Chapter 14 #2
Saylor inhaled, pieces starting to fall together, and she had to admit, she didn’t like the picture it painted. “But they gave it to Baker because I pressed charges, despite everyone telling me to just let it go. That I’d only end up hurting my career.”
Zain grunted. “Fuck that. They should have stood behind you.”
Saylor palmed his cheek, grounding herself with the brush of stubble against her skin.
How he pressed into her touch. “You’re right, they should have.
And under similar circumstances, I’d do it again, just the same.
Besides, in the end, I landed here. I can’t really complain how that’s turning out… ”
Zain kissed her palm. “You’re not the only one.” He shuffled in his seat. “What are we thinking? Vasquez and Watson were playing both sides? Running drugs or weapons. Maybe some kind of racketeering scam.”
Bodie shrugged. “I don’t have enough intel to confirm or discredit those theories, yet. Though, I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t anything legal. What we really need to figure out is whether Saylor was an intended victim on the Vigilant , or an unexpected complication.”
“I bet my ass?—”
A loud ring cut Zain off, Greer’s phone chirping in the holder on her belt.
She sighed. “That’s Shirley. I told her to run every call to the station through me, first. In case our friends are listening across the radio.” She swiped the screen. “What’s up Shirley?”
Greer nodded, snapping her focus to Zain and Saylor before glancing at her watch. “He said what?” Greer frowned, shaking her head a few times before she huffed. “Tell Buck to get his ass inside his RV and to keep it there. I’ll be over in twenty. ”
Foster stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. He’d been quiet throughout the conversation, looking as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to shout at the wind or punch his fist through the wall. “Everything okay?”
“I just got a call from our resident conspiracy theorist, Buck Landry. He claims he knows who blew up Saylor’s boathouse.
That the men are coming for him.” She sighed.
“The guy isn’t exactly reliable — shows up at the station at least once a week spinning some weird idea about government conspiracies and upcoming invasions.
But I don’t want to risk discounting it as just another outlandish theory. ”
She waved at Zain and Saylor. “He wanted you to come along. Something about an apology. And I’d appreciate it if the rest of you hung around for a bit. I can’t place it, but something feels off.”
Foster glanced at Mac, who looked more than a bit green, before he grabbed his jacket, his cell already in his other hand. He stood, grimacing when Mac raced off toward the bathroom. “Like we’d say no.”
“Just try not to get into any more trouble before I’m back. And keep me posted if anything unusual crops up.”
Foster nodded. “We’ll go grab some coffee at the Lighthouse Café. See if Mac can keep some soup down. And don’t worry. Chase has you on speed dial.”
Greer rolled her eyes but smiled at Chase when he walked by his hand grazing hers as they passed. Zain whispered something to Chase, and his buddy flipped him off before Greer stepped up next to them.
She waved toward the door. “We’ll take my Bronco.
Buck’s got a plot north of town. Very secluded.
Not quite off-grid, but it’s not the sort of place anyone would go without a reason.
Just, let me do the talking to start. Buck’s a bag full of crazy, and he’s just as likely to think we’re the ones out to get him as he is to remember why we’re even there. ”
They followed Greer out, sitting in an odd silence as Greer headed north, turning onto a series of dirt roads and old two-tracks before pulling up behind a grimy RV.
Tin foil covered the windows, the dark lines along the sides nearly the same color as the dirt smeared across the white panels.
A large communications array tilted off to one side on the roof, and what looked like trip wires had been strung around the yard.
Greer stepped out, glancing over to them. “Buck’s never been violent, but I think it’d be best if you two stayed behind me until I’ve got him down on our level.”
She turned, scanning the surroundings as she checked the other side of the RV, then proceeded to the door. “Mr. Landry, it’s Sheriff Hudson.”
Greer’s voice echoed through the trees, a bunch of spiny branches creaking in the wind. The rain had passed, but another strong squall was already inbound, promising a night reminiscent of the storms from a year ago.
Greer glanced back at them, nodding to Zain, before rapping on the door. “Damn it, Bucky, you called me. Either get your ass out here, or so help me God, I’ll come in. And I don’t think you want that considering the mood I’m in.”
The RV shook slightly, creaking and groaning before the blinds covering the door’s window slivered open. “Who’s the Spook?”
“You know that’s Zain Everett, and you know he’s not with the CIA. Now, are we talking, or am I arresting your ass, so we can have this conversation down at the station?” She leaned in closer. “With you behind bars.”
The blinds slid back into place before the door creaked open, and Buck moved onto the top step leading into his vehicle. “I said to bring Saylor, not her boyfriend.” He pointed a trembling finger at Zain. “He’s one of them.”
“If by them you mean one of the good guys, then yes. Now, what’s this about you knowing who blew up Saylor’s place last night?”
He glanced at Saylor, chewing on his bottom lip as he crossed his arms over his chest, snugging them in tight. “I… I… It wasn’t me.”
Greer released a heavy breath. “No one said it was.”
“But you’re gonna think that, and I need you to know, it wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Maybe we should take this inside…”
“Only if you promise to give me immunity.”
Greer copied his stance, still appearing more than a bit intimidating. “I don’t make blanket promises. If you’ve committed a crime, I’ll deal with it on a case-by-case basis. Which starts with you talking.”
Buck scanned his surroundings, staring down the road for a while before nodding. “Fine, but remember, I didn’t do it.”
He backed in, giving Greer enough room to climb the three steps to the door.
Zain ushered Saylor forward, one hand poised on the small of her back, the other within reach of his Sig.
He checked their six, scouring the woods as if he expected another squad to burst out from between the trees, automatic rifles spraying the clearing with bullets.
He stopped her once they reached the stairs. “I realize this guy is probably benign but stay close.”
She tiptoed up and gave him a quick peck. “The RV’s only a few feet across. I couldn’t get out of reach if I tried.”
He snorted as she climbed the steps, waving away the blast of stale air, a mix of old pizza and bad decisions. A dingy light burned overhead, reflecting off the sheets of aluminum covering the windows.
Saylor moved inside enough Zain could shuffle in behind her when she stopped. Cold. Her hand rising to her mouth, a rash of goosebumps erupting along her skin. A dull roar sounded in her head as the room descended into an eerie silence, nothing sounding above the hushed whirl of a ceiling fan.
Until Zain pushed past her, his measured strides echoing through the space.
He fisted Buck’s shirt, turned, and slammed the man against the wall.
The RV shook, a few of the pinned pictures fluttering to the floor before Zain leaned in close.
“You’ve got five seconds to explain before there won’t be much left for Greer to send to the ME. ”
Buck gasped, eyes wide, one hand grabbing on to Zain’s wrists. “It’s not what you think. I swear.”
“Then, you’d better have one damn good reason why you have a wall full of photos of Saylor, or I’ll keep my promise.”
Buck collapsed against the wall, glancing over at Greer. “I told you. It wasn’t me. I didn’t hurt anyone.”
Greer studied the photos before finally shifting her gaze to Buck. “You’ve got five minutes. You’d better impress me, because all I see is proof that you’re behind everything.”