What is he doing there?
Chapter 19
This is gonna be lit
TOMER
“You sure about this, T?”
My fists clench, digging into the tops of my thighs as I stare out the windshield of the SUV. The inky night sky is dotted with a smattering of flickering streetlights, most of which are burnt out in this shitty neighborhood.
After exhaling forcibly, I answer, “I need to do this.”
Because I fucking need to do something.
Shep nods, resigned to help me. Or at least, not stop me.
Before I go home to Lettie and continue watching her suffer, I need the satisfaction of a single act to keep me sane. To quell this boiling fucking rage.
Savin needed me to come here. Well, here I am.
Might as well make my trip count.
Shep’s not up for breaking the law, given he’s got a pending adoption on the books. I’m on my own for this. Doesn’t bother me. In fact, it’s my preference.
After a final visual sweep of the street for potential witnesses, I slip on a pair of gloves. “We need to shut off our phones so towers can’t put us in the area.”
Shit. Bit late for covering our tracks since we’re already here with our phones on. Fan-fucking-tastic.
In my defense, my head is entirely fucked up, and Shep distracted me by spending most of the drive from the safe house attempting to talk me out of it. By the time we left the gas station, he’d given up.
Pissed at myself, I mumble, “Never mind. We’re too late to turn off the phones. I’ll have Mia wipe the cell data.”
He nods. “That’s old hat for her.”
“Here’s how it’s gonna go, Shep. After we pass the house, slow to a roll, and I’ll exit. Don’t stop. Cut the dome lights now so no one sees inside the vehicle when I open the door.”
He immediately accesses the settings on the console to comply. “And once you’re out?”
“Proceed to the stop sign at a steady speed. Make a right, then a right again on the second street. Find an inconspicuous place to park about half-way down the block. Given the drug activity around here, it shouldn’t look odd for someone to park and not get out. If you need a secondary location due to pedestrian activity, go farther north, street by street. I’ll find you once it’s done.” I check my watch. “Give me fifteen minutes. I’ll try for less.”
My neck throbs with a surge of heat as my pulse ratchets up.
“Contingency?” he asks, his tightening grip on the steering wheel catching my eye.
Despite sounding calm, he doesn’t fool me. Being party to a crime tends to have that effect on people like Shep.
Nonetheless, he understands why I need this.
Considering Kri and Val were abducted at the direction of the same monsters not too long ago, he wants justice of his own. If my overall plan for busting up the ring comes to fruition, he’ll have his chance soon.
“If we haven’t rendezvoused twenty minutes from now, notify Mia or Klein, then come find me. Give it ten minutes, and if you can’t locate me, bug out. I’ll find a way back.”
“The good old save yourself approach.” He taps the clock display on the dashboard, non-verbally confirming he’s noting the time. “For evidence, what about cameras on the nearby houses?”
“On the night of the rescue, we found very few. They’re either too poor or don’t want proof of what happens here. I’ll search the cloud tonight to be safe.”
“Neighborhood watch?”