Page 78 of Red, White, and BearCat Blue

I watched the screens, searching for whatever Mars was seeing. When the Ferrari suddenly came into view, I felt excitement flood my veins. I pointed and Judy nodded.

“Yep, there he is…the bastard,” she whispered.

“Keep a close eye out, Mr. Demarco. As soon as you see Josiah Sterling, please confirm it,” Captain Sorensen said.

“I will.” I tracked the progress of the Ferrari on several cameras as it drove toward the container. It kicked up a cloud of dust as it stopped behind the van, and I narrowed my eyes as one of the monitors lit up with a closeup of the Ferrari’s driver’s door. I wondered how they had that view, then realized the monitor was showing a view through a sniper scope. I wondered if it was Mars’ rifle. I didn’t spend too much time thinking about it as the door opened and Josiah stepped out.

“That’s Josiah Sterling getting out of the Ferrari,” I said, getting a good view of his face as he turned toward the van and began walking toward it.

“Positive ID on Josiah Sterling,” Captain Sorensen said in the earwig. “Hold your positions until we’ve verified they’ve got the heroin.”

I watched as two men jumped down from the cab of the van and opened up the back doors. Several men jumped down, all holding automatic weapons. I knew from firsthand experience how deadly those weapons were, and it sent a shiver through me.

“There’s a second vehicle approaching from the east,” Patsy said in the earwig. “I’ve got eyes on two Hispanic males in the cab of a gray van.”

“Roger,” Sorensen said. “They could be cartel. Hold position.”

I watched, awed by how bold Josiah was, just standing there waiting for his cartel contacts to arrive. The gray van made its way to the clearing in front of the containers as two of Josiah’s guys went over and unlocked one. They threw open the double doors and went inside. Seconds later, a late model McLaren reversed out, and Josiah sauntered over to it, pretty as you please. He bent down and said something to the driver as the gray van with the Hispanic men pulled up. He approached them and shook their hands. Then everyone descended on the McLaren.

Josiah’s men swarmed over the vehicle, like it was at a race pit stop, carefully and skillfully detaching the inside door panels of the car, the bumpers and something in the trunk. One of them handed Josiah a brick shaped object which appeared to be wrapped in some sort of dark plastic. He grinned, holding it up to show the Hispanics, then sat it on the hood of the car.

He pulled out a knife and poked it into the package then gestured to one of his men who handed him a case. He pulled out some sort of tube, and Josiah slid the knife into the tube, adding a dropper of something. Capping it he shook it and held it up for the Hispanic men to see.

One of the men shone a torch on it, examined it, poked around in the case and gestured to the other man who removed two, large, metal suitcases from the back of the van. He set one on the ground before opening it.

I couldn’t see what was in it until one of the Hispanic men reached in and lifted something. He held it out to Josiah who took the bundle and fanned it. Only then did I realize it was a stack of money. The entire case was full of money. I was witnessing a cartel drug deal going down right in front of my eyes.

“That’s it!” a female voice said in the earwig. “Captain Sorensen, it’s all yours.”

Seconds later, men were in motion, running out from their hiding places as the screens lit up with bright lights. I realized the FBI guys were throwing some kind of explosives into the clearing. They flashed bright, making the screens white out for a split second, before all hell broke loose. Rapid automatic gunfire filled my ears. I gasped as Josiah’s men started firing their guns at the FBI guys who’d charged into the clearing. Josiah grabbed the metal cases filled with money and threw them into the front seat, before jumping into his car, and starting it with a roar. Several bullet holes appeared in the driver’s window. The car sputtered and died.

I looked up at Mars, noticing how flashes began lighting up the end of his sniper rifle, and I knew he was shooting at Josiah. Even though I couldn’t be sure that’s what was happening, I just knew it. When a sudden pounding came on the door to the bus, I jumped, glancing at Judy. Her eyes were wide as she stood up. I got out of my seat to go over to the door.

“Cam! Wait!”

But it was only SA Anthony at the bottom of the steps, flashing her badge, and I opened the door. She smiled, and I returned it as she climbed up the steps.

“Special Agent Delaney Anthony.” She showed Judy her badge. “There’s a communications issue. Can you unplug your headset, please for a minute. See if we can sort this out.”

“Sure,” said Judy, disconnecting it.

“Special Agent Anthony, what’s—

Judy’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

When I turned back, the agent had a gun pointed right at my midsection.

“What the…” I trailed off, fear clawing at my throat.

“Who the hell are you?” Judy yelled.

“You can call me Livinia.”

“Lavinia…Moss? Josiah’s partner?”

I felt a chill run through me as I recognized the danger I was in when she stepped closer.

“That’s right. I’m Josiah’s partner.” She turned to me. “You’re a pain in my ass, you and that little boyfriend of yours.”