Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
The bruise along Ryder’s ribs had faded from black to deep purple, and twisting too quickly still made his ribs ache. But he could breathe normally again because his shifter healing was working quickly.
After Nell returned from work, she and Ryder joined the Steel Protection team on a video call from her dining table. Dom, Axel, Siren, Hunter, and Blaze were gathered in the glass conference room at Steel Protection.
“Axel went over the footage you sent last night,” Dom said. “Take us through what you saw.”
Ryder shared the first image. The dark SUV crossed a fenced yard toward a covered loading area. Its rear license plate was clearly visible.
“That’s the SUV that followed us after we flew the drone over the Cascadia warehouse,” Ryder said.
“The workers spotted the drone, and the SUV came out of the warehouse lot behind us. Nell photographed its plate. When it left Cascadia the next afternoon, I followed it out of the industrial district to a fenced site off a gravel lane. That’s where I took these images. ”
He advanced to the next image. The SUV stood beneath the loading cover with its hatch open. Two men had wheeled a cart to the back of it, but the overhang hid whatever they were moving.
“I couldn’t see under the roof from the angle I had.”
The third image showed Marla Pike crossing the open yard toward the men. Axel enlarged her face and placed the photograph from Northline’s website beside it.
“That’s Marla Pike. She owns Cascadia and sits on Northline’s board,” Axel said. “The plate matches the SUV that followed Ryder and Nell the day before yesterday.”
“That’s where the useful footage ends,” Ryder said. “They spotted the drone before I could get another angle.”
“A few hours after the men at the site spotted Ryder’s drone, Nell received a message from Tessa Ward, a Northline employee she’d been working with while reviewing the company’s books,” Dom said. “That timing isn’t a coincidence. Nell, explain what you found in the Northline records.”
“The records showed the same workers and equipment being billed to different companies at the same time,” Nell said.
“After I asked Northline for supporting documents, the files they sent had been altered to remove those overlaps. When Ryder and I went to Cascadia, we saw workers changing the company names on the vehicles. Companies associated with Northline. Tessa said her boss ordered the original records and backups destroyed, but she copied some of the originals.”
“They probably know Nell and I are working together,” Ryder said. “The Cascadia crew saw the first drone, and their SUV followed the Suburban while both of us were inside. Yesterday, I followed that same SUV to the fenced site. It’s possible Tessa is baiting Nell because of it.”
“I think Tessa is trying to help,” Nell said.
“We’ll prepare for both,” Dom said. “We’ll handle the contact and the security from here. Nell, you can set up a meeting. Siren will meet her in your place.”
“Tessa won’t give the records to someone she doesn’t know,” Nell said.
Dom’s expression tightened. “This could be a trap. I’m not sending in a civilian.”
“I know. That’s why Ryder will come with me and the rest of you stay close.”
“No.”
“You let Stella go into the fighting operation because she was the person the women inside would trust,” Nell said.
“You didn’t replace her with someone they had never seen.
Tessa came to me because I found the altered records.
I’m the person she expects, and I’m the one who will understand the records. ”
“Northline already knows you’re involved.”
“I escaped the traffickers who kidnapped me. I’m the one who supplied their location. I know what I can do.” Nell’s voice remained steady.
Nell was right. If Siren walked into the café instead, Tessa might not recognize her voice, and she’d leave with the evidence.
“All right,” Dom said. “Use the Alder House café. It’s public, the lobby is attended, and the garage connects directly to the hotel. Ryder goes in with Nell. Siren takes a separate table inside. Hunter, cover the lobby near the garage connector. Blaze, take the garage. I’ll stay nearby.”
They chose two o’clock the following afternoon. Nell opened Tessa’s message thread and typed. I can meet you tomorrow at two at the Alder House café. I’m bringing a friend for personal protection. Please bring the original records you mentioned.
She read the message aloud, then sent it. The typing indicator appeared almost immediately. Tomorrow at two works. I’ll bring what I have.