Page 14 of Lethal Deceit

Rather than sit in the front, Caleb slides in beside me and gestures to the driver to pull out. “Turn it down.”

The driver, a guy younger than me, grunts and turns the volume down with all the petulance of a teenager.

“What’s his problem?”

Caleb clicks his seat belt into place. “Newbie’s sulking because Reese didn’t let him fly the plane on the way out here.”

In front of him, the driver groans. “When are you going to quit calling me a newbie? My name isJake.”

Righto. “Mick,” I say to him.

Jake nods and smirks in the rearview mirror. “Yeah. I know. After that interview everyone knows who you are.”

Caleb points at my belt. “Safety first.”

I ram the belt into place and look across at him. “Where is she?”

He takes his time answering, rubbing his chin. “Don’t you want to know how we found her?”

“You can tell meafterI have her in cuffs.”

Caleb nods. “You hungry?”

I squint at him. “What? No.”

His eyes snap to the driver. “Jake? You hungry?”

Jake nods. “I could eat.”

Caleb rubs his hands together. “Settled then. Find the nearest drive-thru, and we’ll eat on the way.”

“On the way where?”

“You’ll see. But I think you’ll be right at home.”

Something isn’t lining up, but I owe these guys my life, so I ask another question. “Why aren’t Reese and Verity here?”

Caleb smiles. “Reese is here. But he’s at the hangar with the plane, and Verity is at home, training their new pooch.”

I’d probably have known that if I’d ever called her back.

“So they aren’t why you’ve found her?”

He grins at me. “They did their part. But after we knew she was in Miami, it’s just been a matter of following the trail of destruction.”

It’s not an answer, but I play along.

“How?”

“She has an MO, same as any criminal. Trouble is, she’s smarter than most.”

She could be a frickin’ genius for all I care. All criminals look dumb in orange jumpsuits.

“Tell me about the trail you’re following.”

He gives me a clipped nod. “The PD were inundated with calls after your broadcast went out. Think they took you off their Christmas card list.”

My gut twists into a knot. “Yeah. I figured. But something must have come out of it if you’ve located her?”

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