Page 24 of Invincible
“Wow, you look like ass,” Tyler said as Dex walked into the shop the next morning.His hair was sticking up in all directions and there were shadows under his eyes no amount of caffeine could erase.
“Thank you,” he said with a scowl.Handing her a coffee in a Styrofoam cup, he set the bag of pastries down on the bed of the truck.“Living with Knox is like living with a pissed-off giant who snores like a rabid gorilla when he’s not bitching about your roommate.”Digging through the bag, he bit viciously into a bear claw.
“What exactly does a rabid gorilla sound like?”Tyler asked, pulling a twist out of the bag.
“Like Knox!”
She started laughing and soon Dex joined in.He gave her an appraising look.She was dressed in her normal khaki work pants with a white tank top under a long-sleeved blue work shirt.Just seeing her this morning was already putting him in a better frame of mind.
He had spoken to Memphis on the way over, but he had no new information for him.Mia was being cared for at least, but he didn’t like the seemingly impossible task of finding her.They finished their breakfast in companionable silence before climbing in the truck to head for the container terminal.
“We’ll just look at the job they want done today.I’ll have to order the metal which should take a day or so.I’m still trying to find a job at the other yard for us.”He nodded, pulling out his permit when they got near the gate.
Following a slightly stricter routine, similar to yesterday’s, they parked near the office.He had a good chance to take in the shipping office while Tyler spoke to the supervisor in his office about the job.There were more people working here, which would make it harder to get access to their computer system.
By the time Tyler emerged from the office, Dex had struck up a conversation with one of the secretaries.It couldn’t hurt to flirt with one, in case that was their only option to gain access to a computer.
He had run a honey trap before on a government politician who was leaking secrets in a joint operation with the CIA, he could certainly do it again on a smaller scale.He wasn’t excited about having to be the trap this time, but he would do anything he had to to bring Mia home.
“Ready?”Tyler asked with only a slight side-eye at the woman sitting behind the counter.Heading out the door, they drove toward crane number four to determine what would need to be done to fix the track.The port authority needed the crane back up and running as soon as possible.
“Whoring yourself out again?”she asked when they were out of earshot driving toward the crane.
“Language,” he teased her.“I would rather whore myself out to you, but whatever works.”Just the thought of climbing between Tyler’s legs again made him instantly hard.With a deep breath in through his nose, he tried to calm his blood down so he could actually work.“This is going to be more challenging than the last terminal.Any thoughts on our best plan of action?”
“If we can at least find out what software they use and a password, we should be able to access it off property.This facility is run by the Houston Port Authority, as is the other one.If we can get that information, we should be able to look up the manifest for both facilities.
“Finding the warehouse they are in will be harder but it has to be somewhere close in order to load them at the last minute before the container is loaded on the ship,” Tyler said.
“My contacts should be able to find out what shipping software they use, then we’ll only need a password,” Dex said as they stopped next to one of the two-hundred-and-seventy-foot cranes to inspect the track system under it.
Quickly locating the pieces of track that would need to be replaced, Tyler took some quick measurements while Dex took notes.Walking back to the truck, she pulled out her phone, calling around until she found a vendor that had what she needed for the job.They could have the pieces cut for her as early as tomorrow, so with the estimate calculated, they drove back to the office.
While Dex dished out more charm, Tyler went over the cost with the supervisor securing the job.Leaving the shipyard, they drove south to one of the tank yards to meet about a pipeline that needed to be patched.
By noon they were both starving so Tyler drove to an area a couple blocks from the water that had a number of food trucks surrounding several tables with umbrellas shading them.Choosing a Greek gyro with extra sauce, Dex joined her at one of the tables.Tyler had hit the truck featuring tacos, then grabbed them two waters out of her truck.
“I got a call while you were waiting in line,” she said around a mouthful of taco.“How do you feel about scuba diving?”
“Are you kidding?I’m from San Diego originally.I love all things water related, scuba, snorkeling, surfing, kitesurfing, whatever.What did you have in mind?”
“They have a ship at one of the docks with a slow leak they want repaired before it’s loaded to return overseas.It’s a rush job that requires me to work below the waterline.Are you game to help underwater?”
Dex grinned over at her.He couldn’t believe his luck, he was going to get to watch this badass weld underwater.
“I had to study for years to get good enough to pass the 6G certification so I can do this type of work.If you want a real thrill, go with me to work on one of the jacklegs under the sea on an offshore rig.That’s enough to make anybody’s sphincter clench.”
“I can hardly wait.Everyone could use a tighter sphincter.”Dex laughed when Tyler rolled her eyes.
“Are you certified in diving?”
“Through rescue level.I didn’t have time to finish my master level before leaving for college.I haven’t had a chance to get in a lot of diving since then.Just enough to keep up my certifications.”
He felt his chest swell with pride when Tyler looked at him with admiration.Maybe he’d have to take an extended vacation to the Caribbean to finish his certifications.
Perhaps Tyler could go with him.Thoughts of her in a barely there bikini immediately made all of the blood rush south.Damn it, he thought it would calm down now that it had been in her, but, of course, it knew what it was missing.
“Perfect.You’ll need to help hold the plate in place and watch our surroundings.We’ll put out safety warnings around the area we’re working in, but you never know.I’ll go over everything on the way to get the gear from the shop.We can borrow a suit for you and my extra stuff should be okay.”
