Page 84 of What a Wolf Wants
Hell.Ethan had known Renault hadn’t gotten approval from Grainger. He just hoped they had been wrong about Renault and he could be trusted. He also hoped that Noah was following them to serve as his backup if this all went sideways and Renault hadn’t lost him.
Renault parked near one of the warehouses that looked abandoned. Paint was peeling off the outer walls, but a side door looked secure, and so did a rolling, commercial steel garage door. Both doors looked out of place with the condition of the rest of the building. Which made it appear promising that the warehouse could hold some secrets related to a criminal enterprise. About a hundred yards to the west of the warehouse was an auto body repair shop that looked rather shabby on the outside but also had a new steel garage door and heavy-duty front door. To the south were woods and to the east of the warehouse, a couple of abandoned shops, the signs long gone. The windows were boarded up and the properties were listed for sale. Across the street was an old movie theater, also boarded up. It was a shame that someone couldn’t come in and revitalize the area.
“Look,” Renault said, pointing to a pickup truck near the smaller door.
“Hell, is that…” Ethan started to say.
“Lawrence Baker’s truck? The police officer with the Portland Police Bureau? Yeah. What’s he doing here if he isn’t involved with Kroner?” Renault asked.
“It looks like Lawrence Baker is one of the moles.”
“Yeah. Look, there’s Agent Manx Ryerson,” Renault said, motioning to the car that just pulled up. “One of our DEA guys.”
It looked like Ethan and his friends had it right. Officer Baker and Agent Ryerson were involved if Kroner was here.
Two more cars pulled up and Ethan barely breathed while four men climbed out of one car and three out of another.
“Oakley,” Renault said.
“Kroner. We need to call this in. We can’t take all these men in on our own,” Ethan said.
“Come on. We can take them,” Renault said. “The element of surprise.”
Ethan looked at Renault like he was crazy. No way could they take that many men down on their own. No telling how many others were in the warehouse.
Ethan texted Grainger with their location and names of all who were at the meeting at the warehouse, then told him that Renault was there with him, and Ferret had given Renault the information.
Grainger texted him back, despite the early morning hour.I’m sending the local police force your way, but you’re in charge. Where’s Noah?
Ethan texted:He’s in another car. I ended up with Renault.
Have you cleared him of wrongdoing?
Ethan glanced at Renault. He was texting someone.No, sir.
Keep an eye on him. Take him down if you suspect he’s in collusion with Kroner.
Yes, sir.Before Ethan could text Noah, he texted himinstead.
Noah texted:We’re right here.
Tori called Ethan on his cell, and he told her, “We’ve found everyone.” He gave Tori the location of the warehouse. “Renault and I are watching the building now. Noah and Josh just arrived. We’re waiting for local police backup.”
“We followed Baker here. We’re just pulling up now. My boss got word from your boss, but we also found the connection between police officer Elias Davis and Kroner,” Tori said. “You didn’t think Adam and I would let you take all the credit for taking these guys down, did you?”
Ethan smiled. “Good show.” He wanted to ask her if her financial guy had learned anything about Renault’s finances.
Then the police cars began pulling up, shining their headlights and spotlights on the warehouse.
Ethan had the officers surround the warehouse to make sure no one left it. He noticed then that the building had several security cameras. Probably so that Kroner would know if the police or any thugs who wanted to rip them off showed up.
Tori and Adam joined him. Ethan figured she would be glad when this case was over as far as him doing stakeouts and calling her all night long. Unless Noah started calling her on missions once Ethan was fully retired.
Then Noah and Josh Wilding joined them, and Renault’s jaw dropped. “When did you get back to Oregon? Did Grainger send you, Noah?” Renault asked.
“I’ve been working with Noah undercover,” Ethan said. “We weren’t supposed to tell anyone, but we all need to worktogether to take these men down.”
“Well, hell.” Renault gave Noah a hug. “Glad you’re here for good now.”
