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“Trust me, the bathrooms in that club were far more disgusting. Now hang on, I’ve got to get over to the apartments quick and you’re going to be sliding around back there.”
“Make a joke about me in a back seat and I’ll ring your neck from behind.”
“Can I make a joke about you being choked from behind?”
She giggled in spite of herself. “Mick, focus.”
"Fine, back on track. Hopefully you heard everything that’s going down. I managed to strike a deal with one of the guys in there. We're going to one of the apartments. I'll try to gather more information about the security and layout while we're inside. If it feels safe, I'll give you the signal to go to the basement. That’s apparently where the worst of it goes down. Snap some pictures, gather evidence. Let’s see what kind of case we can build.”
Charlize finally felt there was something she could sink her teeth into. No pencil skirts and rummaging through files looking for anything incriminating.
“I can get in the basement if you have enough of them distracted.”
“I said, if I give you the signal. This place might be a security nightmare. The last thing we need is you being spotted on camera. The newest employee breaking into one of their buildings. That will blow this whole thing up.”
“You think I don’t know how to dodge cameras and get in undetected?”
“I think we’ve found ourselves at this impasse before. A basement. Kids in danger. I don’t want it to go down the same way.”
“The way it went down last time worked out pretty damn well.”
“Charlize.” His voice was stern and she jumped a bit under the blanket. “Please don’t go in unless I give you the signal. Listen for the word impressive. If I say impressive, attempt to get into the basement. If anything looks off, you need to bail.”
“Fine.”
“I’m parking in the alley to the west side of the building. Stay put. I’m getting the money out of the trunk and meeting this guy at the back door. They’re going to pat me down. They’re not going to pick up our mic in the collar of my shirt but I’m going to have to take out my ear piece. I won’t be able to hear you at all.”
“Just the way you like it,” she quipped as he put the car in park. “Careful Mick. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Watch yourself. See you in a few.”
Charlize was squeezing the blanket tighter than she meant. Wishing perhaps she was safe in her bed. Or maybe that they both could be safe under a blanket on a night with nothing to fear. Maybe that’s what it would be like someday. But today it was all danger and all up to them.
CHAPTER 11
MICK
With the man he was meeting in sight, Mick held the bag of money and crossed the small alleyway.
“Pat him down,” the man said as two others came from the shadows. “Check the money.”
“Woah,” Mick said. “I’m not handing this money over. You think I’m going to let you and your boys here roll me. Trust me, I’ve got my own contingency plan. I wouldn’t show up and walk into a trap.”
“What do you mean?” one of the men asked skeptically.
“We’re going to have to give each other a little trust here,” Mick replied coolly. “I’ve got something you want; you’ve got something I want. But I think the best thing we can do is take our conversation inside.”
They all looked to each other, unsure what exactly Mick’s veiled threat really meant. “Fine. Just pat him down. Make sure he’s not armed. No wire or anything. I want to make this quick. Brenda gave it the green light but she said we better not screw this up.”
“Your boss is a chick; I like it.” Mick slapped his hands together mockingly. It was important to know that Brenda was being brought in on these deals.
“Brock, stop talking in front of him.” The man slapped the other in the back of the head. “Take him upstairs. Top floor. The kids are sleeping. Get the stash out, make the exchange and get him out of here.”
“Where are you going?” Brock asked, starting to pat Mick down. “You’re not coming up for this, Lars?”
“I’m going to make rounds. Check everyone is where they’re supposed to be and then I’ll be up. I can’t trust you idiots to do it. Just get him up there, get the product out, and wait for me.”
“Got it,” Brock said, yanking the door open. After a few flights of stairs in the rundown building, they reached a door marked 3C.
