Page 181 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

“I figured you didn’t call to chitchat.” Should he mention to Crew that he might have been tailed? Maybe after Nox heard whatever was so important that it deserved a phone call.

“I would’ve sent a group text, but it was easier to call everyone individually with an update.”

“Can we get to it?”

“Is she there with you? Am I interrupting?”

“No, because if she was here, I wouldn’t have called you back. I’m sure whatever you have to say could wait.”

“Damn, brother, I’ve got important shit to say.”

“Then, let’s hear it.”

“Any Demons who popped up at ERs or medical centers have been located and arrested on scene. The feds also put eyes on all the MC’s businesses that still stand. But no one has been seen. Every location is like a ghost town.”

“They went underground,” Nox murmured.

“Yeah. And you know what that means.”

“That means we won’t be serving shit. Can’t serve a warrant if there’s no one to serve it to.”

“Right.”

“Knowing there are even only a handful left out there doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies,” Nox admitted. “Do you have any numbers yet on who was taken out with either organization?”

“I don’t have the final head count. That’s going to take a bit longer and I doubt it’ll be accurate.”

“Head count? You mean dead count.”

“Exactly. But I’m more concerned with who’s breathing.”

So was Nox. Especially if either the Russos or Demons were stalking former task force members. “All right, that means we won’t be crashing biker parties any time soon.”

“Nope. And once we know who’s left, I doubt we’ll even have to get teams together. At this point we’re assuming the herd’s been thinned enough that we can whack them as they pop up.”

“Like Whac-A-Mole.”

Crew chuckled. “Who knew a stupid child’s game like that would come in handy when it came to our adult careers?”

“Well, since the game helped with hand-eye coordination, I’m sure it also helps you whacking off.”

“Oh, look at you, telling a joke,” Crew huffed.

“I was completely serious. All right, so basically, you called to tell me that you don’t have any real updates.”

“Did you ever consider that I just wanted to hear your voice? Now that I’m not seeing you daily, I miss your shiny, happy face, Nox.” Crew sniffled loudly and dramatically.

“You’ll survive.”

“I’m not sure I will. I might need a hug.”

“Or therapy.”

“Speaking of?—”

Nox swiped his finger across the screen to abruptly end the call. “Oops. Now that was a damn shame.”

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