Page 103 of Declan

“How’s that fucking possible?” Kyle asked.

“It’s easier than you think. And you think someone ran your prints or DNA you’d ping? Garrett has all of you covered.”

“We’re still twenty minutes out,” I told Tex.

“And I got nothing for you,” Tex replied.

That was a first.

“Got another call, Tex, we’ll be in touch,” Thad said and changed lines. “Got anything?”

“Maloof took exit 43. She’s headed toward the shipyard entrance,” Garrett told us.

“Exit 43 off the 695, right?” Autumn asked.

“Yes. Off the exit, she turned right.”

“Okay, so toward the Fed Ex building?” Autumn continued, obviously looking at a map on her phone. “There’s a location on my map, Tom Point. I see three buildings, she’ll be in one of those. I’m assuming that huge lot with all the cars is an auto import storage lot. When she’s done, she’ll jack one of those if she can’t find a vehicle closer. But she will not exit in the same car she drove in using.”

“How do you know that?” Garrett asked.

“Because that’s what I’d do and she taught me most of what I know. The Google image I’m looking at was taken during a workday. There are cars parked around every business except this Tom Point. She won’t go farther because there’s a security gate. Which means a checkpoint and those are messy. The buildings are far enough away from the Fed Ex she won’t hit their cameras. Yet close enough to jack a car. There’s also a large wooded area she could easily disappear into. If you look back, you’ll find she’s already scouted this location. Actually, she might’ve already stashed a car there. That’s what I’d do. If you’ve got time to plan, which she did, there’s no point taking a chance stealing a car when you can plant your own.”

“I’ll dig back and see if I can find a car and hit you back.”

Garrett disconnected and no one spoke. That was, until Autumn had time to study the map longer.

“The best I can see using Google maps, which I have to say is useful in a pinch but I’d like real-time data to be positive. Tom Point is still my best guess. And I’d park my getaway car in the metro lot. There might be a camera there, but the car would be safe and I’d know it wouldn’t get towed. And it’s before that security gate. Easy access, quick in and out, major highway close by, and a private airport less than twenty miles away.”

Everyone in the car remained silent and my gut tightened at the excitement in Autumn’s tone.

No, not excitement. Maybe enthusiasm, passion, she was good at what she did. Unfortunately what she did was plot, plan, and execute sex traffickers. A deadly game that all players involved knew could easily turn, ending with you six feet under.

I didn’t want Autumn six feet under. I didn’t want her plotting, planning, or executing anyone. I wanted her ass safely tucked away where nothing could ever touch her.

But fuck me, she sounded happy.

Her earlier question burned my insides.

I had no fucking idea how I’d survive knowing she was hunting.

Christ. The very thought cut deep.

I didn’t want this life for her.

Hell, I didn’t even want it for me.

* * *

“Autumn was spot on,” Garrett said over the radio. “Myles already disabled the car Maloof left at the metro lot.”

“Copy.” I glanced around the grounds of Tom Point, still fifty yards from our target.

Three windowless cinder block buildings, all varying in size. The smallest was the size of a bathhouse, the largest the size of a small house. Garrett had been unable to find blueprints on the structures so we were going in blind. The only thing we knew was that the land was owned by the cement factory. Best guess was they were storage.

A quick recon of the area didn’t produce much more than what we’d already known, which was next to nothing. But we didn’t find any exterior security camera, and no windows meant we could move around undetected. Which was a good thing, because there wasn’t a damn place to hide behind. The area immediately surrounding the buildings was barren.

“Team three in place,” Brooks announced, and I looked in the direction he and Thad had disappeared.