“Same. But if the intel from Laila is as solid as I think it is, then we’ve just narrowed some shit down.”
“Exactly. If Hector and Cash have Hallie, it means they don’t have Kimber.”
“Right. Geraldo probably does.” And he hated to say she likely wasn’t even in the country, but that was reality.
“If that’s true…the bosses are going to lose their shit.”
Trees nodded. “If that was someone you loved, wouldn’t you?”
“One hundred percent. But we shouldn’t tell the bosses anything until we know we’re right about Hector having Hallie.”
“Agreed.”
Zy looked reluctant to say what was on his mind. “Look, if Geraldo Montilla is holding Kimber hostage, the Edgingtons will be even more insistent about using Laila as bait.”
Trees had already thought about that—and was also considering murdering the first one of them who suggested it again. “We’ll deal with that later. Right now, Tessa looks ready to come out of her skin.”
Zy glanced back at the receptionist. She was his woman, whether he still wanted to admit that or not. He was in deep. He was risking his life and his livelihood for her.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
They pulled out, and Trees focused on the morning ahead. Rescuing Hallie had to come first, and if he had to leave Hector alive long enough to get the baby’s whereabouts from the asshole, he would. After that… Game on. If he could do anything to help end Laila’s suffering, damn straight he would do it.
Mental violence filled the thirty minutes into town. Closer to the target, Trees dialed Zy’s digits so they could solidify their plan.
Trees hated doing an op so blindly. Normally, he and Zy would case the place, get schematics, do hours of legwork, and plan for every possibility. Then they would go in, using whatever tactic made the most sense. This fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants shit felt reckless, and he hated that the urgency of the situation didn’t allow for strategy. Rushing was often a recipe for disaster.
Zy answered his call. “Talk to me, buddy.”
“Why don’t you cruise past the entrance? This is a mobile home park. A small one apparently. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve gone in and scoped around. Hang tight.”
“You got it.” Zy overshot the entrance, pulling under a big tree to wait.
Trees turned into the neighborhood full of newish mobile homes and modest cars, searching for Hector’s place. He found it—one of the twenty-something unremarkable residences in the community. It was still early, barely past eight. With any luck, he could catch Hector half-awake and unaware.
He cruised to the far side of the neighborhood, parked, then started trekking back to the target’s location, dialing Zy again along the way.
“Whatcha got?” his buddy answered.
“Nothing visible from the street. House looks closed up, like maybe they’re still asleep.” He no sooner got the words out than he saw movement in the kitchen. “Wait. I spoke too soon. The front blinds just opened. I see someone in there. There’s too much glare to a make out a face or an outline, but the place isn’t empty. And there’s a truck in the carport. I’m running the plate now.”
“I don’t want to know how you’re doing that, buddy.”
“You don’t; it’s illegal as fuck. Gimme a second. And what do you know? The truck is registered to Hector Johnson.”
“So he’s probably there.”
Oh, yeah. And the son of a bitch probably wasn’t braced for the fact vengeance was coming to his door. Anticipation zipped through Trees’s veins.
“How do you want to play this?” Zy went on.
Normally, Zy would go in one side, Trees from the other. Together, they would flank the target so there was no escape. But they didn’t know this place, and Zy had Tessa tagging along because she’d refused to stay home.
“I cased the perimeter of the mobile home park. It’s enclosed inside a brick wall. The only way in or out is the entrance you’re parked next to.” Meaning Johnson couldn’t sneak out the back.
“Excellent. That simplifies the situation.”
“Yep. I should approach from the front. Neither Cash nor Hector knows me. I’ll draw their attention while you slip around back.”
“With Tessa.”
Trees didn’t like that at all. “I don’t suppose she’d wait in the car.”
Zy snorted. “Negative.”
“Fuck.”
“Yep.” Zy’s tone sounded almost apologetic. No doubt, he’d tried—and failed—to reason with her.
“Then put her behind you. Sneak in the back. See if you can find the baby while I keep whoever’s inside occupied.”
“You going to read their meter? Or sell them insurance?”
“I’ll wing it. Something will come to me.” It always did.
“You got everything you need?”
“Yep.”
“Where should I roll in?”
Good question. They had to make sure Hector couldn’t spot them. “The mobile home park is shaped like an O, so it’s a curved street on each side, bisected by a long, straight drag of homes in the middle.” Trees told Zy where to leave the sedan to best remain hidden. “From there, walk toward the left side of the park. Johnson is along that wall, in the middle. You should be able to pass yourselves off as a couple taking a morning walk.”