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And just like that I was gone. Hook, line, sinker.
SIXTEEN
shai
I triedto keep my thoughts from showing on my face as we loaded into my car. We were going after Mr. Detraux. The idea that we were finally on the Beast Boys’ trail again was thrilling, but I couldn’t help feeling anxious. This was the first time our team had gone out as a unit since Aria’s kidnapping. I was nervous for her.
It wasn’t like I blamed Aria for what had happened. I knew she’d done nothing wrong; it was one of those things that could happen on our job, to the very best of us.
But I didn’t want to go through that fear ever again, that not knowing what was happening to someone I cared about. I would rather live a dozen kidnappings than have one of my teammates enduring it. And although I knew the last thing she wanted me to do was baby her, I couldn’t help the urge to protect one of my own.
I doubted it would help for me to say I’d feel the same way about Nadia or Ella. Aria would say she was different. She was muscle, and I was supposed to trust her to have my back rather than worrying about her. And I did trust her. I knew my wariness would only hurt us in the field, so I was trying to push it away. But it kept creeping back in, like an unwanted rodent in my thoughts.
“So I’m guessing someone has a plan? Because I call not it,” Nadia said. She slid into the backseat and leaned against the headrest.
None of us blamed Nadia for her exhaustion. We’d all left work at a normal hour the day before, but she’d had to stay to complete paperwork that only she could do. I’d felt bad leaving her but she’d shooed us out, saying it was nothing more than she usually did. And I knew that. But ever since the whole Aria thing had happened, I’d felt closer to my team, filled with a need to help them more than I ever had before.
“We have no idea when Detraux will be coming in,” I said after we’d all taken our spots in the car. It was funny how we were creatures of habit. Ella always sat behind me and Nadia behind Aria. Even though we didn’t have any specific seating arrangement, we tended to get in those same seats every time.
“Thus the early morning wakeup call,” Ella said, lifting her travel mug of coffee to her lips.
We all had our own variation of the morning brew with us. My black Americano sat in a to-go cup from my favorite local coffee shop. Aria, like Ella, had made hers at home. But unlike Ella she didn’t load hers with tons of flavorings, cream, and sugar. Nadia would probably have about five cups through the day. She always started with a homemade brew because she still ended up buying a few cups while we were out and about. I tried to convince her to take in more water but she would just shrug and tell me that coffee was flavored water. To her, it was the same thing.
“Is seven am really that early?” I asked as I started the car and began backing out of my assigned spot in Aurora’s parking lot.
“Yes,” the car returned in unison.
I smiled. I typically hated mornings as well, but nowhere near as much as these ladies did. It was kind of nice—and rare for me—to be the early bird in a group. But considering the number of late nights we worked, it wasn’t a wonder we preferred catching some morning z’s to trying to catch the worm.
“I have a plan rolling around in my head, but let’s get these details down first. What do we know about Detraux?” I asked.
Ella immediately set her cup in the cup holder and pulled out her phone. I knew she’d take notes for us and send them to Susie to keep her apprised of the situation.
“His name,” Aria offered.
Yeah, if it was his real one. But she was right. We knew he was called Detraux. It didn’t matter if the name was on his birth certificate or not as long as it led us to him.
“He comes in on Wednesdays,” Ella noted as she typed away.
I took a left turn, concentrating on the road as we came into some traffic. I hardly ever hit the morning work rush. The novelty of it kind of made it fun. I was sure within ten minutes that would wear off and I’d be annoyed, but for now I was going to enjoy the moment as I cruised along slowly with the rest of the working world.
“Jasper seemed freaked out by him,” Nadia added.
I nodded. He had. More than a normal respect for his boss, Jasper looked ready to throw up when he thought about making Detraux angry.
“Is that it?” Ella asked, glancing up from her notes.
Sadly, I thought it was.
Aria nodded and Nadia sighed.
“So I guess we figure out a plan from here?” Aria asked.
This time I nodded. I was ready.
“Nadia will have to lie low,” I said, turning to look at her. “Jasper will surely recognize her face. And who knows where the heck Stella came from. We have to assume they live close to the convenience store. So Nadia, keep yourself hidden in that backseat behind my tinted windows.”
“With pleasure,” Nadia said, doubtless remembering her last run-in with Jasper and his girlfriend. Not an experience anyone would want to relive.
