Page 132 of The Deadly Shallows

“I never thought of it like that, but I suppose that is true.”

“People telling the truth make mistakes, can’t recall everything. The truth usually has a more disconnected ring to it,” he said as he quietly opened his door and climbed into the night. Austin did the same, wearing only her fuzzy fleece. He’d suggested she dress warmer, but she’d insisted the fleece was enough. He hoped she was right because he had a feeling they’d be fighting the wind awhile.

Sneaking around the front of the next warehouse over, they scrambled behind the line of forklifts and trailers lining the front.

“Can you see him?” he asked as she positioned at the edge of a forklift.

“I think so.” She sat into a low crouch and, taking a steadying breath, poked her head around the lift. “Got him—down by the loading docks.”

One of the steel warehouse doors rolled up—creaking metal plate by creaking metal plate. So much for being clandestine.

More light spilled out across the pavement the higher it raised, until it locked into place with a clanging echo.

“And would you look at that,” she said, “Braxton Gower.”

Chalk another one up for Austin.

He crouched behind her, her back pressed against his chest as he rested his chin on her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I love having you so close, but we’re going to have to move in to hear what they’re saying.”

“I think we’ll be within earshot but out of their direct line of sight over there.” She indicated a medium-sized shed next to Huntington Foam.

“Next to it?” he said. “Isn’t that pushing it?”

“Come on, scaredy-cat,” she said, tugging on his knee.

He had no fear for himself—ever—but he had an innate desire to protect Austin, even though she did a bang-up job of protecting herself.

“Okay,” he said, pulling his gun from his waist holster.

“You go first,” she said. “I’ll follow.”

He nodded and raced in a low crouch across the pavement.

Headlights banked over the hill.

Moving behind the shed, Caleb looked back. Austin was still a couple dozen feet from cover.

He gestured for her to hurry, and she sped her pace, but it wasn’t going to be fast enough. The field of light was almost upon her. Rushing back out, he grabbed her and dove with her under the closest trailer.

The headlights swiped over the pavement where they’d just been but continued on.

Caleb let go of the breath he’d been holding and looked down at Austin wrapped up in his arms. “Sorry for slamming you. Are you okay?”

She smiled. “Better than okay.”

He shook his head as a breath of laughter escaped his lips. He reluctantly rolled off her, and they both moved onto their stomachs, staring out from under the parked trailer. She handed him the binoculars as she lifted the camera.

Only the loading dock’s auxiliary lights were on, but a black Lexus SUV they’d noted on their earlier visit was parked nearby in Braxton Gower’s parking spot, along with three security cars.

Caleb adjusted the binoculars and scanned what he could see of the grounds from their position. He’d only seen one security car patrolling when they’d visited, but it made sense they’d have more at night.

So why was Gower meeting Valdez at—Caleb glanced at his watch—0105?

Gower said something Austin couldn’t make out, then shook Valdez’s hand.

“Where’s Sid?” Gower asked, his voice louder.

“How am I supposed to know,” Valdez said.