Page 29 of Hot Pursuit
Nate swallowed the words sitting heavy on his tongue, popped the glove compartment open, and grabbed the tablet. He turned it on, then waited for the live feed of Jo’s phone to load.
“Sorry, sir,” Leo teased into the mic. “My partner was struck dumb at the first sign of original thought.”
“Don’t be cute, Alvarez. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Nate half sighed the word as he tapped his leg, watching the feed update. Jo turned on her phone. She opened her GPS app. She typed inLa Perla.
Nate turned to look at Leo. “Do you know what La Perla is?”
“Uh.” Leo shrugged. “Jewelry store?”
Nate drew his brows together. Something about that didn’t seem right, but he shook it off and lifted his wrist to his lips. “We have the address, sir, about fourteen blocks south and one avenue over. We’ll follow on the road. Ground team can meet us there.”
“Good,” the boss affirmed. “Now, what’s this stupefying idea?”
Nate rolled his eyes. When exactly had he become the office punching bag? He’d really like to know. “I was going to bounce it off Leo, sir, before approaching you.”
“I haven’t got all day, Parker. Spit it out.”
Actually, you do, he thought with a snort.That’s sort of the definition of a stakeout.
But talking back to the boss was something he’d never do. Instead, he took a deep breath and tried to work his theory out in a way that made sense. “I think, sir… Well, I think when I was talking to Jo”—he coughed under his breath—“I mean, Miss Carter, I saw something in her eyes, something we might be able to use. You were listening to everything, I presume?”
“Naturally.”
“Did you notice the change in her tone when she talked about her coopies?”
“Her what?” the boss asked. “Is this some slang I don’t understand?”
“No,” Nate rushed to say. “No, it’s a cookie in a pie, or a pie in a…something. Whatever it is, she calls it a coopie.”And it’s damn tasty. Those things probably will take the world by storm, not that I’d ever admit that to her.“Anyway, I think she’s done with the life of crime. I think she wants to bake.”
There was a pause. Nate and Leo made eye contact as the line hummed. When the boss finally did respond, the words came out flat. “One of the best hackers in the world wants to retire at twenty-five to bake cookies?”
Coopies, Nate silently corrected on Jo’s behalf.They’re called coop—gah!
He shook his head forcefully, dispelling the rebellious thought.
Get out of my head, woman.
Leo tightened his hands on the wheel to keep them from shaking as his breath wobbled with mirth, as though he could see the quiet battle raging.
Nate glared at his partner as he spoke into his mic. “Did you hear her hypothetical story about a fourteen-year-old girl? It was about her obviously. She’s only doing this because she loves her father. I don’t think she knows anything about what’s really going on with the Russians. Maybe that’s why Ryder and Carter left her behind when they went to Cuba. She’s in the dark.”
The boss took a deep breath that sent a wave of static through the line. Then, “Go on.”
Nate released a relieved puff of air as his mind wandered to Jo’s words, about shades of gray, and black and white, and making the system match the world. And then, he just spit it out. “I want to offer her a deal.”
Leo turned to Nate and studied him.
“What sort of a deal, Parker?”
“I don’t know, sir. That would be up to you,” he said, holding Leo’s gaze. His partner nodded in agreement—silent approval of his new plan. The act gave Nate an extra ounce of assurance. “Get her to disclose everything she knows about Ryder and Carter, get her to turn over her computer and any documents in her possession, maybe get her to wear a wire into the island compound to get her father on tape, whatever you want. And in return, we give her immunity.”
“Immunity?” the boss practically shouted into the phone.
Nate winced. “I think it’s the only way, sir. The deal would need to be compelling enough to hand over her father and someone who to an outside viewer appears to be a best friend, or a brother figure. She wants to be free to pursue her own dreams. We give her that, and she might give us what we need.”
Leo pulled to a stop at the end of the block as Jo disappeared into a store. From their angle, Nate couldn’t make out the name or see into the front window, but he assumed it was the place she’d typed into her phone. He leaned back into his seat as an agent in plain clothes came through the comm, saying she would get a better vantage point.
