, and make love again. They showered before they headed out.

Ethan put Charlene in a taxi and he and Noah followed it to her house. Once she went inside the house and the taxi drove off, she called Ethan to let him know she was safe, and the other guys were there from the pack.

We re off to do our work and then I ll see you when we return.

I ll stay with you at the house after Noah drops me off in the woods so no one makes the connection between him and your house as long as no one has done so before this.

I ll just make my way to the back door. I ll let everyone know when I m on my way, Ethan said.

Okay, thanks. I ll see you. Love you, Charlene said. You and Noah be safe.

You too. Love you, sweetheart.

So Tori and I are going to have a girl s night in whenever you re away, Charlene said, sounding amused.

Ethan smiled. Only when I m away. He didn t want to have to lose his delightful mate during the evenings whenever he had the chance to be with her.

She laughed.

Ethan was glad Charlene wasn t upset that she wasn t involved in all the action. He could focus better on the mission if he felt Charlene was safe.

Then they ended the call and Ethan hoped they would catch these guys so he could just continue to enjoy his time with his mate.

Noah shook his head as he drove them to Shelby Bay. Hell, you know all the right words to say to her.

She s all that is important to me. When you find someone who makes you feel that way, then you ll have it made.

That s for sure. I m glad for you.

Ethan even more so. Charlene was a veritable treasure.

When they arrived at Oakley s house, they saw no activity again. Noah let out his breath. I think they re spooked. Maybe they know we ve come here watching the house before.

I didn t tell Renault we were watching the house in Shelby Bay or the one in Oyster Bay. I really don t believe he thinks you are with me, in any event, Ethan said.

Yeah, I agree. I got a text from him while I was walking the beach, asking me how things were going with selling my house in Destin. I told him I was enjoying the beach and so it fit with that scenario. I m sure he believes I m in Florida like I said I would be.

What if he looks into it? What if he suspects you re here working undercover with me?

Noah didn t say anything for several minutes. My house is still up for sale, so if he looked to see if it sold, he would find it hasn t.

Okay, good. But you have purchased a place in Portland already, correct?

Yes. But I haven t moved in yet. I m still waiting on the closing.

That s why this worked out so perfectly for me.

I can stay in the DEA house, work on this case, and then when this is wrapped up, my new home should be ready to move into.

I ll sign the contract via emails when my home in Destin sells, so I really don t need to return there.

I have all my stuff in storage in Portland for now.

That s good to know. I was worried Renault might have had some indication you were out here working with me and then check to see if you were really back in Destin.

I believe we re covered. The only way Renault would know the truth is if Kroner or one of his men saw me with you, took pictures, and shared them with him to check if I was an undercover agent.

Right. Ethan sure as hell hoped not. Then Ethan got a call from Renault. Talk about eerie timing. Speaking of the devil. It s Renault. Ethan had to alert Noah so he would remain quiet while he was talking to Renault. Hey, Renault, any news of anyone seeing any sign of Kroner or Oakley?

I might have a lead. Do you want to go with me? I could drop by your house and pick you up.

Shit! That sure put Ethan and Noah in a bind. Where are you now?

Staying at the Oyster Bay Inn. I can be there in about fifteen minutes.

I thought that Grainger didn t approve of what you re doing. Ethan couldn t believe the latest turn of events.

I think he changed his mind when we caught Thor.

Right. But Ethan didn t trust that Renault had gotten Grainger s approval.

If he had, Grainger would have informed Ethan.

Make it thirty minutes. I ll get ready for you.

Ethan felt he didn t have any choice. See you in half an hour.

Did Renault believe Ethan might be conducting surveillance already?

Ethan told Noah, Go to Charlene s house pronto.

What now?

A hiccup in our plans. Ethan explained what was going on.

At least Renault s not staying at the Seabreeze Hotel, but this is problematic for us.

I know. And Grainger hasn t approved it, or he would have told me.

Noah shook his head. It could be a setup and they re planning on ambushing you while you re with Renault.