Page 106 of Charmed Forces

“What can I do for you?” he said, sounding more alert now.

“I know where Daniel is. He wants to turn himself in.”

There was a moment of quiet in which I imagined him sitting up straighter, maybe messaging his partner. “Where is he?”

“In a warehouse.”

“Why doesn’t he just walk into the police station?”

“Because his face is all over the news and he doesn’t want this getting any worse for his family. He wants to be brought in by professionals. He wants to tell his side of the story. He wants everyone to know what happened in that house.” I stopped, wondering if I were laying it on too thick.

“Are you with him?”

“Yes.”

“Give me the address.”

I reeled off the warehouse address and he asked me to confirm it as he read it back to me, then he said they’d be there within half an hour. When I hung up, expectant faces stared at me. “They’re on the way,” I said.

“Now we wait,” said Solomon.

Waiting was tense and I wasn’t in the mood for talking. Maddox went up to the office, and looked down on us. “You should go up there too,” said Solomon. “They’ll expect you and Daniel to be together. And please put this on.” He handed me a bulletproof vest and I looked down at my dress. My adrenaline had stopped me from getting cold as the night air chilled but I was starting to regret not keeping a stash of clothes in the trunk for situations just like this. Everyone else was wearing sensible jeans and boots. I was fifty percent bare skin!

“I don’t think they go together,” I said. “Plus, it’s a little too obvious.”

Solomon shrugged off the light pullover he wore. “Try that. They won’t think it’s weird that you grabbed whatever sweater you could since the nights are getting cooler.”

I strapped on the vest and pulled on the sweater. “Thank you,” I said softly.

“No problem. I’m warm anyway.” He ran his fingers under the collar and lifted the necklace, settling it over the fabric. “Don’t forget we’re recording as soon as everyone is in place.”

“No, I mean...” I drew Solomon a few steps away so we could talk softly. “Well, yes, that, but also thanks for everything you’ve done for Daniel.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Dan’s not off the hook. We still have to get them to admit what they did.”

“I’m concerned they’ll actually ask for Daniel and flee when he’s not here. Then we’ll all get arrested and that’ll be it for the operation.”

“Maddox makes a good decoy. Insist on discussing the terms of his surrender first,” said Solomon.

“Boss, we have movement,” said Delgado, calling down from the gantry above the doors. “Single car on the service road, driving slowly.”

“Places, everyone,” called Solomon. He caught my hand. “We’ll be closeby. You won’t be in any danger.”

“Here goes the endgame,” I said, releasing him. I watched as he walked into the shadows and slipped behind boxes the owners left behind, unwittingly creating an easy place to hide. Delgado raised a hand in a wave before he jogged further along the gantry, concealing himself by the hauling mechanisms. Garrett nodded as he slipped through a door into a supply closet, leaving it propped open like it was left that way when the warehouse was abandoned. Turning, I looked up at the shadowy office; Maddox gave me the thumbs-up before stepping backwards out of view.

The hands of my watch moved slowly. They had to be here soon.

“Car’s in the yard,” called Delgado, his voice carrying softly in the still night air. “I’m ducking down and going quiet now.”

I checked my watch again. Then a car door opened and shut. I imagined the occupants looking up at the building, taking in the sign, the broken window panel in the corner above it, the dark sky punctuated only by streetlamps set far apart. Footsteps didn’t sound but as the door creaked, I realized something. I’d only heardonecar door shut. Not the two I’d expected. I started to turn to call softly to Solomon and Garrett, both within whispering distance.

“Hello?” called a male voice, stopping me. “Lexi?”

“In here,” I replied.

“You alone?”

“Just me and Daniel,” I said and the door opened a little further. Then the man stepped through, his face illuminated by the shafts of moonlight leaking through the grimy windows. “Captain Brandt?” I asked, squinting even though I was sure it was him.

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