Page 43 of Max's Mission

What kind of game was Tad Gaultier playing?

Max stood, taking the gloves from his pocket. Flexing his hands as he put them on, he studied what he could see of the map. He just hoped the game was finished.

Agent Dye donned gloves, too, and leaned over as Max lifted it out, spreading it over the table.

“What’s it a map of?” Gallagher asked. “Dye, put me on FaceTime.”

While Dye worked on that, Max read the description. “It’s a Cass County map.”

“What?” Gallagher’s face appeared on Dye’s phone screen. “Cass County, North Dakota?”

“No. Texas.”

“God, this doesn’t make any sense.” Margot leaned her hands on the table. She glanced up at Max and Dye. “Why would he put a map of some place close to here in a safe deposit box but end up dead in North Dakota?”

“When was that deposit box opened?” Gallagher asked.

“That’s a good question,” Dye said. He caught Max’s eye. “Could you go get the manager?”

Max didn’t want to be the lackey, but he knew the agent needed to maintain chain of custody on the map, so he nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Stepping out, he hurried down the hall. Tess was behind the desk, staring at the sheaf of papers she’d first appeared with. “Ma’am?”

She looked up with a smile. “Are you all finished?”

“Not quite. Could you bring a laptop and come down to the room?”

Her smile turned around. “Sure. I’ll meet you down there.”

“Great, thank you.”

“Not a problem.”

Max turned on his heel. His long legs ate up the carpet. Margot could handle herself, he knew. But this whole thing had thrown her for a loop, and he’d noticed she seemed calmer with him around. If he were in her shoes, he’d probably feel the same way. It was easier to keep it together when you had someone else to share the burden.

When he walked in the room, Margot was pointing at the map.

“What did you find?” He stepped up next to her.

“Tad circled something. An area in the middle of nowhere.”

Frowning, Max studied the spot, then took out his phone. “Let’s see what’s there.”

Margot grinned, shaking her head. “You’re thinking like—” She broke off, rolling her lips in.

“Yeah.” He smirked, catching her meaning as she stopped short of mentioning Asher’s name. “He’s not the only one with a big brain.”

Dye’s forehead furrowed, but he didn’t ask them to explain. Max was glad. He didn’t intend to.

“All right. In that area, there is… not much, honestly.” He found the roads surrounding the circled area and zoomed in. “Itlooks like there might be a farm. I see a house and a couple of outbuildings.”

“Put a pin in it and tell me the address, please,” Gallagher said.

Max tapped the screen, then read off the address.

The door opened, admitting the bank manager. She froze in the doorway as they all turned to look at her.

Through saucer-like eyes, she stared back, then smiled. “My presence was requested. How can I help?”

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